So you’ve watched the world head off on holiday over the summer and now it’s your turn to enjoy a break.
If you can get away, September holidays in the UK are a no-brainer – prices are lower than their August peak, the weather’s (usually) still warm and there are fewer people visiting the places you want to see.
There’s plenty to seek out in September – here are eight inexpensive UK holiday ideas for you to enjoy:
1/ Food festivals
Gourmands are in for a treat in September with numerous food festivals to tickle the taste buds. Cornwall is especially rich in events with Newquay Fish Festival (11-13 September), Redruth’s Cornish Pasty Festival (12 September) and the renowned Cornwall Food & Drink Festival in Truro (25-27 September) vying for attention. Plymouth’s Seafood Festival (26-27 September) is another showcase of mouthwatering ocean delights.
Find a September holiday in Cornwall
2/ See a music star
Holiday parks are home to many of the singing stars you see on Saturday night TV talent shows. So when you book one of their music breaks you get the added benefit of a free show from some of the UK’s most recognizable performers. Highlights for September include impressionist Paul Burling from Britain’s Got Talent; the UK’s last Eurovision winner Katrina and the Waves; crooner Bob Blakeley from The Voice; Danny Foster of the original TV talent show pop band Hear’say, and the Greek/Cypriot wobbly-stomached dancing duo Stavros Flatley.
See who is performing at holiday parks in September
3/ Rockpooling on the beach
Photo credit: © Ethan Daniels
Forget African safaris – to spot predators on the prowl, grazing herbivores and colourful flora, simply head down to the beach. The UK coastline is studded with spectacular pools hosting all manner of minibeasts, and our seas are at their warmest in September making the whole experience much kinder on your fingers and toes. What can you spot? Look out for gobies and blennies, crabs and prawns, limpets, whelks, mussels, starfish and anemones of dazzling hues.
See our favourite rockpooling spots for September
4/ An Anxious party with Haven
Photo credit: © Caister, Haven
Haven’s pink elephant Anxious is celebrating her birthday in September and your little ones are invited to the party. Celebrations include traditional games, a birthday show and photo opportunities for tots with their favourite characters including Bradley the Bear, DJ Ned, Greedy the Gorilla and Rory the Tiger. During this fun-packed weekend you can enjoy the heated pools and splashzones, and take part in sports including football, fencing and archery.
When: 28 September to 2 October.
Find a September Haven holiday
5/ Blackpool gets illuminated
The world’s greatest free light show will be dazzling Blackpool from 4 September. The special switch-on star is still to be announced, but the weekend event includes a Friday-night music festival with artists including Professor Green, Little Boots and The Vamps; a Saturday show dedicated to the 80s, and a Sunday filled with stand-up comedy from funny acts such as The Pub Landlord. Blackpool’s amazing display features more than one million lamps and stretches almost six miles, with 45 staff employed year round to ensure the display is ready on time.
When: 4 September to 8 November
6/ September sports
Britain has a proud history of eccentric events – even if you can’t take part you’ll have a great time enjoying the action. Two of our favourites take place in September: the World Bellyboard Championships (6 September) in Chapel Porth, Cornwall is a surfing challenge stripped back to basics. The only kit you need is a swimsuit (or fancy dress) and a wooden board, with everyone from kids to wave-riding grannies hitting the beach. At the opposite end of the spectrum (and the country) is the Peebles Highland Games (5 September) in the Scottish Borders. The games feature the best of Scottish Pipe Bands, Highland Dancers and an array of challenges to find the strongest men, who will chuck heavy hammers, toss cabers and go head to head in a 70-yard dash in their kilts.
7/ Music and culture
Arts lovers are spoiled for choice in September with a number of fascinating events. The sounds of the Scottish Highlands come to the south west with the Bideford Pipes & Drums Festival (11-13 September), which features a stirring performance of massed pipers and a spectacular firework display. Whodunnit fans are treated to a feast of crime-solving celebrations at the annual Agatha Christie Festival (11-20 September) in Torquay where fans dress up in their 1920s and ’30s best, and there are theatre performances, panel events and even a sea swim dedicated to the novelist.
8/ Swim fun and evening entertainment
Photo credit: © Craig Tara, Haven
Are holiday parks any good in September? Well, there’s a full choice of facilities available including heated indoor pools (plus outdoor pools if the weather suits), sports and evening entertainment with shows, comedy, quizzes and a whole host of nighttime games. So if you want somewhere with lots going on – (we think) holiday parks are perfect.
Find your September holiday here.