Summer is here and in full swing, which means while you're on your holiday break, you should be making the most of this time to enjoy yourself. In this blog, we look at some tips and recommendations for making this summer one to remember!
Well done to all the first years who are experiencing their first summer holiday as a university student. While you may have some work to complete over the summer, it's time to enjoy yourself and relax before things ramp up in the second year. While you may be tempted to find a job or get an internship to improve your CV, you'll be much better off enjoying yourself and using your newfound independence to discover some of what the UK has to offer.
At this point in the year, it might be difficult to find short stay holiday lets in some of the more popular locations. Because of this, we recommend taking day trips instead; you can still explore much of what the country has to offer, without breaking the bank on staying somewhere. Bus or coach companies will be the cheapest way of travelling, but it may be easier or more preferable to catch the train. If you've read our money-saving guides, you should now have a 16-25 Railcard to make travelling by train much cheaper, and if you don't: get one!
We are lucky in the UK to never be too far from the seaside, nor one of the many resorts dotted along it. If you're sick of the city, a day trip to the coast could be a lovely idea, giving you a great opportunity to enjoy the weather on a beach, grab some drinks, go clubbing, or visit one of the piers or vintage markets. Because many of these coastal towns are geared towards catering for tourists, it's unlikely you'll be disappointed by the transport links or amenities there. However, for the same reasons they can be quite crowded, and could require a bigger budget.
If the thought of big crowds is a turn-off, but you'd still like to get to the coast, you could try a more rustic setting with a seaside village. This would be a great destination for those who enjoy long walks along the coast, or in a charming village, before enjoying something from an honest local business, such as a cream tea or fish & chips. Whether you find something more traditional or upmarket is heavily dependent on where in the UK you're looking. This can be a more budget-friendly option than the more tourist-focused resorts and can allow you to enjoy delicious local food. The downside is that reaching these places can be much more difficult, and they don't have quite as many things to do.
An old faithful for days out is the good, honest hike. With major locations across the UK such as the Lake District, New Forest, and Cotswolds, along with some smaller and more local options, you're never far from a lovely walk in the countryside. There are many apps and websites which can provide walking, hiking and cycling routes, so you'll always be able to mix it up. This is a great option for getting some exercise, without breaking the bank, and giving you some time in nature. The downside is that it can be tricky to get to some trails using public transport only, and those you can get to may be either too easy or too difficult.
Of course, your university town or city will likely have plenty to see and do as well, and now you don't have any studies it's a great opportunity to go out and experience all of these. Some ideas for places to visit include galleries, museums and restaurants. There may even be a particular part of town that you haven't had a chance to visit yet. You also have a chance to take part in some new activities around town, such as local board game meet-ups, climbing or dancing! The major problem with sticking to your local town or city is that you're not experiencing what the rest of the country has to offer.
If you're a little low on funds over the summer, it's not a bad idea to get a job in the local area, especially one that is customer facing such as a bar, pub or cafe. While the pay won't be incredible, you'll meet interesting people and learn a lot of important transferrable skills, including developing soft social skills for talking to customers. This isn't exactly a relaxing way to spend your summer though, so it's important to weigh up the different factors to decide what's best for you.
Looking for Student Accommodation? Unihousing Can Help!
Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodation. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.
Unhousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.
Contact Unihousing today to find out more!
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