Britain on the Cheap

Save 20% on holiday homes on the South Devon coast in September with Toad Hall Cottages. Seascape, walking distance to Thurlestone Sands, sleeps six, with a garden and furnished patio. Weekly rental is £396/$608 (saving £99/$152) until Sept. 24, then £260/$399 the following week (saving £65/$100). Maelcombe House is the wing of an Edwardian mansion [...]

The Best Western Orton Hall Hotel in Peterborough is offering a £45/$63 room rate in the 17th-century manor house, once the home of the Marquesses of Huntly. The hotel, set in 20 acres of parkland, has a swimming pool and the Old Ramblewood Inn pub in the former stables. Nene Park, with two 18-hole golf [...]

Superbreak is offering some fall ticket/overnight packages for O2 Arena events in London, from the outrageous Ozzy Osborne to a 25th birthday bash for Les Miserables. Ozzfest, Sept. 18, £105/$163pp – Ozzy will be accompanied on the main stage by Korn, Murderdolls and Skindred and others. Ozzfest will take over the entire O2 complex, with [...]

Have you always wanted to see inside the great buildings and tiny houses of London? Maybe the Old Palace in Croydon where Elizabeth I visited the bishops, the Studios at Kensington Court Mews or Benjamin Franklin’s House in Westminster? Now’s your chance with the free Open House London, the capital’s great architectural showcase Sept. 18-19. [...]

von Essen’s Hunstrete House is offering an August Bank Holiday deal of £199/$309 per room, with a traditional cream tea on the terrace on arrival, a three-course dinner from the table d’Hote menu, full English breakfast and VAT. Guests are also offered a free upgrade subject to availability. Set in 71 acres of woodland between [...]

If you’re looking for a late deal on a place to bunk after the Notting Hill Carnival, one of Europe’s biggest festivals, SACO serviced apartments are set to save you £110/$171 per night for the August Bank Holiday. The Carnival is Aug. 29-30. A one-bedroom apartment, sleeping two, in Holborn costs £139/$216 per night, down [...]

von Essen’s Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire, the only Tudor castle in England to be opened as a hotel, is offering a three-for-two special for the August Bank Holiday. The deal, valid Aug. 27-29, is £560/$870 for three nights in a classic room or £760/$1,180 for a deluxe room, including breakfast. Once a residence of Henry [...]

Looking to splash out a bit this holiday season? The Orient-Express has planned special excursions and day trips aboard British Pullman and Northern Belle trains throughout the UK from the end of November through New Year’s. Day trips begin with brunch and a Bellini on the outward journey and a four-course meal with champagne and [...]

It’s not too early to think about Halloween in the UK. The Royal Oak Foundation, the U.S. affiliate to the National Trust, has scouted out scary happenings at medieval castles and venerable estates, and suggested nearby overnights at National Trust properties. Royal Oak members receive access to more than 300 historic houses without paying an [...]

Empty-nester Sharron Birds has fulfilled her dream to create a business and open a bootcamp with a difference for women. Inspirational Bootcamp at Ashcome in South Devon offers courses for up to 20 women at a time, with such activities as rock climbing, abseiling, caving, gorge walking, paintballing, coasteering, ziplining, boxercise and team games. There [...]