The royal wedding holiday frenzy has already begun, with lastminute.com reporting short break searches up by 13% from abroad for that weekend and Travelzoo predicting sharp rises in regional flight prices over the double bank holiday period. Here are some ideas for making the most of the extra bank holiday, whether you want to join the London throngs, get out of the city or escape Britain altogether.
STAY AND CELEBRATE
Budget: Prince William Hotel in Gloucester Terrace, from £84 per room per night
Two-star Prince William Hotel in Gloucester Terrace currently available for £84 per room B&B on 29 April. (hotels.com, +44 (0)20-3027 8146)
Budget: Huttons Hotel – from £97 per room per night
Huttons is a two-star hotel in a refurbished Victorian building, five minutes from Victoria station. (octopusTravel.co.uk, +44 (0)20-7136 2856)
Self-catering: Westminster Apartment, London, from £135pp a week
A stylish two-bedroom apartment, near Westminster Abbey, the River Thames and Houses of Parliament, costs £1,575 per week and sleeps five. Or £225 per weekend (three nights). (holidaylettings.co.uk/133271)
Self-catering: Notting Hill, from £551 for four nights
Situated in a Victorian listed building close to Hyde Park, these contemporary apartments cost £551 for a four-night stay in a one-bedroom apartment, sleeping three, from 28 April. (hoseasons.co.uk or call 0844 847 1100)
ROYAL ESCAPES IN THE UK
Escape the hoo-ha in London but still enjoy a sense of royal occasion at these castles, manor houses and regal retreats.
Appleton Water Tower, Sandringham, Norfolk, from £1,258 for four
Appleton Water Tower is a quirky Landmark Trust property in Sandringham – home to the Queen's own Norfolk retreat. The tower has fantastic views as far as the Wash, and the foundation stone was laid in July 1877 by the Princess of Wales. There's no TV or radio so you'll have to bring your own if you do want to watch the ceremony. A five-night break from 28 April to 3 May costs £1,258 (sleeps four). (landmarktrust.org.uk, +44 (0)1628 825925)
Walmer Castle, Kent, from £490 a week
Walmer Castle was the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports – a title previously held by both the Duke of Wellington and the Queen Mother. Stay in either the Greenhouse Apartment overlooking the kitchen garden which has supplied the castle for more than 300 years (£478 for the weekend (Friday–Monday)/£490 for the week (Monday–Friday) or the Garden Cottage with a master bedroom overlooking the castle (£582 for the weekend (Friday–Monday)/£606 for the week (Monday–Friday). Both sleep four plus a cot and come with winter hamper. english-heritage.org.uk
Fawsley Hall, Northamptonshire, from £175 a double
This Tudor hall and former royal manor is surrounded by 2,000 acres of rolling Northamptonshire countryside, with gardens once designed by Capability Brown. You can sleep in the 1575 suite, where Queen Elizabeth I stayed during her last visit to Fawsley in that year. Prices start at £175 per room per night. (fawsleyhall.com, +44 (0)1327 892000)
Eshott Hall, Northumberland, from £160 a double
This boutique hotel dates back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I, and offers a lavish escape with extensive grounds, including an orangery, tennis court and lake, and it has its own library. Price over the wedding weekend is £160 for a double B&B, based on two sharing. (eshott.com, +44 (0)1670 787454)
Langley Castle, Hexham, Northumberland, from £169 a double
This 14th-century castle sits within a 10-acre woodland estate and has 7ft-thick walls to keep the monarchists out. Book a room with a four-poster bed for added regal effect. A double room starts from £169 for two B&B, on 29 April. (langleycastle.com, +44 (0)1434 688888)
Foxhills, Ottershaw Surrey, from £180 a double
Set in 400 acres of countryside this manor house resort, 20 mins from Waterloo, has not one but two 18-hole golf courses, 11 tennis courts, four swimming pools as well as 70 elegant bedrooms and a health spa. Perfect for lording it up over the royal weekend. (foxhills.co.uk, +44 (0)1932 704450)
