I’ve always been a girl who has loved to shop and I consider us very lucky over here in the UK as their are some amazing shopping centres to visit from the mainstream brands to the quirky independents. We’re also incredibly lucky that we don’t need to travel overseas to have an amazing break away. An hour or two down a motorway sees us almost in another country with changing scenery, atmosphere and even weather. With that in mind, when Travelodge invited me to share some of my top towns with my readers I really didn’t find it all that hard.

I couldn’t not start this post with my home city, Bristol and all it has to offer. I’ve waxed lyrical about living here before especially in terms of the shopping! From out of town high street heaven at Cribbs Causeway to the brands and atmosphere of Cabot Circus there really is something to cater for all tastes and all budgets. Some of my favourite shopping haunts are Gloucester Road for it’s independent shops and cool coffee shops as well as Cabot Circus (nothing beats a browse in Pull and Bear, or I feel really extravagant then Harvey Nichols!

Another favourite for me in terms of shopping has to be Birmingham. The vastness of the Bullring (the UK’s busiest shopping centre) never fails to impress me and I love how so many shops that I can’t browse in Bristol are readily available for my browsing pleasure. I could lose half a day easily inside Selfridges and split the other half between Forever21 and Victorias Secret. I must make another visit soon.

On the staycation front there are two places that really stand out in my mind. Firstly Sidmouth, a charming little seaside town in Devon where I spent many a happy childhood holiday. There is something so magical about strolling down cobbled streets, eating ice cream and picking your way over the pebbly beach waiting for the tide to retreat so you can snag a rare bit of sand. I have so many happy memories from this little part of Devon, I don’t think it will ever lose it’s magic.

The second staycation destination is Melton Mowbray which I’ve become quite familiar with since Ben and I make more and more frequent visits up to see his family. He’ll think I’m mad for writing this but I think it’s such a charming place with it’s signposts for the pork pie shoppe and bustling weekend market. A short drive outside of town and you’re in some of the most beautiful countryside too… I always fall for this town every time we head up North.

These are all places I plan to see a lot more of in 2016. It’s going to be a busy year and I don’t think I’ll have the funds to fly off anywhere overseas, I can’t say I’m overly bothered though (weather aside) as the UK has so much to offer and you can easily get a weekend away very cheaply, leaving a few pennies left over to explore the local shops, of course!

Where are some of your favourite towns and cities? I’m starting a list of where I need to go over the next 12 months…