Top UK Staycations for Fitness Lovers
When it comes to wellness travel and adventures, we don’t always need to look to a far-flung paradise. The picturesque landscapes and charming coastal towns of the UK make it the perfect backdrop for your fitness and wellness escapades.
The UK has a bit of everything when it comes to staycations for fitness lovers. From all-day endurance feats to relaxing escapes with either mild or super active days, there’s something for everyone.
Here we unveil some of the top UK staycations in 2024 for those seeking to combine their love for (super short-haul) travel with their passion for fitness.
Why Consider a UK Fitness Staycation
We often talk about the need to escape the city and inject more adventure into our lives. Without even thinking, we can get so stuck in our fast-paced city routine and, even with regular gym sessions, begin to neglect our overall wellbeing.
There are times when we need a getaway but the logistics of an overseas trip don’t quite align with our schedule. Enter a UK fitness retreat! It’s the perfect opportunity to do something that your body and mind will thank you for, without having to take a week off work.
A UK fitness retreat allows you to step out of the day-to-day for a short while, give your body what it needs, and return to the city rejuvenated and recharged.
What To Expect From A UK Fitness Staycation
In short - whatever you need! You might be wanting to enhance your triathlon or ultramarathon training. Or perhaps you want to dedicate a few days to yoga and mindfulness. Maybe you just want to try something new and surround yourself with like-minded people.
Whatever it is you’re looking for from a UK fitness staycation, you can guarantee you’ll get a big healthy dose of nature. We all know the benefits of being in nature, so it’s no coincidence that all fitness and wellness-related staycations in the UK are hosted amongst trees, fields and/or water. Regardless of the activities you choose, nature’s calming effect will assist with reducing any stress and calming the mind.
UK Fitness Staycations and Retreats in 2024
3-Day Surf & Yoga Retreat, Cornwall
Combining the thrill of watersports with the tranquility of yoga, this jam-packed weekend is the perfect blend of adrenaline and relaxation. Over a long weekend, you’ll have expert instructors taking you through surf lessons as well as restorative woodland yoga practices both pre- and post-surf. It’s for both novice surfers and those looking to improve, and serves as a great 3-day getaway either solo or with friends.
3-Day Lake District Swimming Holiday
This swimming holiday in the Lake District is a great training weekend for anyone preparing for their first triathlon. It’s a unique getaway that involves three days of open water swimming amongst the breathtaking landscape of England’s iconic Lake District. Participants are led by expert guides to explore the area’s lakes and tarns at a leisurely pace, with swims on this trip being no more than 1.5km. If you’re looking for something a bit more gruelling, they host many other swimming holidays around the UK that take in longer stints in the water.
Cycling Holidays Across The UK
Whether it’s a scenic route, a historic trail or the charming British countryside, Skedaddle offers a range of guided UK cycling holidays. There’s scheduled trips throughout the year to Scotland, Wales, Northumberland, Yorkshire and The Lake District - all perfect for the adventurers amongst us. Trips range from 5 to 10 days in length, and there’s even a 22 day Land’s End to John O’Groats Explorer trip. Popular itineraries include the Coast to Coast from Cumbria to Newcastle, and Hadrian’s Cycleway to follow in the footsteps of the Roman Empire. Go on your own, in a group, or even opt for one of the family-friendly excursions and take the little ones along. Browse all the different itineraries here.
DIY With This Epic Hotel Gym
If getting away and cracking on with your own programme is more your style, this hotel gym in the Yorkshire Dales will blow your mind. Grantley Hall is definitely a luxury staycation for all travellers, not just the fitness-minded. So if you are after a lavish long weekend filled with health and fitness activities, this should be added to your list. The gym itself is set over two floors and includes three workout spaces: a dedicated strength & conditioning gym, a health & performance suite, and a yoga studio. There’s also a cryotherapy chamber, underwater treadmill and 3D body scanners to assess body composition and health metrics.
A Retreat Home From Home
This is an idyllic escape on the edge of the Lake District National Park. Nab Cottage is a quaint and quiet house that offers scheduled group retreats, and also curates personalised itineraries for those wanting an individualised approach. This staycation is more about emotional fitness than physical, but still has an abundance of outdoor activities, including hikes, canoeing, paddle boarding and swimming. The programming is very holistic, and factors in intellectual, emotional, social, physical, creative and spiritual goals.
The Big Retreat Festival
A four-day weekender in Wales, with any and all types of wellness you can think of. Taking place from 24-27 May 2024, there’s over 300 curated experiences across the four days, from fitness and yoga to wild swimming, foraging and arts. The designated ‘Soul Space’ alone has over 100 experiences to discover, including sound therapy, gong baths, ice baths and breathwork. The clue is in the name that this is definitely more a wellness festival than a structured fitness getaway. It’s designed to give you the space to relax and recharge, and opt for the activities that feel good to you in the moment. Full information and tickets can be found here.
Wellnergy Festival
If May doesn’t work for your wellness festival fix, there’s always Wellnergy taking place in June and July. This London-based day festival has an additional date in Manchester for its 2024 run, and draws together the five pillars of mindfulness, fitness, food, music and laughter. The day is packed with fitness sessions including strength & conditioning, martial arts, yoga and dance workouts. Laughter therapy, sober raves and sound healing are just a few of the other activities you can find dotted around the festival village. Plus - early bird prices are an absolute steal at £45 for a day ticket.
Love Trails: A Running & Music Festival
With so many community run clubs popping up across the country, it’s no surprise that there’s a running and music festival taking place in 2024. Spread over 4 days and 3 nights, it’s the first of its kind globally and includes trail running adventures, beach trips and tonnes of outdoor activities. Plus live music performances and DJ sets! Even if running isn’t your thing, there’s loads of other fitness activities to enjoy, including wild swimming, surfing, rock climbing and paragliding. What better way to surround yourself with like-minded people than spending a long weekend at one of South West Wales’s most beautiful spots. Plus, it’s super family friendly!
Whether you’re looking to continue your training in a different environment or find an opportunity to relax, it’s abundantly clear that you can easily discover the benefits of wellness travel on home turf. Whilst we can’t guarantee the weather for you, we can guarantee that a UK staycation featuring nature and fitness will serve as the perfect accessory to your regular city routine.