There’s a fabulous world of holiday destinations out there. It can be tempting to return to our favourite spots to sip a nostalgic cocktail in familiar surroundings, the excitement of making new memories in new places is hard to beat.
When you’re thinking about where to go on holiday next year, where do you start? Perhaps it’s somewhere on your bucket list, made up of your personal wish list of must-see places. Or maybe you’re a beachy type who’s never more at home than on white-powder sands in the shade of a swaying palm.
Perhaps a city break satisfies your wanderlust, where you can get under the skin of a nation by tasting its food and meeting the locals. Or maybe incredible scenery does it for you, like the kind you can witness on famous railway journeys that slice a trail through mountain ranges. For others, it can be about enriching experiences that take us behind the scenes, off the beaten track, or the opportunity to learn a new skill.
Whatever your preferred holiday style, whether a mini-break or a longer adventure, somewhere near or far-flung - or maybe completely no-fly - we’ve got two ideas of where to go on holiday for every month of 2023 to ignite your wanderlust.
Where to go on holiday in January: Leicestershire
Leicestershire might not be the first location that springs to mind for a January escape. But you don’t have to search out winter sun to be spoilt in the darkest month of the year. Ease into 2023 with a spa break at one of the UK’s top retreats. Ragdale Hall Spa in Leicestershire ushers you in from the winter chill with soothing steam rooms and a tranquil spa cave lit by candlelight. Use it as an opportunity to kickstart a health plan or re-energise after the hectic Christmas season, indulging in some pampering treatments and letting someone else look after you with nourishing meals.
Good Housekeeping has an exclusive two-night offer at Ragdale Hall, including two treatments and all meals. You’ll have access to the classes and gym facilities if you’re starting or restarting a fitness regime, or make the most of the spa facilities for some R&R and emerge with the energy to take on 2023.
Where to go on holiday in February: New Orleans
Oh, February. When it rolls around, everyone wishes they’d booked that break to escape the cold, dark days. In 2023, be ready for February with a holiday to the USA’s Deep South. Travelling to this part of the United States in the winter means avoiding the steamy summertime and enjoying the comfortably cool climate. It’s a pleasant temperature for exploring the streets of these cities and getting to know the French Quarter in New Orleans.
New Orleans is best known for Mardi Gras and jazz parties along Bourbon Street. In 2023, Mardi Gras falls on 21 February, when the parades and parties weave through the streets. Away from the festivities, there’s a fascinating culture beneath the surface when you peer inside intriguing shops and feast on Cajun and Creole cuisine.
Exploring the region beyond New Orleans makes sense if you're out this way. Board a magnificent paddlewheel liner – an icon of the Mississippi - for a voyage aboard American Queen, bound for Memphis, the birthplace of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and soul. It takes a week to get to Memphis from New Orleans via storied towns and plantations.
Where to go on holiday in February: Costa Rica
The weather is fabulous in Costa Rica year-round, but it’s especially dry and sunny in February when there’s only the slightest chance of rainfall and wildlife spotting conditions are at their best.
It’s undoubtedly an adventurer's playground with plenty of opportunities for ziplining through cloud forests and trying out the excellent surf. But you don’t have to be the active type to love a holiday in Costa Rica. This place is full of colourful wildlife and laid-back beach life that befits its paradisiacal backdrop.
Planning a holiday to Central America may seem a little daunting and knowing where to start on a richly varied continent can be tricky. The perfect introduction is a cruise holiday, where you’ve got a single base, but you can explore the breadth of the region comfortably.
We love sailings onboard Star Clipper ships, fully-masted sailing boats that manage to be both nostalgic and modern at once. On a sensational sailing aboard Star Flyer in February 2023, you can explore the islands off Costa Rica and Panama’s coasts.
Where to go on holiday in April: Isles of Scilly
Thinking about a spring break? If you’re considering where to go on holiday in April, you don’t have to look beyond the British Isles. The Isles of Scilly is an archipelago of 140 islands and is a favoured spot of the Prince and Princess of Wales – perhaps because there’s an escapist feel, partly instilled by the slower pace of life and lack of international brands, and because it feels unlike anywhere else in the UK.