Cornwall's Retallack Resort & Spa, from £125pp
Cornwall's Retallack Resort & Spa is miles from the hubbub but is hosting a Quintessentially British Garden Party on 29 April for those feeling patriotic. The 40-acre rural site near Wadebridge will host a day of croquet and other lawn games along with maypole dancing, cream teas, Pimms and cucumber sandwiches. Watch the wedding on big screens to the sounds of a string quartet. Prices for the garden party, including accommodation start at £500 for four in a five-star two-bedroom house. (retallackresort.co.uk, +44 (0)1637 882400)
Bailbrook House, Bath, from £76pppn
Similarly, Bailbrook House Hotel in Bath is holding a Right Royal Wedding Garden Party with B&B accommodation on 29 April, for £65pp. Pimm's will be flowing while the wedding is screened live, and a gourmet barbecue will continue the celebrations long into the night. Kids are invited to dress up as prices and princesses. (bailbrookhouse.co.uk, +44 (0)1225 855100)
GET FURTHER AWAY
Secluded UK stays where you might not even find a TV to watch the big event
A week in a Georgian bathing house, Devon, from £451 for two
This secluded former Georgian bathing house for two on the River Dart in South Devon has no TV or mobile reception to distract you; the only sounds will be the noise of the water, breeze in the trees, passing boats and occasional seal. Steps lead down to a riverside terrace where you can sit and watch the local wildlife. A week's stay from 29 April is £451. (helpfulholidays.com, +44 (0)1647 434063. Ref L270)
A royal toast at England's largest vineyard, £195 for two guests
Denbies wine Estate in the Surrey Hills countryside has a royal wedding package on 29 April that includes a bottle of Denbies award winning sparkling Greenfields Cuvée on arrival, accommodation in an en suite double room with breakfast, three-course dinner, a momento vine to take home, plus a tour of some of the 265-acre vineyards. (denbies.co.uk, +44 (0)1306 876777)
Stay in an 18th-century cottage, Devon, from £744 for 10 nights
Prospect Cottage is available for the Easter and May Bank Holidays. This family, pet-friendly farm-workers' cottage sleeps four and is located in Combe Martin village close to the South West Coastal Path. A 10-night stay, from 22 April-2 May, costs just £186pp – based on four sharing. (marsdens.co.uk, +44 (0)1271 813 777)
The Grange, Isle of Wight, from £58pppn
The four-star Grange hotel in Shanklin's Old Village, is just a short walk from pubs and restaurants and the sea. Take your mind off the royal wedding with a relaxing massage or and one-to-one fitness class in yoga or T'ai Chi. It is also running a Drawing from Nature course (£100pp) that weekend. £58pppn, based on two sharing on a B&B basis. (thegrangebythesea.com, +44 (0)1983 867644)
Speyside Whisky festival break, from 140 per room per night
Retreat to the Highlands and catch the Spirit of Speyside Whisky festival that just happens to be the same weekend as the wedding (28 April–2 May). Luxury Knockomie Hotel in Forres is four miles from the Moray coast in Speyside and has its own malt library. From £140 per room per night B&B, including alf a bottle of Speyside Malt Whisky. (knockomie.co.uk, +44 (0)1309 673146)
Walk away from it all in Scotland, from £619pp
This self-guided walking holiday follows parts of the 95-mile West Highland Way route from Milngavie to Fort William, that passes Loch Lomond, the foot of Ben Nevis and wild Rannoch Moor. Daily routes are between 9 and 15 miles long, with a maximum daily ascent of 1,500ft. Maps, detailed walk notes and luggage transfers are included. The nine-night self-guided trail holiday can start any day between 21 and 29 April and costs £619pp, based on two sharing a double/twin room, on B&B basis. (hfholidays.co.uk, 0845 470 7558)
Group getaway in Snowdonia, Wales, £1,300 a week
