“I’m driving home for Christmas,” Chris Rea sang in his festive song over busy roads. But while the idea of being stuck in traffic from head to toe sounded almost romantic in its raucous chatter, being stuck in traffic is probably the worst part of the holidays — especially when your mother-in-law’s sprouts or your sister’s snide comments everything you will face at the end of your trip.
Although the AA has not yet released its 2023 forecasts, it predicted that up to 45 million cars would appear on UK roads on December 23 and 24, 2022, causing travel chaos. Our advice? Break up an exhausting Christmas journey with a festive stopover two or three hours from your destination and turn the trip into a mini-vacation. Why? Because it turns out that tackling the A30 or M6 is made much more fun with a stiff drink and a bubble bath halfway through.
Below we look at the most popular finishing points for your festive ride (Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, London and the Lakes) and calculate the perfect pit stop based on proximity to the main road and distance to the finish line, and choose a stunning hotel with availability for good measure. You never know, your pit stop in one of these towns and villages might be the best part of your Christmas holiday.
On the way home to… Cornwall
Stop in Topsham, Devon
On the way to Cornwall all roads lead to the A30, an unavoidably traffic-heavy stretch where the motorway ends. You’ll need stamina for this final furlong (especially if you’ve already conquered the heavy A303), so break the journey at Topsham. At the mouth of the River Exe, about a 15-minute drive from where the A30 begins, the town is like a Turner painting coming to life – especially when pastel sunsets explode over the water during winter twilight. Christmas brings extra excitement with the windows of the city’s old merchant houses full of glittering stars and the downtown sky with festive lights.
Stay here: Great beds and showers elevate the Salutation Inn, a 17th-century tavern on historic Fore Street. It serves a breakfast of champions to fuel your onward journey. Doubles costs from £160 on December 23rd.
Eat here: It’s going to be turkey for a while, so get your fish fix while you can. Behind the cobalt facade of The Galley lies a sea-focused menu, consisting of pollock with cavolo nero and white wine velouté, as well as halibut with wild mushrooms, mussels and beurre blanc sauce. The restaurant has limited availability on December 23.
On the way home to… Scotland
Stop in Teesdale, County Durham
Often overlooked in favor of the neighboring Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines National Landscape (formerly called an Area of Outstanding National Beauty) is an astonishing stretch of dramatic moorland full of rivers and waterfalls. The views alone are worth the short detour from the M6 or M1, but the nearby towns and villages are also good for a lazy stroll.
Some might suggest that Dominic Cummings brought more than an eye test to Barnard Castle, with its romantically crumbling ruins and stone-clad High Street. As well as that much-loved market town, little Middleton-in-Teesdale has book, antique and coffee shops, as well as walks through the empty hills.
Stay here: An icy wind sweeps across the more remote landscape of Upper Teesdale, but you’ll receive one of the warmest welcomes in the country at the High Force Hotel. At this inn, the fires are roaring in the fireplaces and hosts George and Andrew serve mince pies and mulled wine to newcomers. The evenings are for early nights in cloudy beds. From £135 B&B on 23rd December (hotel reports roads are in good condition and gritted every day).
Eat here: Beams, tiled floors and checked curtains make The Rose & Crown in Romaldkirk as close to the quintessential British inn as possible. Enjoy a plate of local cheeses and meats, or warm up with boeuf bourguignon pie. There is currently availability on December 23rd.
On the way home to… the Lake District
Stop in Cheddleton, Staffordshire
About half an hour’s drive from the M6, little Cheddleton has plenty to offer for a pre-Christmas pit stop on the way to the Lakes, including walks along the leafy Caldon Canal towpath, which once carried the limestone of the Peak District to the potteries of the Midlands. . There’s also a steam train chugging through the village (although the Polar Express trips are fully booked for 2023, it’s fun to watch it chug past). Meanwhile, at nearby Consall Woods, winter walkers can see willow and marsh tits playing at the edge of mirror-smooth pools.
Stay here: Set within 32 hectares of formal gardens and extensive countryside, The Tawny Hotel’s collection of treehouses, cabins and lodges features an outdoor swimming pool heated to 31 degrees at all times. There are still a handful of rooms available for the pre-Christmas weekend, including a glamorous ‘Retreat’ with an outdoor pool. Cabins from £330 B&B.
Eat here: The atmosphere is casual at The Flintlock in Cheddleton, with light walls and comfortable chairs, but the food is exceptionally luxurious. Tasting menu dishes include tortelli with pork cheeks and winter squash and hake with charcoal butter and pickled vegetables. There are currently tables available on December 23rd.
On the way home to…London from the North
Stop at Stock, Essex
You’ve done the long, hard slog across the M1. Don’t tackle computer games on the A12 or the traffic jams on the M25 without a refreshing stopover. Rural Essex is dotted with the kind of cute market towns and old inns that are reminiscent of old-fashioned Christmases, and Stock, one of a series of pretty villages on the outskirts of Chelmsford, should raise a smile from even the Scroogiest visitor. Three pubs line the chic high street and a tea shop hides in the streets beyond, while the Phoenix Smokery on the edge is a great place to pick up a smoked salmon starter before the big day.
Stay here: A little bit of Essex glitter has found its way into Greenwoods, a stylish hotel in a 17th-century country house. There is an unexpectedly glamorous spa and the rooms feature chandeliers and chic accents. Doubles is available on December 23 from £230.
Eat here: Behind the wooden facade of The Hoop lies a real pub with dark wooden beams, a bar full of locals and classics such as fish and chips or pie, mash and spirits on the menu. Lunchtime is currently available on December 23rd.
On the way home to… Wales
Stop in Hereford
This underrated city is a perfect pre-Christmas getaway for those leaving England’s motorways and heading across the border. A number of motorways converge in Hereford, two of which wind westwards into the Welsh wilderness (the A438 connects with routes into central Wales and the A465 runs south to Abergavenny and then on to the south coast). Hereford may be big, but it’s just as beautiful as the nearby market towns: ornate Georgian villas line the banks of the Wye, while the enormous cathedral towers above the city center. Grab some last-minute shopping in the well-preserved streets – including a trip to the Christmas market around the huge tree in High Town if you’re there on December 22.
Stay here: Set next to the medieval moat that once surrounded Hereford Castle, Castle House is a real treat, especially if you book into the Townhouse Annexe, which is done up in soothing creams and grays (there are currently two rooms left for the night of December 23 ). with more in the main building). Decanters of sherry in the bedrooms should create the Christmas spirit. Doubles from £240 B&B on 23rd December.
Eat here: Brunch is a slap-up affair at The Bookshop. Choose from eggs any way (they’re especially delicious with beetroot, feta and almond dukkah) or carb-rich with macaroni and cheese on sourdough. Better yet, book in for an evening of mulled wine, mince pies and live music at the Dueling Pianos evening on December 23, which promises a Christmas carol.