The world has changed over the last few years. Those Brits who may have looked abroad for holidays have embraced UK staycation destinations instead. And why not? The UK is packed with brilliant holiday destinations, from afternoon tea in the Yorkshire Dales to hot tubs on the Jurassic Coast, with no shortage of excitement in between. And there are plenty of brilliant audiobooks that will inspire your next staycation getaway, be it in a seaside town, a Roman villa or wherever else you choose. These listens are the tip of the iceberg, but what a tremendous iceberg it is. Looking for some UK staycation destination inspiration? Check out our list below and then explore our road trip listens to make the journey even sweeter.
Bill Bryson is an absolute titan of the travel writing world, to the point where he’s almost a a genre within himself. Notes from a Small Island is his tribute to Britain, a gorgeous piece of travel writing that takes the amiable American everywhere from the north of Scotland to the very south of England. William Roberts does a great job with the narration, bringing Bryson’s love of Great Britain off the page and through the speakers, filling every curious anecdote and tale with wit, charm and character. One of the great British travel audiobooks? You knew that Bill Bryson was going to feature somewhere. Bill Bryson provides the ultimate guide for staycation planning in Britain.
Sticking with the inimitable Iowan, At Home shows that you don't need to travel all that far for a fascinating getaway. The walls around us all offer a mass of history and culture that we scarcely scratch the surface of. Bryson's exploration of his Norfolk rectory has become one of the great triumphs of English travelogues. Brilliantly narrated by the author, At Home is a celebration of exploration without having to move from the comfortable couch. Of course, there is more to At Home than a simple rendering of furniture and frames in typical Bryson style, with the idea of 'home' central to this treasure of a tale. After all, the ultimate UK staycation doesn't need to involve walking out the front door.
Okay, okay, we promise: No more Bryson after this. Still, the American-British writer is one of the genre’s greats, so it makes sense to work through his best bits early on, right? Road to Little Dribbling is something of a follow up to Notes from a Small Island, as Bryson retraces his steps 20 years later to see what has changed in the beautiful world of Great Britain. Beautifully narrated by Nathan Osgood, Road to Little Dribbling is packed with gorgeous ideas for UK staycation destinations along the so-called Bryson Line, running from Bognor Regis in the south of England to Cape Wrath at the very tip of Scotland. Road to Little Dribbling is typical of Bryson, dripping with dry wit and a deep love for all things British.
Onto the non-Bryson portion of the best inspirations for UK staycation destinations, although not many listeners will be up for running a lap of Great Britain. A swift jog around the block, this is not. That is precisely the challenge Bristol-based explorer Elise Downing set herself—although, by her own admission, she had no idea what she was doing. Five thousand miles lay in front of her, and she only had her two feet and backpack for comfort, but all that makes Coasting an even more delectable listen. Downing narrates the audiobook herself, filling the story with the understanding and knowledge that can only come from the person at the story's heart. Part memoir, part travelogue, and altogether remarkable, Coasting is the perfect staycation inspiration for those seeking an ambitious adventure.
Don't fancy running around Great Britain? How about a long walk? Not even a complicated walk, merely a simple straight-line stroll from Christchurch in the south to Lindisfarne in the north. Of course, it isn't as simple as just nipping out for a walk and Robert Twigger's fabulous Walking the Great North Line covers plenty of ground from beginning to end. Twigger takes care of the narration and does an excellent job. His story of the curiosities of England will inspire many a staycation across the country. This is a land of world heritage sites and National Trust properties, but it is also one of the strange caves, angry farmers, and odd characters. Twigger wanted to find a new way to traverse England, and Walking the Great North Line was his outstanding achievement.
Great Britain is a weird and wonderful place, so we love it. London-born writer Jini Reddy is keenly aware of this, and Wanderlands sees the intrepid explorer hit the road searching for magic and intrigue. There's no shortage of unorthodoxy in Britain, from the natural beauty in front of our eyes to the eccentric occult ideas lurking beneath the surface. It all comes together in Wanderlands, a brilliantly engaging work narrated by the author. Wanderlands is an audiobook without boundaries, proof that staycations need not be boring. After all, life is about adventure, and those adventures can be as unorthodox as the adventurer desires.
