How to pick a destination for the bank holiday weekend

A British bank holiday road trip is usually something of a gamble. If you book ahead you might get cheaper deals on accommodation, but you won't be able to change the destination at the last minute – which can be annoying if you realise it’s going to be sunnier elsewhere.

But picking a destination at the last minute has implications too: you may have to pay more for a room and you’ll have less time to plan your route – that means less time to find out about roadworks or other expected delays.

A British bank holiday road trip is usually something of a gamble. If you book ahead you might get cheaper deals on accommodation, but you won't be able to change the destination at the last minute – which can be annoying if you realise it’s going to be sunnier elsewhere.

But picking a destination at the last minute has implications too: you may have to pay more for a room and you’ll have less time to plan your route – that means less time to find out about roadworks or other expected delays.

There's no getting around it. Trying to plan a sun-blessed British bank holiday road trip is like playing Russian roulette with only one empty chamber. Something of a gamble.

However, it's still worth a shot.

Alongside sunshine, here we offer some themes you might use to pick a bank holiday destination.

Sounds easy, but this is Britain, remember? If we take the Meteorological Office's historical numbers seriously, we'll be planning a trip to Faversham in Kent, where the UK's highest temperature was recorded on August 10, 2003. The mercury nosed into virgin territory on that hallowed day, hitting 38.5C.

If you're considering a warm Welsh bank holiday break, then get in your car and head to Hawarden Bridge in Flintshire, where, back on August 2, 1990, people stared at their thermometers in disbelief as they read 35.3C.

While Scottish bank holidays are a little different to those of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there will also be a bank holiday in Scotland on May 30th. The highest ever Scottish temperature – 32.9C – was recorded in Greycrook in the Scottish borders on August 9, 2003.

If you fancy picking a road trip destination based on its friendliness factor, then there are plenty of options – although they may require a few hours of driving to reach.

According to a recent (2016) survey by comparethemarket.com, Keswick in Cumbria is the most welcoming town in Britain, where the tourist pound seemingly hasn't inspired cynical or avaricious tendencies in the local populace. 

Looking for 2020 data? Here comparethemarket.com reveals the UK's top staycation destinations as sales of UK-only travel insurance.

However, a survey by Rightmove suggested Harrogate in North Yorkshire was the happiest community in Britain, based on factors such as friendly neighbours and pretty surroundings.

If you live in Northern Ireland or you're considering taking your car across on the ferry, then County Fermanagh should top your list. It came first in a recent Top 10 'hottest' counties study ('hottest' meaning 'friendly' in this case) by the Big Lottery's Big Lunch. Northern Irish countries occupied the next four slots, followed by Cornwall, Cardiff, Dundee City, Devon and East Ayrshire.

See the Map of Human Warming here: http://www.thebiglunch.com/join-in/map-of-human-warming.php

If you would rather follow your tummy this bank holiday, there are plenty of tantalising options. The pie for instance has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, with posh pie purveyors having sprung up nationwide. Why not combine a trip to Bristol with a visit to Pieminster, where you can try Moo & Blue (steak and stilton) or Deerstalker (venison, bacon and red wine) among others.

If you fancy combing a pasty binge with your bank holiday getaway, then head down to Sarah's Pasty Shop in Looe, Cornwall, where you can sample some delicious eats as you stroll around this picturesque old fishing village.

If you prefer cakes and you’re in London for the weekend, then gorge yourself in the Scandinavian Kitchen (Great Tichfield St), where you can try the blueberry, oat and spelt muffin called Studmuffin. See more amazing London cake shops here.

It's clear there are many wonderful destinations to consider for your bank holiday getaway. And even if it does rain a little, the warmth of the locals – or the pies – is sure to make up for it.

And as with all busy times on UK roads, recovery services have more breakdowns to deal with, which can mean response times aren’t quite as fast as usual. In addition, more breakdowns can cause tailbacks which can further slow recovery services.

But as with every bank holiday, startrescue.co.uk operatives will be working hard to get policyholders back on the road should they break down.