Aeroplane flying across the sky with vapour trail

Ethical travel No-fly holiday ideas

A bird flies over the ocean by a family on holiday

Whether short or long haul, flying is one of the most climate-wrecking modes of transport. We've got everything you need to plan an affordable, environmentally friendly holiday.

From adventure to relaxation, read our ideas for amazing, unique, plane-less holidays. 

Tent in the countryside at night

Camping and caravanning

There's nothing like camping to help you slow the pace and reconnect with nature. Whatever your preference, from glamping in a yurt to a simple family tent, camping is always great fun.

Start your search for great campsites with the Camping & Caravanning Club, and get advice and inspiration for your next trip as well.

Tent in the countryside at night
The Minack theatre in Cornwall

Stay local, go global

Get a taste of other countries without even leaving the UK. You might be surprised by some of the UK's most stunning landscapes.

Large cities are particularly good for enjoying the rich experiences of other cultures. London alone has the largest Chinese New Year festival outside China.

Other celebrations include Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year), Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights) and the Shubbak festival of Arab culture.

For festivals of all kinds, try Visit Britain.

The Minack theatre in Cornwall

Cyclist riding through a green forest

Cycling holidays

Whether you're looking for family-friendly routes, or challenging terrain for mountain biking, UK cyclists are spoilt for choice. Check out the Guardian's best bike rides.

If you're planning to travel by rail to destinations in the UK and Europe, find out more about how to take your bike by train.

For an amazing and cheap no-fly holiday, take the ferry over to the Hook of Holland then cycle to Amsterdam. Cycling in the Netherlands is beautiful: segregated cycle lanes alongside canals, through fields, forests and along beaches. You'll just need your normal commuter bike, some panniers and flat roads. Bicycle friends let cyclists stay in their spare rooms for a modest fee.

Cyclist riding through a green forest
A watercolour painting of a canal in Venice

Try something new

Do you want to learn a new skill, or introduce the kids to a different experience? Whether it's map-reading, survival skills, cookery, or painting watercolours, the chances are there's a specialist company that will cater to your need. Get googling and book a holiday you won't forget. Lying on a beach never looked so dull.

A watercolour painting of a canal in Venice
Mountains and a river in the lake district

The best of British

Discover more of what's on our doorstep in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For short breaks or longer holidays, start at Visit Britain.

Mountains and a river in the lake district
Seaweed covered rocks on a misty beach at sunset
Mushroom on hill in national park with mountains
Houseboats moored on the bank of a canal under a bridge

Canals and rivers

For some, canal boats are merely a means of transport between one lock-keeper’s pub and the next. But canals throughout the UK also offer a chance for anyone to enjoy a slower, more relaxing way of life. Find out more with the Canal & River Trust.

European rivers and waterways, including the Rhine and Dordogne, also offer excellent wildlife, and the chance to explore towns and villages along the riverbanks. Find out more about cruising on European canals.

Houseboats moored on the bank of a canal under a bridge
Interior of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

City breaks

Europe's cities are packed with culture and entertainment, and are becoming more popular thanks to Eurostar. Find out more from rail specialists Rail Europe.

Add an extra treat to your holiday with UK and European night trains, an adventure in themselves.

Interior of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
The front of three Eurostar trains

Europe by Eurostar

Eurostar makes holidays by train an affordable and attractive possibility. Travel by train is usually far less stressful than flying, and allows us to savour the journey, as well as the destination. Champagne and a fancy picnic on the train make the journey feel like part of the holiday.

For rail travel to Europe and beyond, www.seat61.com is a fantastic resource. Be inspired by the amazing variety of destinations, and find all the advice you need to plan a memorable holiday.

Choose from destinations including Rome, Venice, Florence, Sardinia and Lake Garda – just hop on Eurostar to Paris, then get an overnight train.

If you can't decide on a destination, how about: 

  • Corsica: you can get there by train to Nice (via Paris) and boat, and travel around the island by train too.
  • Visiting medieval fortress of Carcassonne, then on to Montpellier to see flamingoes on the south coast of France.

If you need more inspiration for new places to explore, see Lonely Planet's top European travel destinations.

The front of three Eurostar trains

Woman in face paint at a festival

Festivals and events

We love a festival here in the UK, or any opportunity for an event or show. If you haven't already got one in mind, find out what's on and plan your holiday around it. Check out VisitBritain or the Festival Calendar.

Woman in face paint at a festival
Three tall wiggly statues in Yorkshire sculpture park
Close up of stamen of lilac coloured flower in garden
Sunset over the sea on the isle of Skye

Island hopping

The UK is a seafaring nation of islands where canoeing, rock climbing, hill walking, birdwatching, scrambling, swimming, and even whisky-tasting are all on offer.

Even a trip to the Lake District will introduce children to the inland island-hopping adventures of Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons". See TripAdvisor's top 10 UK island destinations.

Europe also boasts countless islands reachable by train and boat. All you have to do is choose what you want from your holiday - from heat, sand, and centuries of rich history in southern Europe, to the midnight sun and watersports in Sweden.

Sunset over the sea on the isle of Skye
Shoal of yellow fish underwater

Beaches aren't just for sunbathing

There are fabulous beaches all over Europe, including in the UK, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, Croatia and Turkey, all reachable by train.

If you're not one for sunbathing, how about exploring what's under the water? Try these snorkelling spots.

Shoal of yellow fish underwater
House that looks like it is upside-down

House swaps

House swap, home exchange, sofa surfing – whatever you want to call it. Staying in someone else's home, on a formal or informal basis, is a budget-friendly and usually sustainable way to take a break.

There are lots of online options, including Love Home Swap, Home Base Holidays and Airbnb.

House that looks like it is upside-down
A treehouse in a crane over the docks in Bristol

Getting back to nature

Treehouses, yurts, hand-delivered breakfast hampers, treetop bathtubs – if that's your idea of a great holiday, try the great guys at Canopy and Stars for some naturally inspired, quirky accommodation.

A treehouse in a crane over the docks in Bristol
Mountain in the lake district

Walking holidays

Organised walking holidays are a wonderful way to make the most of a short holiday. You can book hotels in advance, and have your luggage sent on ahead, then carry little more on your walk than lunch and plasters.

For UK breaks, including weekend rambles, see The Independent's 50 best walking holidays.

By train, Europe has plenty to offer, with both easy and more ambitious terrains. Suitable destinations include the Pyrenees and the Swiss, Italian and Julian Alps. Get ideas for self-guided walks with On foot holidays.

Mountain in the lake district
Teenagers jump on a hillside

Pack the teenagers off

Want to walk the hills without the cry of "this so boring"? Well-established UK adventure and activity holidays might be just the thing – try PGL and YHA. 

Teenagers jump on a hillside
arms of a worker picking potatoes in a field

Conservation work and farming

A number of environmental charities run "working holidays" where you can undertake practical conservation projects. Or learn more about organic farming techniques, in exchange for accommodation and food, with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.

arms of a worker picking potatoes in a field
Center Parcs pool and main building

Holiday parks

Holiday parks are a great solution if your group or family have different interests, as they offer such varied activities and entertainment. There are hundreds around the UK, but you can get an idea of what's on offer with Forest Holidays, Center Parcs or Bluestone Wales, a Center Parcs-style resort in the Pembrokeshire National Park. 

Once you've decided where you want to holiday, check out Trip Advisor for a more comprehensive list of holiday parks, including smaller independent parks, along with invaluable customer reviews.

Center Parcs pool and main building