Cae Du cottage is located in the Snowdonia national park in 14 acres of peaceful river fronted grounds, with hiking, climbing, canoeing, fishing, mountain biking or horse riding in the area. Sleeping 12 guests, a week's self-catering in April and May costs £1,300 (£15.50pppn if full). (premiercottages.co.uk, +44 (0)20-8542 3480)
FLEE THE COUNTRY
Madeira: Seven nights' all-inclusive, from £369pp (saving £270)
This seven-night break with Holiday Giant at the four-star Calheta Beach hotel is valid for April and May and includes flights from Gatwick or Stansted, plus all-inclusive accommodation. (travelzoo.com/uk/holidays/spain/926703/)
Paris: Four nights from £209pp
Depart on 28 April for this four-night stay at three-star Tryp Blanche Fontaine hotel. Price includes flights (and taxes) from Luton, returning 2 May. ebookers.com
Turkey: A week for two from £690 (not flights)
The Annex is a collection of five bo-ho beach huts set amid an orange grove on Cirali Beach in Turkey. There are no TVs, no loud music and you can eat breakfast on the beach patio. Price is based on two sharing a double chaleton a B&B basis. Flights are not included. Antalya airport is 90 minutes away. A donation from every booking is made to Cirali's turtle conservation project. (journeyanatolia.com, +44 (0)20-8761 5605)
New York and Miami: nine nights from £799pp
Stay three nights at the three-star Gershwin Hotel, New York and six nights at the three-star Dorchester Hotel, Miami, both on a room-only basis. Price includes flights with US Airlines from London Gatwick departing 22 April. (travelbag.co.uk, 0871 703 4240)
Jordan: nine days from £1,329pp
This holiday from 24 April–2 May takes in mountains and wadis in Dana Nature Reserve, a two-night stay at Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. Price for this departure date is from £1,329pp including flights, transport, B&B accommodation (including one night camping), some meals (one lunch, two dinners). (adventurecompany.co.uk, 0845 287 1198)
Jamaica: seven nights from £1,099pp
Save £300pp on a seven-night stay at Sandals Carlyle Resort in Jamaica. Located on the beach in Montego Bay, this 52-room eco hideaway was named Small Green Hotel of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel Association and offers windsurfing, kneeboarding and sailing, hydro-biking and waterskiing. The price is based on two sharing and includes "Luxury Included" accommodation in a Seaside Deluxe Room, return flights from the UK departing on 26 April, resort transfers as well as resort taxes and fees. (sandals.co.uk, 0800 742 742)
Barbados: 10 nights from £897pp
This price is valid for a stay at the three-star Coconut Court Beach Hotel in Barbados between 22 April-2 May. The family-run hotel is located in the Garrison Historic Area of Hastings, Christ Church. Price based on two sharing a standard ocean view room on a room only basis, and includes return flights with Virgin from Gatwick and transfers. Book by 17 December. (destinology.co.uk, 0800 634 2866)
Morocco: four nights from £635pp
Tigmi, half an hour outside Marrakech, perched on the brow of a mud-walled Berber hamlet, is a labyrinthine of former village dwellings, courtyards and roofless corridors. The hotel is run like a private house and has an infinity pool, hammam treatments and views of the Atlas Mountains. Departing 28 April, four nights' half-board costs from £635pp, including flights from London and private transfers. (travelzest.com, 0800 171 2151)
Andalucía, Spain: four days, £291pp (not including flights)
This painting holiday starting on 25 or 29 April is based in an eco-retreat in the Parque Natural Sierra Maria-Los Velez in Andalucía. Accommodation is in an off-grid eco-guest house with wood burning boilers, solar panels and wind turbines. Price includes three nights' accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner and two days of painting and drawing tuition. Flights not included, nearest airports are Alicante, Granada, Almeria or Murcia. (golearnto.com, 08445 020445)
• All breaks were available at time of writing, but can sell out quickly.