The humble Hill doesn't quite get the mountain's respect, but Tom Cox is here to change all that. Ring the Hill is a celebration of the hills of Britain, a love letter that engages and educates in equal measure. Cox is a revelation as narrator, and it soon becomes clear that Ring the Hill is an audiobook about a lot more than just hills. This is a tale of family, life, hope, and expectation told through the medium of walks and hikes. In many ways, Ring the Hill is a quintessentially English listen, an understated yet confident tribute to hills that will have listeners planning their gradient-based staycations in no time.
It might sound somewhat contradictory, but deciding the best UK staycation destination can often lead to ambitious plans. Does it get any more ambitious than climbing Everest without leaving England? There are no typos there, as that is precisely what Peter Owen Jones set out to do before compiling this charming listen. Narrated by the author, Everest England is essentially an expert guide to hiking 20 of Britain's most exciting peaks. This collection is equal to the exact height of the world's highest mountain. An absolute must-listen for hikers, of course, but even sedentary stay-cationers will get plenty of joy from how Owen Jones describes the natural beauty found on each walk.
It isn’t hard to fall in love with Scotland. How could it be? The Scottish people are an absolute triumph, and the land’s natural beauty is astounding. Throw in centuries of history, culture, poetry, song, and more, and you’ve got yourself a UK staycation destination to rival any other. Clanlands has Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish explore Scotland and its many quirks, embracing everything this magical land offers. Yes, that means rugged rural countryside, barrels of whiskey, incredible storytelling, and no small amount of personalities. The two are tremendous narrators, making Clanlands an absolute must for anyone with even a rudimentary interest in stunning Scotland.
The relationship between Scotland and England is complicated, tempered by centuries of struggle and cultural differences that are as pronounced today as they always have been. Member of Parliament Rory Stewart takes a close at this in The Marches, with the border acting as a spine through an audiobook as intimate and impactful as it is educational and engaging. Stewart ponders life and loss during a trip taken on the eve of Scotland's vote for independence in 2014. This beautiful borderland is one of the best UK staycation destinations. Stewart's thoughtful narration is a gorgeous homage to Scotland, England, and Great Britain. Along with his 90-year-old father, Rory provides a knowing insight into these fascinating parts of Great Britain.
Robbie Coltrane’s narration of Daunderlust is worth all the stars. You might know the Scottish actor as Rubeus Hagrid from the Harry Potter films, but he has a career as an audiobook narrator. Coltrane gets to voice an audiobook as charming, honest, and beautiful as Daunderlust, a homage to the lesser-known side of Scotland from the pen of Peter Ross. Ross takes a career of reporting from Scotland’s underbelly. He fills Daunderlust with deep respect and a seemingly endless supply of curiosity, showcasing a country that flirts as much with confidence as it does anxiety. Scotland is a gorgeous UK staycation destination, and Daunderlust is a great listen to get a deeper look at a special place. After all, there is more to Scotland than Edinburgh, Loch Ness, and the Scottish Highlands.
The Jarrow Crusade in 1936 was a social protest that has remained in the British national consciousness ever since. Stuart Maconie's retreading of the famous route taken by the men of Jarrows some 80 years earlier is a stunning look into a Britain that has changed immeasurably yet stayed remarkably still all the while. Modern cafes and food lover hubs have replaced the simplicity of the 20th century, but the British way remains stubbornly set. Maconie takes care of the narration and does an excellent job, adding knowledge, and friendliness to a story that needs little to raise it. The increase in staycations has helped countless people across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland get a little closer to the history and culture of this place. Long Road to Jarrow is another excellent audiobook on the theme.
The Brits can't get enough of the Tudors for whatever reason. Maybe Henry VIII's brutality and stubborn refusal to let his wives be. Perhaps it was the epic power struggle between Mary and Elizabeth, or simply the fashion, the architecture and just how English it all was. Tudor sights around the country are major UK holiday destinations. Anyone interested in exploring this part of English history must listen to Suzannah Lipscomb's excellent A Visitor's Companion to Tudor England. Narrated by the author, this audiobook sees her pull back the curtain on England's most famous dynasty, pulling no punches and revealing family secrets like a real insider.
