There is something so special about a Great British staycation.
It might not always come with guaranteed sunshine, but it does come with colourful beach huts, winding country roads, fish and chips by the sea, caravan adventures, cosy cottages and evenings spent outside beneath the stars.
Some of my favourite holiday memories are not about travelling somewhere far away. They are often the simple moments: packing far too many snacks for the journey, stopping somewhere unexpected, waking up somewhere peaceful or sitting outside as the evening begins to cool.
That feeling inspired this month’s August theme.
Rather than sharing another traditional summer bucket list, I thought it would be more fun to help you discover your ideal staycation style and show you how to bring a little of that holiday atmosphere into your home, even when you are not going away.
So, which Great British staycation sounds most like you?
The Beach Hut Escape
You love the sound of the sea, salty air, colourful beach huts and the excitement of a traditional British seaside day.
Your perfect staycation includes sandy feet, amusement arcades, sticks of rock, chips eaten from the paper and the promise of an ice cream before heading home.
There is something wonderfully nostalgic about the British coast. Even the familiar sound of seagulls can transport us back to childhood holidays, when a day at the seaside felt like the biggest adventure in the world.
Recreate the feeling at home
Bring a little seaside energy into an ordinary summer evening.
Serve fish and chips in paper, make a jug of something fruity and refreshing, put on a playlist that reminds you of holidays and fill your home with a bright fragrance inspired by tropical fruits, seaside treats or sunny days.
You could also create your own miniature beach escape in the garden with a striped blanket, a deckchair and a good book.
No suitcase required.
Your perfect August plan
Choose a coastal town you have not visited before, even if it is only an hour away. Wander along the promenade, explore the independent shops and stay long enough to watch the evening light settle across the water.
The Caravan Adventure
You love the freedom of packing up the car, bringing far too many home comforts and setting off without needing everything to be perfectly planned.
Caravan holidays have a charm all of their own.
There are card games when the weather changes, cups of tea made in tiny kitchens, folding chairs outside and that unmistakable sense that everyone has temporarily stepped away from normal life.
For you, the best holidays are relaxed, familiar and full of laughter.
Recreate the feeling at home
Turn one evening into a proper family games night.
Put the phones away, bring out the cards or board games, make an easy picnic-style tea and choose a fragrance that feels playful, cheerful and comforting.
You could even have a “caravan supper” with sandwiches, crisps, fruit, biscuits and all the treats you would normally pack for a journey.
The point is not to make it polished. The best caravan memories are usually a little chaotic.
Your perfect August plan
Plan a spontaneous day out without creating a strict itinerary.
Choose a direction, pack snacks and stop somewhere that looks interesting along the way. Sometimes the unexpected places become the ones you remember most.
The Country Cottage Retreat
You dream of flower-filled gardens, stone cottages, peaceful mornings and nowhere you need to be.
Your ideal Great British staycation involves village walks, local bakeries, second-hand bookshops, country pubs and evenings spent reading beside an open window.
A cottage holiday feels like permission to slow everything down.
There is time to make breakfast properly, arrange fresh flowers, wander without a destination and enjoy the kind of quiet that is difficult to find during a normal working week.
Recreate the feeling at home
Give one room a simple cottage-inspired reset.
Open the windows, clear away unnecessary clutter and place a small bunch of seasonal flowers on the table. Add a soft blanket, choose a comforting fragrance and spend the evening reading, baking or watching a favourite film.
You do not need to redecorate your entire home. A few thoughtful details can completely change how a space feels.
Your perfect August plan
Visit a nearby village or market town and treat it like a holiday destination.
Explore the local shops, stop for coffee, take photographs and choose somewhere lovely for lunch. Looking at a familiar area through a visitor’s eyes can make it feel completely new.
The Glamping Getaway
You love being close to nature but you also appreciate proper bedding, soft lighting and a few luxuries.
Your perfect getaway includes canvas tents, fairy lights, outdoor cooking and sitting beneath the stars with a warm drink.
Glamping offers the best of both worlds. It has the adventure of camping without giving up every home comfort.
It feels romantic, peaceful and just a little indulgent.
Recreate the feeling at home
Create a glamping evening in your own garden.
Hang up outdoor lights, pile blankets and cushions onto the chairs and prepare something simple to eat outside. As the sun goes down, add lanterns, warm drinks and a fragrance that feels rich, relaxing or inspired by nature.
No garden? Create the same feeling indoors by switching off the main lights, using lamps and candles, making a cosy floor picnic and putting on a peaceful woodland soundtrack.
Your perfect August plan
Choose one clear evening and spend longer outside than you normally would.
Wrap up in a blanket, look at the stars and resist the temptation to rush back indoors. It is surprising how different home can feel when you change the way you use it.
What If the Great British Weather Has Other Plans?
No British staycation guide would be complete without mentioning the rain.
But some of the cosiest holiday memories happen when the weather changes unexpectedly.
A rainy afternoon is the perfect excuse to:
- Visit a local museum or stately home
- Find an independent café
- Browse a bookshop
- Have a film afternoon
- Bake something comforting
- Play games together
- Melt a fragrance that makes home feel especially inviting
The weather does not have to ruin the day. Sometimes it simply changes the plan.
Bring the Holiday Feeling Home
One of the reasons fragrance is such a big part of our homes is its ability to transport us somewhere else.
A bright fruity scent might remind us of seaside sweets and sunny days. A soft floral fragrance can feel like stepping into a cottage garden, while warm woods and comforting notes can create the atmosphere of an evening spent beneath the stars.
That is what inspired our August collection: four different escapes, each capturing its own version of a memorable British break.
Whether you are travelling this summer or staying close to home, fragrance can help turn an ordinary room into somewhere that feels a little more special.
So, Which Staycation Are You?
Are you drawn to the nostalgia of a colourful beach hut?
Do you love the relaxed fun of a caravan adventure?
Would you choose the quiet charm of a country cottage?
Or are you happiest glamping beneath the stars with all your favourite comforts nearby?
I think I am probably a mixture of the country cottage and glamping escape. I love peaceful surroundings and beautiful little details but I am not quite ready to give up a comfortable bed!
Whichever one you choose, I hope August gives you the chance to step away from routine, enjoy somewhere new and create a few memories before summer comes to an end.
And remember, you do not always have to travel far to feel as though you have escaped.
Sometimes all it takes is a change of atmosphere, a favourite fragrance and an evening enjoyed a little differently.
Jess x 🤍
