YOU’RE A-OK IN THE UK
Eurovision, the Coronation, majestic road trips — it’ll be all go on the staycation front
THERE are plenty of good things happening around the UK in 2023, from literature festivals to new boutique hotels to a coronation. Here’s our guide to the best events and accommodation to book now…
ALL EYES ON LEEDS
THE Yorkshire city will stage a Year of Culture throughout 2023, with arts and music events that include a literature festival (February 25 to March 5) and a celebration of its foodie scene dubbed Leeds Sauce (leeds2023.co.uk). It’s worth visiting the Leeds Corn Exchange, too. BOOK NOW: The Queens Hotel is offering up to 30 per cent off selected stays throughout 2023 — book by January 31 (thequeens leeds.co.uk).
CROWNING GLORY
UNION Flags will be out in force in London when the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III takes place at Westminster Abbey on May 6, with the country treated to an extra bank holiday two days later (royal.uk, visitlondon.com). BOOK NOW: Many central London hotels have sold out for the big day, so bag one near the Elizabeth Line then whizz into town. The four-star Fredrick’s Hotel in Maidenhead has doubles from £177, room only (fredricks-hotel.co.uk).
PARTY IN LIVERPOOL
LIVERPOOL will be in high spirits when it hosts the semi-finals and grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 on May 9, 11 and 13, closely followed by the city-wide Liverpool Biennial (June 10 to September 17), the UK’s largest festival of contemporary art (visitliverpool.com). BOOK NOW: Opened this month, Radisson RED Liverpool occupies a splendid, Grade II-listed former railway hotel next to Lime Street Station. Doubles from £120, room only (radissonhotels.com).
GREAT SCOTS
THE Scottish National Gallery will unveil major new exhibition spaces in the centre of Edinburgh next summer, with a fresh focus on early 20th-century artists. Admission is free (national galleries.org). BOOK NOW: Opening in summer, 100 Princes Street is a smart 30-room hotel that will celebrate Scottish explorers and adventurers. Doubles cost from £330 B&B (100princesstreet.com).
TAKE ON THE WILD WAY
FOLLOWING rural roads, the Wild Drovers’ Way is a new, 180mile scenic drive that meanders through Carmarthenshire. It’s a three-day circuit taking in castles, picnic spots and the home of Dylan Thomas (discover carmarthenshire.com/explore/ the-wild-drovers-way). BOOK NOW: Handy stops are Glangwili Man- sion in Car- marthen, Emlyn Hotel in Newcastle Emlyn and The Castle Hotel in Llandovery. Doubles are from £80 to £120 B&B (glangwili mansion.com, emlynhotel.co.uk, castlehotelllandovery.co.uk).
ART IN EASTBOURNE
THE East Sussex seaside resort will hit the spotlight in autumn when it hosts the Turner Prize 2023. A companion exhibition opens September 28 at the freeentry Towner Eastbourne gallery which is celebrating its centenary (townereast bourne.org.uk, visit eastbourne.com). BOOK NOW: The Grand Hotel Eastbourne, built in 1875, has doubles from £220 B&B (grand eastbourne. com) on the seafront.