Where To Go If You Left It Too Late To Book A Summer Holiday
Left it too late to book a summer holiday this year? Or maybe you are planning on sneaking in one final getaway before winter kicks into gear. Whatever the reason, I am always in favour of booking a last-minute holiday. Whether you’re after a British staycation, a European weekend trip or on the hunt for the best value flight going, here is our guide to the best last-minute trips to book.
Lisbon, Portugal
If you are after a European city break, Lisbon is the perfect billing. It is affordable, only a short flight away, and can be tackled in a long weekend, so ideal for those who have already used up the bulk of their annual leave (and yes, by ‘people’ I am referring to myself). In fact, my Lisbon trip is already booked!
Direct departures drop daily from almost every UK hub, making an impromptu weekend of rooftop cocktails and Atlantic breezes very easy to pull off. You can spend your days weaving through tiled alleyways in Alfama, grabbing warm pastéis de nata, and taking a quick thirty-minute train straight to the golden beaches of Cascais.
Read our complete guide to Lisbon here
If you are after a European city break, Lisbon is the perfect billing. It is affordable, only a short flight away, and can be tackled in a long weekend, so ideal for those who have already used up the bulk of their annual leave.
Kent
For a staycation close enough to London to leave plenty of room for spontaneity, don’t sleep on Kent. Its coast offers a breezy seaside escape without the endless hours of driving required for Cornwall or Devon.
High-speed trains run constantly from London St Pancras straight to Margate, Whitstable, and Folkestone. You can spend your days slurping fresh oysters by the harbour, browsing indie galleries, and exploring the dramatic white cliffs at St Margaret’s Bay. Because the coastline spans so many distinct towns, chic boutique stays and seaside B&Bs frequently have late availability even during peak summer weekends.
Read our guide to The Best Beaches near London here
The Albanian Riviera
If you left your summer holiday plans to the wire, the Albanian Riviera is stepping up to save the day, serving up serious Mediterranean energy at a fraction of the cost. Thanks to huge flight additions, you can easily snatch budget direct flights into Tirana for under £20 or hop on a thirty-minute ferry from Corfu.
Chic coastal spots like Dhermi still have plenty of boutique room availability, meaning no six-month planning is required. Beyond it being the birthplace of pop icon Dua Lipa, it also delivers all the glamour of southern Europe with none of the last-minute financial pain.
Gdansk, Poland
Perhaps a less obvious choice, but well worth considering, Poland is a country with so much to offer, with many cities that can be tackled over a long weekend.
Daily budget flights connect nearly every regional UK airport directly to Gdansk, where you can instantly trade London prices for two-pound craft beers and broad, white sand beaches. The summer weather along this coast sits at a comfortable twenty-three degrees with breezy sunshine, saving you from the scorching heatwaves currently hitting southern Europe. Because the Baltic coastline remains largely off the radar for mainstream British sunseekers, boutique stays and seaside hotels regularly have late room openings in peak summer. It delivers a refreshing mix of historic city sightseeing, coastal vibes, and unbeatable value without any of the usual peak season panic.
The Baltic coastline remains largely off the radar for mainstream British sunseekers, boutique stays and seaside hotels regularly have late room openings in peak summer.
The Peak District
If you want a countryside escape without dealing with fully booked Cotswold inns, the Peak District is one of your best last-minute bets.
It is easy to reach by train or car from anywhere in the UK, putting rolling green hills, limestone dales, and historic stone pubs right on your doorstep. Because the park is packed with traditional coaching inns, farm stays, and converted barns spread across dozens of quaint villages, late accommodation availability is surprisingly easy to find. It gives you all the wild romantic charm of the Lake District with far fewer crowds and none of the peak season pricing headaches.
Valencia, Spain
If you missed the window to book Barcelona or Palma, Valencia provides the perfect alternative. High flight frequency across major UK airlines means direct seats remain surprisingly easy to snatch without paying extortionate peak season rates. The summer weather hits a glorious thirty degrees with guaranteed clear skies, warm sea breezes, and water temperatures perfect for late afternoon swims.
Best of all, the massive hotel supply across the city centre and coast means stylish boutique stays frequently pop up with late room availability.
The summer weather hits a glorious thirty degrees with guaranteed clear skies, warm sea breezes, and water temperatures perfect for late afternoon swims.