Twenty-eight miles off the coast of Cornwall, spring arrives early on the Isles of Scilly, and you can enjoy the best of the spring blooms at the islands’ most famous gardens, Tresco Abbey Gardens. Join a six-day discovery of the Isles of Scilly in April 2023, where all the details are taken care of. Dinner plus bed and breakfast at the lovely The Atlantic hotel, a wildlife cruise, a guided tour of Tresco Abbey Gardens, and a visit to St Martin’s Vineyard are all planned for you. You’ll also spend a day with Will Wagstaff, a leading expert on the islands’ wildlife.
TAKE ME TO THE ISLES OF SCILLY
Where to go on holiday in April: Venice
April is an optimum time to travel to this wonderfully romantic part of Italy. The summer crowds are yet to descend, but the chilliest days are gone. It’s a place to weave through fairytale streets, shop for glass trinkets or dramatic Venetian masks, and stand on bridges to watch gondolas and their singing gondoliers passing beneath.
There’s more to the Venetian Lagoon than Venice itself, with a patchwork of islands dotted throughout the water. A cruise is a perfect way to explore, and one of the loveliest ships to grace the lagoon is La Venezia, a glamorous vessel inspired by Venetian décor and culture.
On Good Housekeeping’s special sailing in April 2023, you’ll have a selection of private tours included, choosing from an after-hours tour of St Mark’s Basilica or witnessing a private ceremony in Doge’s Palace. But the highlight of this cruise is an exceptional performance by Russell Watson in Venice, where he’ll also give an exclusive talk.
Where to go on holiday in May: Madeira
Sunny year-round, you don’t have to wait until springtime to enjoy a holiday in Madeira. But in May, the days are drier and become pleasantly warm. It’s also when the island’s colourful Flower Festival takes place. This subtropical island is only around a four-hour flight from London, making it comparably easy to get to.
Good Housekeeping has an exclusive trip to the 2023 Madeira Flower Festival, where broadcaster and TV presenter Christine Walkden will join guests for the celebrations. Along with visits to some of the island's finest gardens and a seat at the Flower Festival’s main parade, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a winery for a tasting and Porto da Cruz to sample the homemade rum.
Where to go on holiday in May: Greece
Get ahead of the summer holiday crowds and skip the intensity of the summer heat by visiting the Greek Islands in May – the perfect destination if you’re looking for somewhereto go on holiday in late spring. You can expect temperatures in the mid-20s at this time of year, when the water is lovely for swimming and the conditions are perfect for sailing.
If the idea of island hopping around Greece is tempting, step aboard Variety Cruises’ Galileo. This magnificent yacht spends the summer exploring the Cyclades archipelago, including some of the most famous islands, Mykonos and Santorini. Join Galileo for a week in May 2023 and you’ll visit a different island every day.
Where to go on holiday in June: France
The French Alps may pique the interest of keen skiers and snowboarders, but in the summer, these mountains wear a different guise that’s just as irresistible. One of our favourite spots is La Clusaz, which becomes green and lush in the summer, when the mercury rises to more pleasant temperatures, perfect for hiking through the scenery.
The cool, clean, and clear Lake Annecy is in this pocket of France, too. Dominated by impressive chateaux and overlooked by a storybook-style town, Lake Annecy takes on a new life in the summer months.
Taking a holiday in this region means you’ll be in a prime position to take a memorable railway journey on the Mont Blanc Express, climbing high into the mountains, through forests and tunnels, and over viaducts. The trip's highlight for many is when the panorama opens to reveal the Mer de Glace, a gigantic glacier.
Good Housekeeping has blended the best bits of this region into a six-day, no-fly holiday. You’ll stay in a mountain resort in La Clusaz, using it as a base to explore Geneva in Switzerland, Lake Annecy, and to board a journey aboard the Mont Blanc Express.
Where to go on holiday in June: Corsica
Corsica is simply lovely in June. At this time of year, this French island is stirring in anticipation of the busy summer ahead, warmed by the rising temperatures that tempt the bougainvillaea to bloom.
It’s a diverse island with dense forests, wide-open bays and beaches, and hidden hilltop villages, so it’s best to travel around to appreciate it fully. A network of railways links the island’s towns, and on Good Housekeeping’s ten-night holiday to Corsica you’ll use trains to explore the island, hopping from town to town on an adventure that reveals the prettiest parts of this isle. There are four departures throughout June 2023, and you’ll reach Corsica via Eurostar to Nice, then a ferry crossing to the island.
