Britain on the Cheap

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has a 25% spring break deal across the UK,  now through June 4.  If you book a stay in April, you’ll also receive a cream tea for two, excluding Saturdays. Reserve a room by April 9, including dinner, and you’re eligible for early check-in or late check-out. And every room receives [...]

The Best Western Webbington Hotel & Spa in Somerset has a special rate of £35/$58 per room per night. The Edwardian manor house, with an on-site spa, fully equipped gym and indoor pool, looks across the Mendip Hills. It’s near Bristol, Abridge Medieval Town, Weston Super Mare beaches and Wells Cathedral.    

Enjoy a free room upgrade and bottle of champagne at Stapleford Park, an 18th-century mansion and sporting estate in Leicestershire. The hotel is celebrating its election into the exclusive Pride of Britain Hotels collection with this offer, worth £109/$177, until Nov. 30. A night’s B&B for two costs £180/$298 at the hotel, set amid 500 [...]

Hoping to escape the winter doldrums? Sun & Snow Travel Show, Oct. 15 at the QEII Centre in Westminster, is London’s only free winter travel show. Just register for free admission. Some deals are up to 50% off. Wild In Scotland is offering a 50% discount on selected tours to the Highlands and Islands of [...]

The Great British Heritage Pass offers entrée into 480 properties around the UK, and now you can download a free iPhone app–to use with or without the pass. Check the castles, stately homes and historic sites out on a map, search by castle or garden or try sample itineraries around the UK.    

The Lake Country House in the heart of Wales is stretching summer with a five-nights-for-the-price-of-three break now through September. The country house, near Builth Wells in Powys, is set on a three-acre lake, with riverside walks and woodland. The special is £292.50/$479 per person with breakfast for five nights (saving £195/$315); and £417.50/$684 per person [...]

The Bank Holiday, starting Aug. 26, still has some good overnight bargains. The Cider Barn, near Newnham-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, is 15% off, with a three nights’ rental now £313/$515, saving £55/$91. The bright conversion, for a couple, is on the doorstep of Border castles, the cathedral towns of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester, and walking, cycling, riding [...]

Not sure if you’ll be springing for tickets to the London Olympics next summer? You can still plan a trip to the games and see a lot of action at free, non-ticketed events. In London: The Olympic and Paralympic Cycling Road Races will run July 28 – Aug. 1, and you can see then at [...]

The City of London Festival, June 26-Aug. 12, is going island this year—with an Oceania theme that celebrates Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. There are dozens of free events, including concerts, dance performances and lectures throughout the fest.  

London’s Marylebone Summer Fayre will close down the street 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 19 and fill it with market stalls, entertainment and festive food and drink. In Paddington Gardens and Paddington Street, the fest will have a day’s worth of live music from The Bedford Bandstand, hosted by Tony Moore. Marylebone Summer Fayre raises money [...]