If you’re looking to make a positive impact on your next overnight break with wholesome activities that are kind to the planet, as well as your mind, body and soul, then look no further than a city break in England this spring.
From getting out in nature, to staying in eco-friendly accommodation or dining at a zero-waste restaurant, there are heaps of ways to travel more sustainably.
Browse a local market
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Finding a local market is a great way to get a flavour of a place and support small, local businesses while you’re at it. Wander around the stalls, meet independent makers and pick up some delicious treats to enjoy on your trip or as souvenirs to take home. There are plenty of great markets up and down the country like Borough Market in London, which puts a strong emphasis on high-quality seasonal food and sustainable production and social connection.
Check out Kirkgate Market in Leeds, too – it’s one of the largest indoor markets in Europe and has its own sustainable delivery service. Meanwhile, York’s Shambles Market is a vibrant, historic market which is home to a large collection of independent traders where you can find fresh, local produce and street food spanning a wide range of cuisines.
A breath of fresh air
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With so many incredible beauty spots in cities across the country, heading out into nature is one of the best things you can do to support your mental and physical health.
Devon Sculpture Park in Exeter is a modern take on the traditional sculpture park, with a forward-thinking green agenda and a cultural programme which supports both emerging and established artists. Keep an eye out too for wild herds of deer and alpaca which roam the land.
In Liverpool, there’s the much-loved Sefton Park. The Grade One listed, 200-acre park has beautiful wildflower meadows, a boating lake and a beautifully restored glass-panelled building, the Palm House, with more than 20 different varieties of palms, 32 different orchids and even some edible plants.
Dine off the land
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No such thing as a free lunch? Well, there might be after you’ve picked up some tips on a foraging walk with Bellord and Brown in Portsmouth or Cracking Good Food in Manchester. It’s important to know what you’re doing to ensure you’re foraging responsibly, so these walks will give a great introduction for beginners. Both offer an introduction to the world of wild foods, leading participants on a ramble around the local area, spotting, picking, and tasting foods along the way that you never knew were edible. The walks end with a cook-up and a chance to understand how to use the ingredients you’ve collected along the way.
Getting out in nature, as well as eating locally and more seasonally are great ways to be kinder to yourself and to the environment. And you can’t get much more local and seasonal than foraging. Plus, being able to find your own snack when you're on your next walk ー how cool is that?
Sustainable restaurants
From teaming up with local suppliers for the very best seasonal ingredients to composting food waste to cut down their carbon footprint, restaurants up and down the country are whipping up mouth-watering dishes whilst keeping sustainability in mind. One of these restaurants is Where the Light Gets In in Stockport, which recently won a green Michelin star for sustainability. It’s well worth the short 10-minute train from Manchester Piccadilly which leaves every 10 minutes.
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In Liverpool, at the urban-jungle themed restaurant, Watering Can, the head chef changes up the menu regularly depending on what seasonal ingredients are available.
Eco-friendly places to stay
Many hotels in cities across the country are putting sustainability at the top of the agenda like the super chic and eco-friendly boutique hotel The Zetter in London, housed in a former 19th-century Victorian warehouse. The green hotel uses energy-saving technology and eco-friendly materials, and the water is even pumped from the hotel’s own 1500-foot bore-hole – talk about self-sufficient.
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Other eco-friendly retreats include boutique hotel The Bristol in Bristol which won a Gold Green Tourism award. There’s also the De Vere Orchard in Nottingham which uses sustainable products, locally sourced food and lots of green amenities like electric charging points and water efficient toilets.
Take the road less travelled…
… and by road, we mean waterway. If you want to see the city a little differently, how about exploring Birmingham by barge? Live life in the slow lane with one of the narrowboat tours that navigate the city’s 35 miles of historical canals while taking in the sights along the way.
Elsewhere, Norwich company Pub and Paddle can take you on a pub crawl by canoe. A totally unique way to explore Norwich and its surrounding areas, all the trips start off in the city centre before moving out through the countryside and visiting riverside pubs along the way. Talk about idyllic.
Feel good about 2022. Reconnect with your favourite people and places and find exciting events on an English city break this spring. Find out more on visitengland.com/escape.
Sponsored by Visit England
Topics: Travel
The UNILAD Team