Where to go for an August bank holiday getaway

The much-anticipated bank holiday is just a couple weeks away now, are you planning on taking a short getaway? Here are four trip ideas from London that won’t cost you a fortune and still give you the rest and holiday relaxation you’ve been looking forward to.

If you’re not planning to stay in London for the Notting Hill Carnival, then then take the opportunity to get away for a long weekend! Whether you’re looking for some summer sun, a city break or something closer to home, check out these budget destinations, perfect for a last-minute long-weekend trip.

Barcelona

Rock your way down Las Ramblas and spread your beach towel out on the fine sands of Barceloneta. You’ve pretty much bagged a beach holiday and a city break all-in-one if you head to Barcelona this month. Slather on the sun cream and hit up the museums! Visit the Picasso Museum, Caixa Forum and the Dali Museum. Down by the beach, grab a plate of fresh paella at a sea-side restaurant.

Fly London Heathrow to Barcelona for £143 with Swiss, for travel August 24-31st, 2011.

Paris

It’s peak season in Paris this month, but as long as you don’t plan to visit the Louvre or climb the Eiffel Tower then there’s no reason to worry about that. Take the chance to see some of Paris’ back streets, exploring its flea markets and a new temporary exhibition, at the Centre Pompidou for example. If the sun is out, head down to the Seine for a walk along the Left Bank and a picnic spread along the Pont des Arts.

Fly London  City to Paris (Orly) for £129 with Air France, for travel August 26-29th, 2011.

Madrid

Now is your chance to catch the Spanish capital in its limelight. It’s summer and the city is exploding on all sides with visitors from around the world. Most of the locals have escaped to the seaside by August. If the Spanish heat is too much in the middle of the day, escape into a museum, one of the Big Three (Prado, Reina Sofia, Thyssen-Bornemisza) or under a shady tree in Retiro Park. The city comes alive at night, so head to the bars and enjoy the tasty art of Spanish tapas.

Fly London Gatwick to Madrid for £126 with Air Europa, for travel August 26-29th, 2011.

Dublin

Dublin is always a good go-to city when you need a break but don’t want to wander too far. The city has plenty of character and their walking tours show for it. 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour and Dublin Literary Pub Crawl are just two on the menu. Talking about food, don’t miss a stroll down to Fallon & Byrne to taste some gourmet treats… olives, salami, Irish cheeses. If you need to pack in a little history into your trip to check the “educative” box on your travel list then head to the birth house of Shaw.

Fly London Luton to Dublin for £80 with Ryanair, for travel August 26-28th, 2011.

Where are you spending your August bank holiday this summer?

Imgs: C.Y.R.I.L, Louwuselchen, Oscar Megia, elsamuko / Flickr cc.