The northern spa town named the UK’s ‘best staycation destination’ to drive to

A spa town in the north of England has been named the UK’s best staycation destination to drive to - and it’s less than two hours to get to from Greater Manchester. Harrogate in Yorkshire topped the list, beating the likes of Stratford-upon-Avon and Anglesey to take the number one spot.

Staycations are a popular option when it comes to holidays and weekends away, especially since there are so many beautiful places to explore right here in the UK. With that in mind, experts from the AA analysed the best staycations to travel to by car.

They looked at factors such as places to stay, local happiness ratings, the number of car parking spaces, petrol stations and EV chargers in each area to find the “ultimate top 10 locations for the perfect staycation”. The spa town of Harrogate was crowned the best, with the highest ‘happiness rating’, 7.8, out of 10, and the highest number of things to do (62).

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The town is known for its gorgeous buildings, the famous Betty’s Cafe and Tea Rooms, RHS Harlow Carr gardens and much more. It’s surrounded by gorgeous countryside with plenty to explore nearby, including the Brimham Rocks beauty spot.

Stratford-upon-Avon ranks second with a 7.6 happiness rating, over 6,000 parking spaces, and over 60 attractions. It’s famous for being Shakespeare's birthplace and offers charming walks and historical sites like the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Newquay in Cornwall takes third place, boasting 326 AA-approved accommodations, 3,500+ parking spots, and a 7.5 happiness rating. Anglesey, around a two-hour drive from Manchester, came in ninth place.

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