Booking a holiday a week before departure doesn’t automatically mean paying more or settling for somewhere less exciting. Plenty of destinations are easy to reach from the UK throughout the year, with regular flights or rail services, a good range of accommodation, and enough to keep a long weekend or a few extra days busy.
The places below don’t demand weeks of research before travelling. Public transport is dependable, many of the main sights are within walking distance of one another, and there’s enough going on that each day can take a different direction without spending half the morning studying maps or timetables.
Devon and the Moorland and Coast
People planning last minute holidays in Devon often head straight for the coast, though Dartmoor is close enough to fit into the same trip. It’s entirely possible to spend the morning walking across open moorland and still be back beside the sea before dinner.
Exeter works well as a base if travelling by train. The Cathedral Quarter, Gandy Street and the old city walls are all within walking distance of the station. On Thursdays, the farmers’ market around South Street brings together local cheeses, baked goods and seasonal produce that are easy to pick up for a picnic.
Further south, Totnes is well worth a stop on market days, when the town centre fills with produce stalls, independent traders and local shoppers. Small streets lead down towards the River Dart, with bookshops, galleries and old stone buildings along the way. Along the coast, the South West Coast Path passes through Sidmouth, Salcombe and Woolacombe, where walkers regularly stop for a swim before continuing. Some rural bus services run less frequently outside summer, so checking departure times before setting out saves a long wait.
Lisbon and the Hillside Neighbourhoods
Lisbon is one of those cities that works well even when very little has been planned before arrival. Flights from the UK are frequent, the airport sits close to the city, and the metro reaches the centre in well under an hour.
Most people begin around Baixa, then gradually work uphill towards Alfama. Rua Augusta stays busy for most of the day, while the lanes behind Lisbon Cathedral are much quieter. Early morning is the best time to stop at Miradouro de Santa Luzia, before coach groups start filling the terrace during spring and autumn.
Mercado da Ribeira remains one of the busiest places to buy local produce and quick meals, though neighbourhood bakeries often have shorter queues. Comfortable shoes with firm grip make a noticeable difference, as Lisbon’s notorious polished cobbles are steep and often slippery.
Split and the Dalmatian Coast
Split is one of the easiest places to book at short notice during the warmer months, with direct flights from several UK airports and ferries running throughout the day once summer begins. Diocletian’s Palace is still part of everyday life here. People live and work inside the old walls, deliveries arrive during the morning, and narrow passages open unexpectedly into small squares.
The Green Market beside the eastern wall is busiest early, when locals stop for fruit, vegetables and fresh bread before work. Anyone searching for holiday villas in Split should look beyond the busiest streets around the palace. Neighbourhoods such as Bačvice, Firule and Meje have plenty of larger properties, and the waterfront is still within walking distance.
Ferries leave for Brač, Hvar and Šolta several times a day during summer, though tickets for popular departures can sell out when cruise ships are in port. Buying tickets the evening before usually saves time at the terminal, particularly for morning sailings. Arriving 20 to 30 minutes before departure is also a good idea, as boarding queues can build quickly during July and August.
Malta and the Fortified Capital
Malta suits shorter breaks because travelling between places rarely takes very long. Direct flights from the UK run throughout the year, and English is used almost everywhere alongside Maltese.
Valletta is compact enough to explore without constantly checking directions. Republic Street cuts through the middle of the city, while Merchant Street fills with market stalls on weekday mornings selling clothing, local snacks and household goods. The streets around St George’s Square are noticeably quieter once the day-trippers begin leaving.
Upper Barrakka Gardens overlook the Grand Harbour, where ferries continue crossing between Valletta and the Three Cities throughout the day. Local buses reach almost every part of the island, although journeys can take longer than expected during the busiest summer afternoons when traffic builds around the harbour area.
Marrakech and the Ancient Medina
Marrakech is an easy flight from the UK, though it feels very different from a typical European holiday. The call to prayer, busy souks and maze of narrow streets make it a completely different experience from a weekend in Lisbon or Split. Winter and early spring are particularly comfortable for walking, while summer afternoons can become extremely hot.
Jemaa el-Fnaa changes throughout the day. Juice stalls appear in the morning, crowds build through the afternoon, and the square fills with food vendors after sunset. Nearby souks specialise in different trades, with metalworkers, leather craftsmen and spice sellers often occupying the same streets their families have worked from for generations.
Offline maps are useful because many alleyways look surprisingly similar inside the Medina. Bab Doukkala and Bab El Khemis are handy landmarks when finding the way back out, especially after spending a few hours wandering through the markets. Carrying small notes is useful because many market stalls and smaller shops don’t always have plenty of change.
Which of these would you book tomorrow?
Leaving the booking until the last minute doesn’t limit the options. Devon has coastal walks, market towns and Dartmoor within the same county. Lisbon spreads across steep hills, with trams climbing between historic neighbourhoods and hilltop viewpoints. Split’s Roman streets lead straight to the waterfront, while Malta packs centuries of history into a small island. In Marrakech, the Medina is filled with markets, workshops and narrow lanes where daily life carries on much as it always has.
The best destination usually depends on how the holiday is likely to be spent. Some people are happiest following cliff paths, others enjoy wandering city streets or browsing morning markets. All five are realistic options from the UK without needing months of preparation, which makes them the best places to keep in mind when an unexpected gap appears in the calendar.
