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Affordable Summer Holiday Destinations for London Students

As the academic year begins to come to a close, there's one thing on students' minds - not exams, but holidays! :smile:

Even with a limited budget and an ongoing cost of living crisis, it's still entirely possible for you and your mates to get away for a few days this summer. Whether you're interested in staying close to home and checking out some of the UK's major cities or instead looking for a relaxing beach holiday in the sun, I've compiled a short list of three affordable destinations across Europe which I hope will come in handy.

UK - Cardiff

TRANSPORT:
National Express from London Victoria Coach Station to Cardiff Coach Station, Sophia Gardens: as cheap as £7.90, with a good percentage of fares being priced around the £10-£12 mark.
Great Western Railway Train from London Paddington to Cardiff Central: train prices can vary from £29.50 to around £40.

ACCOMMODATION (e.g. dates from 3rd - 7th July):
Zip By Premier Inn: 3-star, basic hotel, only a short bus ride outside of Cardiff City Centre, currently priced at around £28 a night.
Premier Inn Cardiff North Hotel: 3-star hotel located roughly 6 miles outside of the city centre and prices around £51 a night. It's located right beside the Parc Coed y Nant, and is a great choice for anyone who wants both natural surroundings and the nearby hustle and bustle of a major city.
ibis Budget Cardiff Centre: reliable, 2-star hotel located right in the city centre, priced at around £70 a night.

The capital city of Wales, Cardiff is the perfect mix of a commercial centre and a historic hub. Considered the second most beautiful city in the UK to wake up in, why not spend your time touring the medieval Cardiff Castle, or going on a shopping spree at the packed St. David's Centre? With no shortage of shops, entertainment and restaurants, Cardiff is the perfect destination for London students wanting a short getaway relatively close by.

Europe - Marmaris, Turkey

TRANSPORT (dates from 3rd - 11th July):
Flights from London Gatwick to Dalaman Airport: affordable, round-trip flights are currently priced from the £97-£130 mark with easyJet - prices right now are lower than usual however, so if you're interested consider booking soon! A 1hr 15 minute taxi to the city of Marmaris from the airport costs around 500 Turkish lira, or £20.

ACCOMMODATION:
Ressler Apart Hotel: Priced at roughly £48 a night, affordable 3-star hotel with a pool surrounded by a mixture of shops and restaurants. Short walk from the beach.
Liman Apart Hotel: Currently priced around £47 a night through Booking.com, 7 minute walk from the nearest beach and close to Marmaris city centre.
Dolphin Hotel: Costing around £80 per night, this hotel is right on the beachfront and is only a nine minute walk from the Atlantis Water Park - great for those more thrill-seeking friend groups!

With a strong exchange rate between the GBP and the Turkish Lira, Turkey is becoming an increasingly more affordable holiday destination for Brits and Marmaris is just one option to consider. With its beautiful sand beaches, Marmaris is already a popular tourist destination with a good mix of nightlife, historical sights and scenery. It's definitely worth checking out a bit more if you're interested!

Europe - Warsaw, Poland

TRANSPORT (dates from 3rd - 11th July):
Flights from London Stansted to Warsaw Modlin Airport: Ryanair currently offering a round trip of flights in the range of £67-£73. Buses are available right from Warsaw Modlin Airport into the city centre from around €7 and take roughly 45 minutes.

ACCOMMODATION:
Best Western Hotel Portos: Priced at around £36 a night, this is a great option for anyone working on a tight budget. Surrounded by shopping malls, cocktail bars and Polish fusion eateries, this is an ideal area for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the city whilst still having a lot of green spaces available close by.
Hotel Felix: Starting from around £43 a night, this three star-hotel is located close to the PGE Narodowy soccer stadium and offers a wide variety of bars and other nightlife nearby. It's also right next to a Lidl, and is a short walk from two large shopping centres.
Regent Warsaw Hotel: Costing around £73-80 a night for two people from the 3rd - 11th, this is a good value, luxurious five-star option for those willing to spend a bit more. Located in an affluent neighbourhood with good transport options, this hotel is also extremely close to Łazienki Park, Warsaw's largest park which is inhabited by both peacocks and squirrels.

As Poland's capital city, Warsaw isn't short of great things to do. Whether you want a break focused primarily on shopping at Warsaw's many shopping centres, or are keen to visit the many monuments and landmarks (such as Warsaw's Royal Castle), there's something for everyone in this city. It can also be done at a very affordable price - great for student tourists!

I hope this has inspired some of you to start plotting your own summer breaks - it's always good to get away if you can after the stress of exams, although I know it's not an option for everyone. I've tried to collate some of the best budget options - but there's definitely more out there, so don't stop looking! :biggrin:

(Prices are accurate as of 12/04/2023).

Does anyone have any good places they've recently visited which they feel can be done on a budget? If so, feel free to drop a reply below and share it with others!

- Eve (Kingston Rep, BA Fine Art and Art History).