Cosy solo winter breaks in England and Wales

Things to consider

Before you look at places to stay, it helps to know what you want from the trip. These are the choices that make the biggest difference to a winter break alone, with options for each depending on what you are after.

Budget

Winter is often kinder on price than summer, especially midweek and in January, when many places are quieter. How much you spend depends on what you want the trip to be. Is the stay itself the highlight, or somewhere comfortable to come back to after a day out? Is dinner included, or will you be eating out? Our three price bands are based on the cost of a room for one night.

Location

Where you stay shapes the whole trip, from how you spend your days to how you get back after dinner. Think about what you want to see when you open the curtains in the morning. Is it fields and hills, a harbour, or a busy street with a café on the corner? Some people want to be as far from everyday life as possible; others want everything within a short walk.

• If you wanttotal quietYou may preferCountryside, national parks and remote cabins, with a fire and food close by.
• If you wantthings on the doorstepYou may preferA market town or city, where cafés, galleries and dinner are a short walk away.
• If you wantsea airYou may preferThe coast out of season, in a town that stays open through winter.
• If you wanta bit of bothYou may preferA town on the edge of the countryside, with walks from the door and a pub at the end of them.

Getting there. If you would rather not drive in the dark, look for stays a short walk or taxi from a station. If you like the freedom of a car, look for parking and somewhere to eat within walking distance.

Type of stay

Hotels, cottages, inns and retreats each feel quite different when you are on your own. A hotel takes care of everything, while a cottage gives you space and your own front door. An inn puts you close to a bit of life, and a retreat builds company into the plan. It is worth thinking about how much independence you want, and how much time you would like to spend around other people.

• If you wanteverything taken care ofYou may preferA hotel, where you can come and go and someone else handles the rest.
• If you wantspace and independenceYou may preferA cottage or cabin, with your own front door and your own timetable.
• If you wantcharacter and a bar downstairsYou may preferAn inn or pub with rooms, with dinner and a bit of life on the doorstep.
• If you wantto meet peopleYou may preferA retreat or a guesthouse with shared tables, where company is part of the plan.

When to go

Each winter month has a different feel. December is festive and busy, January is usually the calmest month of the year, and February brings the first lighter evenings. Think about whether you want lights and atmosphere, quiet and space, or a little more daylight for being outdoors.

How long to go for

How long you go for changes the pace of the trip. Think about what you want from it. Is it a quick break from a busy stretch at work, a proper chance to switch off, or an excuse to see more than one place? A night or two can be a real reset, while a longer stay gives you time to settle in and explore.

• If you wanta quick resetYou may preferA night or two, midweek, somewhere easy to reach.
• If you wantto properly switch offYou may preferThree nights or more, so the first day can be for settling in.
• If you wantto see a few placesYou may preferA city or a stretch of coast with good trains, so you can move on when you like.

Food and evenings

Winter evenings are long, so they are worth thinking about before you book. Some people love a quiet night in with a book and room service; others want to be out trying somewhere new for dinner. Think about how you like to spend your evenings at home, and whether you want the trip to feel the same or completely different.

• If you wantto stay inYou may preferA stay with a restaurant, room service or a fire in the lounge, so you never need to head out in the cold.
• If you wantto exploreYou may preferSomewhere with a few good places to eat within a short walk.
• If you wantto cookYou may preferSelf-catering with a good kitchen and a shop or farm shop nearby.
• If you wantcompany over dinnerYou may preferAn inn with a busy bar, a supper club, or a retreat with communal meals.

What to look for in a winter stay

Whatever kind of trip you choose, a few details make a winter stay easier: dinner close by, somewhere warm to sit, a kitchen that serves late enough. These are the things we check before a stay goes on our list.

• Food on site, or a short walk awayDinner close by makes the long evenings easy.
• Somewhere to sit that is not your bedA lounge, a window seat, a fire you are allowed to use.
• Tables that suit oneCounter seats, small tables, a warm welcome for one.
• Heating you controlOld buildings are lovely. Ask how the rooms are heated.
• Something to do in daylightA walk from the door, a town nearby, a reason to get up.
• Clear arrival instructionsArriving in the dark is easier when you know where the key is.

Our recommended accommodation for every kind of trip

Once you know what you are after, the next step is finding somewhere that fits. We have grouped our recommended stays by type of solo trip. Each one links to a fuller guide covering what to look for and the places we would book.