If there's one thing the Brits love more than the Tudors, it's football. Football fuels passion from the Scottish Highlands to the edge of the Cornish lands, north to the south coast, from the cities of England to Welsh villages and everywhere in between. Daniel Gray's Hatters, Railwaymen, and Knitters (brilliantly voiced by Derek Perkins) shows that there is more to English football. Far more than the bright lights of the Premier League. The audiobook is a virtual road trip that football fans nationwide will be looking to take as part of their next staycation. The beautiful game has produced some beautiful stories over the years, and Daniel Gray's tribute to the sport will have listeners paying a little more attention to their local sides—once they are done with the audiobook.
An A-to-Z tour of Britain? Mark Easton's brilliant Britain etc. is a thoughtful and humorous look at British culture, from alcoholism to umbrellas via The Queen, immigration, etc. Britain is a magnificently complex place, a melting pot of nations and cultures that comes together to create something undeniably British. Britain, etc. is a fantastic evaluation of what that means. Easton takes care of the narration with aplomb and Britain etc. is a must-listen for anyone looking to work out just why Britain is how it is before embarking on a staycation anywhere from Belfast to Devon.
Anyone can visit the national parks, the holiday cottages, the manor houses and the 18th-century magnificence, but B-Road Britain has Robbie Coltrane dig a little deeper in search of the real Britain. The Scottish actor searches for Britain’s most unique traditions, celebrations, and pastimes, from cheese racing to gurning competitions with plenty of wackiness. Coltrane is an excellent narrator, but the truly bizarre nature of British culture shines brightest in B-Road Britain. This audiobook will have listeners planning road trips everywhere from Cumbria to Dorset.
Britain has produced some of the greatest writers ever, from William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens to Enid Blyton, J.B. Priestley and all the rest. The words of these writers make for incredible companions and Peter Fiennes follows their lead in Footnotes. Narrated by Fiennes, the British travel writer journey to all corners of Britain in Footnotes, from the Isle of Skye to Snowdonia National Park via Westminster Abbey and more, telling the stories of Britain’s great storytellers along the way. Footnotes is a fascinating listen and fabulous inspiration for a literature-fuelled visit to the best UK staycation destinations.
The Cairngorms, often referred to as Scotland’s favourite mountain, have loomed large over Scottish culture for centuries. The Living Mountain is a gorgeous piece of seminal travel writing that takes the famous mountain as its subject, as Scottish modernist poet Nan Shepherd waxes lyrical about this most romantic piece of Scotland’s natural beauty. Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton exquisitely narrates The Living Mountain. Still, the majesty of Shepherd’s writing stands out, evoking the natural beauty of the Cairngorm mountains with grace and reverence. There are good travel audiobooks, and then there are great ones; The Living Mountain is very much the latter.
The Pennine Way is usually traversed from south to north, from the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland—but then, Simon Armitage is no ordinary explorer. The current Poet Laureate starts in Scotland and heads off towards his hometown in Yorkshire, meeting strangers and living a troubadour's life. Walking Home is the result. This listen is a stunning exploration of a beautiful part of Britain, filled with personal reflection and a certain British eccentricity, an approach to existence that finds its way into every facet of culture from the north to the south. Walking Home is brilliantly narrated by the author, with a couple of elegant poems included for good measure.
Stephen Reynolds exercises slightly less than the average cheese sandwich by his own admission. With that in mind, why would the office worker decide to go on a 630-mile walk on the South West Coast Path? There’s no time for ‘why?’, as Just Off for a Walk will have even the most careless listeners planning a staycation around a long stroll. Voiced by Geoff Cummings, Just Off for a Walk is filled with laughs and enough exasperation to last a lifetime. Albeit exasperation surrounded by natural beauty. This audiobook makes for a beautiful listen through the author’s unyielding love for the world around him. Just Off for a Walk is the perfect walk in the park companion.
Red Sauce Brown Sauce is a love letter to the great British breakfast. Written by author and food columnist Felicity Cloake, this audiobook follows her tour around the nation as she samples the best breakfasts around the country. She reviews the famous full English fry-up and tastes Desi and Polish dishes along the way. Cloake's infatuation with the most important meal of the day is sure to entertain and educate you at the same time. This must-listen title takes you up and down the country, giving you all the food inspiration for your next staycation. If you're a foodie who likes to plan their trips around mealtimes, this is the audiobook for you.
