UK Short Hop Staycation Destinations You Can Fly to from Heathrow

2021 is set to bring us the summer of the staycation, as millions of Brits dodge uncertainty about overseas travel and choose to celebrate what we have here at home instead. From the sweeping beaches of Eastern Scotland, down through Northern England’s vibrant cities and across the peaks of Snowdonia, there’s plenty of places you can escape the hustle and bustle of the capital for a week or long weekend.

If you’re currently putting together your 2021 staycation plans and live in the South East, you have the option of making your break even easier to get to by hopping on a domestic flight from Heathrow. The UK’s largest airport provides internal flights to a whole host of exciting destinations across the country, whether you’re looking to explore an urban jungle or get lost in wilderness. Here’s just a handful of places you can holiday at home in 2021.

Aberdeen

1hr 34 mins

Several flights per day with British Airways

Enjoying a delightfully isolated position on Scotland’s eastern coast, Aberdeen is a small city with a big character. Famously known as ‘The Granite City’ due to the widespread use of the stone in its period architecture, this colourful hub for the arts and culture is an excellent place to escape from it all.

There’s plenty to keep you busy if you’re sticking around in the city centre, including the beautiful David Welch Winter Gardens as well as the epic Tolbooth Museum. A little further out of town, you can roam free at nature at Balmedie Beach or explore the ruins at Slains Castle. Meanwhile, a stop in Aberdeen also puts you within driving distance of the spectacular and rugged Caingorms National Park, where you’ll find some of the most dramatic scenery of anywhere in the UK.

If you're looking for somewhere to rest up as soon as you land, or to use as your base for exploring the city, don’t forget our Leonardo Inn Hotel Aberdeen Airport.

Belfast

1hr 24 mins

Several flights into Belfast City per day with British Airways and Aer Lingus

UK staycation destinations don’t get much better than the Northern Irish capital. With a vast range of cultural attractions to pick from, not to mention natural draws in the vicinity, Belfast is the obvious choice for those who prefer a more diverse itinerary on any of their getaways.

The superb and multi-award winning Titanic Belfast museum should be high up on anyone’s list of things to do. Then there’s the city’s beautiful Botanic Gardens, as well as its eponymous castle and its grounds that feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of the centre.

Reaching further afield, you’ll find some wonderful natural spaces just outside Belfast. These include the charming Lagan Valley with its walking trails, while the legendary Giant’s Causeway is a day trip’s distance up the coast. If you want a comfortable base in the city where you can relax by night and be ready for the next day, our Leonardo Hotel Belfast is right at the heart of the city. Elevate your Belfast staycation planning by exploring our comprehensive Belfast City Guide, which will unveil all the top local attractions, making your experience truly unforgettable.

Edinburgh

1hr 27 mins

Several flights each day with British Airways

Combining its unrivaled natural setting with some of the country’s most instantaneously recognisable architecture, Edinburgh is a city with a charm that’s all its own. The Scottish capital is packed full of exciting things to see and do, from centuries old monuments and quaint cobbled streets, through to high tech museums and ultra-modern landmarks.

Wherever you first find your feet in Edinburgh, it’ll be hard to miss the city’s famous castle perched high above. A walk to reach it will see you stroll the city’s elegant Royal Mile with its historic buildings, before you make your way back down into the New Town, calling in at the Scottish National Gallery and the Scott Monument as you go. It’ll be hard to resist a climb to the summit of Arthur’s Seat, where your reward will be spectacular skyline views, while you might even feel the pull of the seaside at nearby Portobello with its sandy beach.

Manchester

1hr 5 mins

Several flights daily with British Airways

The de-facto capital of Northern England, Manchester is a city that’s always done things a little differently. Once the proud birthplace of the industrial revolution, its red brick mills and towering chimney stacks are today punctuated by cosmopolitan watering holes, rooftop restaurants and landmark museums.

Manchester is synonymous with both football and music, and fans of either will find plenty to keep themselves busy with. Lovers of the former might wish to call in at Old Trafford or the Etihad – depending on where allegiances lie – while the city centre’s National Football Museum should manage to please both reds and blues. Meanwhile, the city’s superb scene of live music venues reflects its proud heritage in this area, from dimply-lit basement blues bars through to some of the UK’s biggest and best performance spaces that offer up huge international acts.

Newcastle

1hr 15 mins

Several flights each day available through British Airways

Spanning the banks of the Tyne close to Northern England’s east coast, Newcastle is a cosmopolitan city with a particular down to earth charm. With landmark architecture that helps make it one of the most recognisable spots in the UK, you’ll struggle to find somewhere better to head for if urban exploration is your kind of getaway.

It’s impossible not to start with the famous bridges that span high above the river, while the city’s waterfront will also serve up delights like the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Sage Gateshead. Heading back into the city you can grab a bite at one of Newcastle’s impressive lineup of independent eateries, while you might just learn a thing or two at the Life Science Centre. And what trip to the Toon would be complete without journeying out to see the epic, 54 metre wide Angel of the North sculpture on the city’s southern outskirts?

If you’re looking for somewhere comfortable to rest your head before an early morning flight to one of these exciting UK destinations, look no further than Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport. Situated just a short distance from the airport terminals and with a private taxi service to take you to your drop-off point, each and every one of our rooms is equipped with triple-glazed windows, air condition and high-speed internet for a relaxing and refreshing stay. And if you’re hoping to head in to enjoy the bright lights of the capital, connections by road, rail and underground from the hotel’s location are second to none.