A report this week shows that a million fewer Brits are taking their summer holiday abroad this year than last. For many the belt tightening has extended to taking no break at all as the economic picture seems to worsen daily. Others are opting for shorter UK breaks as a way to have a holiday without spending too much.

Tent manufacturers and retailers are experiencing a mini boom as more families decide to slash costs further still by sleeping under canvas (well, rip-stop nylon to be precise) on UK campsites.

More people holidaying at home means that more money will be kept within the UK borders and that will in a small way help the current economic climate from sliding further downhill.

Windsor Castle is justly famous as a huge Norman Castle and the home of British monarchy for close to a thousand years now. If you are staying in London, then Windsor is just one hour by train. You have two routes to choose from depending on where in London you are staying.

If you are south of the River Thames, or around the strand/embankment area then go to Waterloo station and get a direct train to Windsor and Eton Riverside Station.

Alternatively, if you are in Soho or Camden, go to Paddington Mainline Station and take the train to Slough. You can change to the Windsor Branch Line which is on platform 1.

Either way, you will end up in the delightful little town of Windsor which has great restaurants, great shopping, a huge park, riverside walks, boat rides and of course, the Castle itself.

Belgium is small and is often the butt of jokes (name 3 famous Belgians?) by its neighbours. However, Bruges is a great city for a weekend visit. Less brash than Brussels, but more beautiful by far, Bruges (also called Brugge) is above all a cultural town. Museums sit cheek by jowl with each other, telling the story of the rise to prominence of this little town which became a major european trading town in the middle ages. The oldest hospital in europe is here for visitors to see how the sick were cared for in harsher days. The palace where England’s Charles II lived in exile following the beheading of his father is open to the public, and once you feel a little peckish, a five minute walk will take you to the world’s first museum dedicated to the humble potato chip (french fries).

Canal tours are great, as are horsedrawn carriage rides, but Bruges is above all a place to wander on foot or bicycle. It is beautiful. The entire old town within the medieval walls is cobbled and strict laws ensure no bad design ruins the look of the place. The result is a photographers dream location around every single corner. The food is stunningly good and the beer is world class. A particular treat was a bar offering 400 varieties of beer!

Come to Bruges any time of year and enjoy a relaxing, classy, cultural break from the ordinary.