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Great budget, Great Britain
The strength of the euro against the pound makes the UK a great destination for those looking to holiday on the cheap. Heidi Fuller-love sets off to see the sights
With the pound
plummeting against the euro, and many ex-Eastern bloc currencies reaching record lows too, there’s never been a better time for people from the eurozone to travel. Follow our step-by-step guide to seven cities where you’ll get better value from your money.
Birmingham
Go to the historic Jewellery Quarter (the-quarter.com). Free museums, art galleries, listed buildings and more than 100 stores guarantee an unusual day out that’s also excellent value.
Shop at Custard Factory (Gibb Street, custardfactory.com). This rejuventated industrial area in the smoky heart of Digbeth is now a trendy labyrinth of hip bars, cool cafés and bric-a-brac stores selling great vintage homeware and clothing for a fistful of euros.
Eat at Al Frash Balti (186 Ladypool Road, tel. +44 (0)121 753 3120, www.alfrash. com), where a huge curry and naan bread costs from just €8,40/£7.60.
Step out to The Electric (47-49 Station Street, theelectric.co.uk), the UK’s oldest working cinema. Just €11/£10 will buy you drinks and nibbles, a cosy leather seat and a vintage film.
Sleep at The Old Crown (118 High Street Deritend, tel. +44 (0)121 248 1368, theoldcrown.com), a 15th-century tavern with rooms from €39/£35.
Manchester
Go to the Salford tourist information centre (The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, visitsalford.info) and pick up a free walking tour of the city, then head for the Imperial War Museum North (Trafford Wharf, north.iwm.org.uk) for great exhibitions and stunning views of the city where “matchstick men” artist
L.S. Lowry was born.
Shop at TK Maxx (the Arndale Centre, Market Street) to pick up last season’s and surplus stock, and a superb range of homeware, for great prices
Eat at Dukes 92 (18 Castle Street, tel. +44 (0)161 839 3522, dukes92.com). This cosy pub serves huge bread, cheese and pâté platters for only €6,50/£5.95.
Step out to Cornerhouse (70 Oxford Street, cornerhouse.org). Entry to an art film along with a beer and a pizza at this kitsch venue costs from €13,30/£12.15.
Sleep at Hatters Hostel (50 Newton Street, tel. +44 (0)161 236 9500, hattersgroup.com). This hip hostel is surrounded by bars and clubs, and has beds from €16/£14.50.
Bristol
Go to any Bristol Ferry (bristolferry. com) stop and buy a multi-stop ticket. For just €8/£7, you can hop on and off the ferry all day and visit the city’s main sights.
Shop for gifts direct from the Bristol blue glass factory (Unit 7, Whitby Road, bristol-glass.co.uk), then hunt for bargains among the quirky stalls and small shops at St Nicholas Market (Corn Street, Monday to Saturday and the first Sunday of every month).
Eat The Folk House Café (40a Park Street, tel.+44 (0)117 908 5035) does light lunches made with organic and seasonal ingredients, from €4,50/£4.
Step out to hip student venue The Works (15 Nelson Street) where €3,50/ £3 buys admission to two bars and great music mixed by resident DJs.
Sleep at Saco Apartments (various locations, sacoapartments.co.uk), which are well equipped and superbly situated – some overlook the harbour – and cost from €75/£68 a night.
Newcastle
Go for a picnic in Saltwell Park and enjoy the rose garden, boating lake and aviaries. Then stroll along Newcastle and Gateshead Quays to find loads of low-cost attractions, including the famous Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
Shop in the new-look Quayside Sunday Market. Held under Tyne bridge since 1736, 200 stalls sell everything from books and CDs to clothes and homeware at unbeatable prices.
Eat at Kublai Khan (23-29 Proctor House, kublaikhannewcastle.co.uk). An all-you-can-eat buffet at this Mongolian-Chinese restaurant costs from €11/£9.90.
Step out to one of the city pubs hosting live music free of charge. Or head to happening venue The Head of Steam (2 Neville Street, theheadofsteam.com), a crowded bar where some of the city’s best bands play and a pint of ale costs under €3/£2.80.
Sleep at Albatross Backpackers In! (51 Grainger Street, tel. +44(0)191 233 1330, albatross newcastle.co.uk), a superb-value hostel with beds from €18/£16.50.
Cities on a shoestring
It’s a great time to visit the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary too
■ Prague
Go on a walking tour with Free Prague Tours (freepraguetours.eu), then head to the Franz Kafka Museum (7 Cihelná, kafkamuseum.cz) and for €4,50/CZK 120 get a insight into the life of the man whose hero imagined he was a cockroach.
Step out to the National Theatre box office (1 Ostrovní, narodni-divadlo.cz) and buy tickets for world-class concerts, operas and ballets for a fraction of the price you’d pay in most other major cities.
■ Krakow
Shop for amber, gold and silver jewellery bargains in the Drapers’ Hall (Rynek Główny), then hit Stary Market (near Matejka square) for cheap leather goods.
Eat at a booth on Plac Nowy in Kazimierz district, where a huge, steaming baguette stuffed with melted cheese and mushrooms called a zapiekanke will set you back €3/PLN 13.
■ Budapest
Go to budapestinfo.hu and buy a Budapest Card, which gives you free trips on public transport, entry to museums and discounts on attractions such as the historic baths for 48 hours (€21/HUF 6,300) or 72 hours (€26/HUF 7,500).
Shop for hand-cranked Victrolas, chinaware and silver at Ecseri Flea Market
(XIX. Nagykörösi út, open all week).
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