Weekend Away Essentials

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know I love short breaks away – especially staycations. There are so many great places to explore in the UK from historical sites, vast lake lands, big cities and coast land, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

[Missed a post in my staycation series? Catch up here.]

To be honest I rarely go on holiday overseas and often opt for a few weekends (or long weekends) away in the UK instead. In fact I’m spending a long weekend in Plymouth at the end of April. πŸ™‚

I think my fondness for staycations stems from having grown up visiting English coastal towns, North Wales and the Isle of Wight with my family, when I was a child. We had some wonderful holidays exploring castles in North Wales and Weymouth remains one of my favourite places to visit.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love to travel abroad from time to time but feel a staycation helps me to both save money, help local tourism and learn a little more about ‘my own backyard’.

However I’ve learnt that the packing process of a short break or a weekend away isn’t any less stressful than any other holiday. Especially with the unpredictably of the British weather! There have been times I’ve forgotten to pack my coat in the Summer months as a heat wave was forecast, only to experience a downpour instead. πŸ™

So with that in mind, here are my weekend away essentials. πŸš˜πŸ›£β›½

Weekend Away Essentials

Clothes

Base layer or leggings

These are great for keeping you warm when the temperature drops at night and are perfect for lounging in. Whether that’s around your hotel, B&B or campsite.

Coat / Jacket

I usually pack a rain mac and a lighter jacket (leather or denim depending on the season) with me, as you can never predict the lovely British weather. Along with my warm pea coat during the Winter months. When it comes to outerwear I will usually wear the bulkiest item and store it on a peg (if I’m travelling by public transport) or on the back seat of my car for the journey.

A nice dress

I usually pack one that can be dressed down for the day time or dressed up for the evening. It’s a great versatile piece to have just in case.

If you’re not a fan of dresses, a nice dressy top is also a good shout.

Loose-fitting t-shirts / vests

I usually pack plain ones so they can be easily mixed and matched with jeans or a skirt. But a simple pattern is great too such as polka dots or stripes. They’re perfect for layering under a jumper or long sleeved top, depending on the weather.

Jeans

I always wear a pair of jeans to travel in, if I’m the one driving or the aforementioned leggings if I’m a passenger. Jeans can easily be dressed up or down depending on the type of activities you’ll be doing.

Toiletries

For any weekend away, I’ll typically pack:-
First Aid Kit, which usually stays in my cars glove box or stowed in one of the inner pockets of my bag. You can make up your own or purchase them in a wide range of sizes.
Tooth brush and tooth paste
Shower gel
Shampoo / Conditioner
Deodorant
Sun cream
Wet wipes
Hand sanitizer
Lip balm – I’ll be taking the Ultrasun SPF30 lip balm, that I won in Sophie (from Glow Steady’s) giveaway.

I think these are pretty self explanatory but if you’d like specific recommendations, let me know. 😊

No makeup?

You’ll notice there’s no makeup listed, because I’m only going away for a few days but, if I know I’m going out in the evenings I’ll pack a small eye shadow palette and mascara.

Bedtime

Sleep mask
I’ve been using a sleep mask for a few years now to get a better night’s sleep. It’s perfect for blocking out any light that may creep in from light curtains or light from a television screen or standby buttons.

Misc.

Antihistamines
I suffer with a few different allergies so I always keep these on hand, just in case.

Painkillers
Again, useful to have just in case.

A book to read
This is also part of my evening routine. I try to read something, that isn’t a screen, before I go to bed.

What are your weekend away essentials? Any items I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments. 😊

32 Comments

  • Norma Linnet

    April 15, 2019 at 09:17

    Hi Kim!

    I’ve been to the UK five times in my life and I can say that, although I’ve visited a lot of countries in Europe (10 in total), it still is my favourite place in the world! So I understand why you love it.

    Great and very useful post. Thanks for sharing!

    Peace, Love & Happiness,

    Norma
    http://normalinnet.com

    1. Kim

      April 15, 2019 at 17:53

      Hi Norma,

      Thanks for your comment! There really is so many beautiful places to explore here. Isn’t there?

      I am hoping to see more European cities though like Rome or Athens. Are there any you’d recommend?

      Kim x

  • Britt Kascjak

    April 14, 2019 at 15:48

    Great checklist! I always keep an extra phone charger tucked in a pocket in my bag – like, it lives there all the time. That way if I forget mine, something happens to it, etc then I know that I’m not going to be stuck without my phone. Not that I need to be on it 24/7, but the security of having it charged and available in the event of an emergency is a must to relieve any anxiety I may have travelling.

    1. Kim

      April 15, 2019 at 17:47

      That’s a great idea! I’ll have to pop my spare charger in my bag for my next trip. Like you said it would be great for emergencies. x

  • Deborah Wyatt

    April 12, 2019 at 16:43

    I love camping, quick pitch up and explore our surroundings x

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 21:14

      Camping is a great idea for a weekend away. I love them too. x

  • Michael Anderson

    April 12, 2019 at 16:32

    Great list! It’s so easy to forget to pack something when going on a trip so it’s nice to have a list so that you remember everything. Keep up the good work!

