Summer 2026 may become a record breaker – and not just for the scorching temperatures that have seared their way across the country in recent weeks. The hike in fuel prices, global instability and even hotter temperatures across the Mediterranean mean staycations are fast becoming our holiday of choice. According to Airbnb, 64 per cent of Britons are choosing a UK break this year. Beaches will be rammed, pubs packed – and the rest and relaxation many of us are looking for may be in short supply.But the good news is that even in this busy summer, there are plenty of quiet corners that remain happily off the tourist radar. And because they’re less well known, they still have availability for a high-summer stay.BEPTON VILLAGE, WEST SUSSEX Bepton is perfect for exploring pretty villages and small cottagesAway from the busy coastal strip, inland Sussex remains a land of quaint villages, flint cottages and excellent pubs. Bepton village lies at the heart of the South Downs National Park, with lovely walking trails to the market town of Midhurst and Cowdray Park. The Weald and Downland Museum and West Dean Gardens are within ten minutes’ drive, along with the excellent Fox Goes Free gastropub (thefoxgoesfree.com). Stay at elegant Apsley Cottage, sleeping four, with an outdoor hot tub, a garden with glorious views across the Downs and conveniently close to the Cowdray Farm Shop for locally produced goodies.Book it: From £485 per night (cowdray.co.uk).THE TEME VALLEY, WORCESTERSHIRE Book a stay at Eathelin, a luxurious treehouse, for a one-of-a-kind tripAn under-the-radar swathe of border country between Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, the Teme Valley is lush and beautiful, criss-crossed by peaceful country lanes and covered in hop fields and apple orchards. Tenbury Wells is the main town, with historic Ludlow, famous for its food, just a short drive away. It’s the perfect spot for a romantic break, and Eathelin, a luxurious treehouse built around an old oak tree, makes an idyllic bolthole for two. The wraparound balcony is just the place for sundowners, before a soak in the outdoor hot tub.Book it: Three-night breaks from £1,095 (premiercottages.co.uk).SOUTH SOMERSET LEVELS, SOMERSET For the perfect private getaway, stay at Cider Cottage in SomersetThe Somerset Levels is a vast wetland and coastal plain, home to herons, raptors, wading birds and otters, that remains tranquil at all times of year. Cider Cottage lies near the southern edge, two miles from Ilminster, with RSPB Greylake nearby, offering plenty of pleasingly flat walking trails. Nearby villages such as Hinton St George and South Petherton are some of the prettiest in England, while the Lord Poulett Arms in Hinton is a great spot for lunch (lordpoulettarms.com). Cider Cottage, sleeping four, is a Grade II-listed thatched cottage, with an outdoor dining and barbecue area perfect for long summer evenings.Book it: A week is from £2,122 (oliverstravels.com).EDEN VALLEY, CUMBRIA The village of Armathwaite offers greenery and river viewsWhile Windermere is rammed with traffic and Grasmere packed with visitors, the Eden Valley – tucked between the Lake District and the North Pennines – is the region’s best-kept secret. Potter around picturesque sandstone villages, such as Armathwaite and Dufton, bring the bikes to cycle the quiet country lanes and tuck in at excellent foodie pubs, including the George and Dragon in Clifton (georgeanddragonclifton.co.uk). East Lodge, set in the quiet surroundings of the Edenhall Estate, is a great house for families.Book it: From £350 per night (edenhallestate.com).THE CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS, WALES Off the grid and remote, Tincture is a perfect getaway in the Hafren ForestThe Cambrian Mountains in mid-Wales attract far fewer crowds than the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia. They are perfect for an outdoorsy family holiday. Walk to the highest peak of Pumlumon Fawr, hike the boardwalks in Hafren Forest or gaze at the stars beneath ink-black skies on clear nights. To go completely off-grid, stay at Tincture, a beautifully restored 17th-century cottage. The interiors are stylish, with a well-equipped, contemporary kitchen and the acre of land surrounding the house has its own natural plunge pool.Book it: A week is from £1,995 (uniquehomestays.com).THE NORTH TYNE VALLEY, NORTHUMBERLAND Kielder National Park, reservoir and observatory are worth a look in NorthumberlandWith vast open spaces, lush forests and layer upon layer of history, Northumberland is one of England’s quietest counties, a peaceful world of farming country and sleepy villages. Away from the coast and tourist sites such as Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda, it’s possible to walk for miles without seeing another person, even in high summer. The village of Gunnerton lies in the starkly beautiful North Tyne Valley, 20 minutes’ drive from Hexham, with Kielder Water and the extraordinary Kielder Observatory also within easy reach. East Cottage is a charming, two-bedroom retreat with a spiral staircase, mezzanine bedroom and tranquil garden.Book it: A week is from £930 (simplyowners.net).VATERSAY, OUTER HEBRIDES Vatersay, a stunning beach in the Outer Hebrides, is a perfect choice for a family breakReaching Vatersay, the southernmost inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides connected to Barra by a causeway, is an adventure in itself. Vatersay School is a great choice for an extended family getaway, with a main schoolhouse sleeping six adults and two children, and a separate chalet sleeping two adults. The house has glorious views of the beach, with the chance to spot basking sharks, eagles and otters.Book it: A week is from £2,850 for the chalet and schoolhouse (vatersayschool.co.uk).HALBERTON, MID DEVON Halberton is equal parts peaceful and picturesque, perfect for a countryside getawayAway from the crowded coastline, Mid Devon remains a peaceful place, even in high summer, and Rock Cottage feels even more tranquil, set on a canal. Exmoor and Dartmoor are within easy reach, as is the sea, but the real pleasures are paddleboarding or kayaking from the door, fishing at dawn or simply strolling along the towpath in blissful isolation. The Halberton Farm Shop offers plenty of local goods, and the cottage sleeps four. Dogs welcome.Book it: From £160 per night (rockcottage.uk).THE CHEVIOT HILLS, SCOTLAND A stay at Pirnie Cottage in Kelso promises a sense of real relaxationSteeped in history, dotted with Iron Age forts and latticed with walking trails, this is a wild and unspoilt slice of Scotland. The market towns of Kelso and Melrose, famous for the stunning Melrose Abbey, offer excellent food shops and delis, ideal for picking up ingredients for meals at Pirnie Cottage. The house sleeps eight and is perfect for families.Book it: A week is from £842.50 (crabtreeandcrabtree.com).WINTERTON-ON-SEA, NORFOLK Enjoy the beach at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk, a far cry from the arcades of Great YarmouthJust up the coast from busy Great Yarmouth, Winterton-on-Sea is a peaceful spot with no amusement arcades or day trippers, just a pristine stretch of sand, backed by dunes. It’s a prime location for seal-spotting, particularly the Horsey Beach Seal Colony, and the best way to start the day is with breakfast at the Dunes Cafe, set right on the sand. The Old Village Shop makes an ideal base. It’s a clever conversion that sleeps six. Suppers in the garden have a soundtrack of the nearby sea.Book it: A week from £1,631 (wintertoncottages.co.uk).All prices are for a stay in August.