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 21:13

      Thanks Michael. πŸ™‚

  • Emma

    April 12, 2019 at 14:24

    A great list, I would add wellies, and a pair of comfy pumps/boots/sandals depending on the season. Wellies and waterproof coats go everywhere with us in the boot of the car! I wish we only had to think of ourselves when packing but taking three boys who are all under 5 with us, it becomes a whole new ball game. We enjoy long weekends and staycations too! The UK has a lot to offer, we even love the unpredictable weather!

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 21:12

      Thanks for your comment lovely. I don’t actually own a pair of wellies but waterproof shoes or boots are a good shout. Thanks for the tip. x

  • Chloe Chats

    April 12, 2019 at 13:16

    Great post, very handy to look back on for when I go away! I love doing long weekends away in the UK, I’ve got 11 days off work now so planning a little something so will have to think about what I’m packing!!

    Chloe xx
    http://www.chloechats.com

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 21:10

      Thanks Chloe. I hope you enjoy your time away – we have a week off at the end of the month. It’s going to be good to get away for a bit. x

  • ThatAutisticFitChick

    April 12, 2019 at 01:34

    Packing painkillers is a must for me – whenever I forget I always need them (usually for toothache) and I’m very particular about having a certain brand because their capsule is smaller than other brands and easier to swallow!

    Great post and tips!

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 21:07

      Thanks for the comment lovely. I’m very particular at the painkillers I take too. I can’t stand ones that are too large or have a sugary coating.

  • Chloe Osborn

    April 11, 2019 at 19:39

    This is a great list of essentials! I too always make sure I have a nice dress just in case we end up going somewhere nice for food. And also a light rain coat is a good one because I hate being too warm in a big coat but you definitely need a coat in British weather!

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 19:10

      Thanks for your comment Chloe. I hate lugging a big coat around with me too so a mac is an ideal alternative.

  • Jenny

    April 11, 2019 at 17:52

    I literally take everything with me when I have a weekend away. It’s a luxury that weekends away usually involve driving to the destination so I can throw anything in the car so it’s there “just in case”!

    Jenny
    http://www.jennyinneverland.com

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 19:09

      I know what you mean! When I first started road trips I was very much the same. x

  • Ellie

    April 11, 2019 at 17:32

    I love visiting places here in the UK – I have travelled a lot but I am very under travelled in my own country which sucks! I think I’ll book somewhere for next weekend as I have some time off. It is sooooo difficult packing for a trip in the UK, with it being so changeable you need like 1000 outfit options – I love your suggestions for multipurpose clothes < I need to work more on this one!

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 18:50

      Thanks for your comment Ellie. I’m very much the opposite and haven’t explore many other countries. I hope you find my tips useful. xxx

  • Jazmin

    April 11, 2019 at 17:30

    Loved this post – super helpful! I find that I always take too much too & I need to cut back. For example I’ll take so many evening dresses when I only actually need 1 lol! Xxx

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 18:35

      Thank you! 😊 I’m glad you found it useful. I used to take too many clothes with me too. x

  • Lisa

    April 11, 2019 at 17:18

    We’re going away for a long weekend for Easter so this post couldn’t have been better timed! I like the idea of a dress, it’s not normally something I’d pack but I could pair it with some leggings, which is what my super stylish 9 year old daughter does, haha. And make up is a must for me, I’m afraid! Fab post, thank you Kim πŸ™‚ Lisa x

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 18:07

      Thanks Lisa. 😊 I hope you found these tips useful. Leggings and a dress is a great combination and one I wear frequently myself. They’re often a lot thicker than tights. xxx

  • BestieTalks

    April 11, 2019 at 17:11

    Great list!! I’m an avid getaway girl and have my go to bag that I use and only pack the essentials! I’m not one to bring more than I need!

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 16:30

      Thanks for your comment. 😊 I’m very much the same and never pack more than I need. x

  • Ashley

    April 10, 2019 at 22:10

    We always holiday in the UK nowadays – there’s so much of this country to see and experience. Plus I can always wear my leggings wherever we go! Thanks for sharing lovely xxx

    Ashley
    https://lellalee.com

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 16:20

      Thanks for your comment Ashley. 😊 Happy to hear you enjoy holidays in the UK too. x

  • Amie Cadwallader

    April 10, 2019 at 20:34

    A nice dress is always an essential, this is such a good checklist too!

    Love, Amie ❀
    The Curvaceous Vegan

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 16:17

      Thanks Amie xx

  • ashleigh davis

    April 10, 2019 at 20:31

    Oh I definitely agree with you.. any kind of holiday packing (no matter where or how long you are going for) is stressful! But definitely also agree in making the most of what’s in your backyard! England has so many fantastic places to visit! Short breaks in the UK for the win πŸ˜ŠπŸ‘πŸΌ

    Ashleigh | http://www.thestoryofashleighdavis.com

    1. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 15:31

      Thanks for your comment Ashleigh. 😊 I’m happy to hear you enjoy holidays in the UK too. x

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