Where to go on holiday in July: Norfolk
While we love a rugged walk along the beaches of Norfolk in the winter, swathed in scarves with hats pulled down low, Norfolk is particularly glorious in the summer.
Famed for its wide-open beaches, seaside towns, and the windmill-dotted Norfolk Broads, it’s a lovely region of the UK to explore when the days are long. You can experience the nostalgia of summer holidays past by riding the steam railways that carve a route through the scenery. There are three beautiful journeys to try: the Bure Valley Railway, the Bittern Line, and the North Norfolk Railway.
A famous landmark of these parts is Sandringham – a favourite home of the late Queen Elizabeth II. On a five-day trip to Norfolk, you’ll have the chance to look inside following an exclusive talk by TV presenter and historian Lucy Worsley. The holiday also includes trips aboard the steam railways and a boat trip along the Norfolk Broads.
Where to go on holiday in July: Scottish Highlands
Norfolk isn’t the only UK region best explored by rail. In the Scottish Highlands, you can glimpse Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and pass over the spectacular 21-arch Glenfinnan viaduct, as seen in the Harry Potter films, all from the comfort of a railway carriage of the famous Jacobite. And what better time of year to appreciate it than at the height of summer?
Good Housekeeping has the perfect minibreak to the Highlands, where you’ll spend three nights in a sweet B&B and days exploring the cinematic countryside. You’ll ride on the Falkirk Wheel boat lift, experience the Jacobite steam train, take a boat trip on Loch Katrine, and a voyage on the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer, the historic and elegant PS Waverley.
Where to go on holiday in August: Yorkshire
Enjoy the best of British summertime, exploring our home nation in one of the warmest months of the year. If you’ve never visited beautiful Yorkshire, there’s no finer time to explore this large part of northern England.
It’s a particularly fascinating spot for literary lovers, where you can step into the world of Wuthering Heights at Haworth and take a Brontë-themed walk across Yorkshire's wild moors. Riding the heritage Keighley and Worth Valley Railway includes a stop at Oakworth, famous for featuring in The Railway Children.
Admire Yorkshire’s best bits on foot, joining a memorable Yorkshire walking holiday to visit the home of the Brontë sisters and traverse the Pennine Bridleway, as well as riding on classic steam trains and getting to know the market town of Skipton.
Where to go on holiday in August: British Isles
The British coastline is vastly varied and incredibly beautiful – and its diversity can be best appreciated from the sea. If a cruise around the British Isles sounds appealing, then there’s no better time of year to take the voyage during summer's long and warm days. Sail through magnificent scenery, spotting coastal castles from the deck of MS Maud and admiring dramatic cliff faces as you make your way around the magical and remote islands scattered along the shores of the British Isles.
Over 13 action-packed days, you'll experience the best of our incredible natural landscapes and traditional towns and villages, with a brilliant selection of onshore excursions included. You’ll venture around England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales – even stopping at the beautiful Isles of Scilly.
Where to go on holiday in September: Italian Lakes
We love the glamour of the Italian Lakes. If you can hold off visiting until the crowds and the summer heat of July and August have eased a little, you’ll enjoy a calmer time exploring magnificent gardens and lakeside strolls around this picture-perfect region. Lake Como, perhaps the most famous lake, shouldn’t be missed, but if you’re planning a trip to these parts, don’t overlook a visit to pretty Lake Orta.
Good Housekeeping has a trip to the Italian Lakes in September. You’ll reach the region by train – from Eurostar to Paris, then onwards to Stresa. You’ll stay on the lakeside, and all your day trips are pre-arranged, including a day at the beautiful gardens of Villa Taranto, a journey to Locarno over the border in Switzerland, and a visit to the ever-stylish Milan.
Where to go on holiday in September: Canada
Canada is a vast wonderland to explore, from the cities in the east to the wilderness in the north. Then you’ve got the western side, where British Columbia claims winter playgrounds and scenic railway journeys. There are opportunities for surfing over on Vancouver Island (where Harry and Meghan lived for a while) and the city of Vancouver to get to know, too.
If you’re not visiting for winter sports, September is a beautiful time to visit Canada’s west coast – the weather is mild, and the leaves are turning to fiery shades of red and orange, making it a particularly scenic time to explore.
Good Housekeeping’s trip to Canada starts with an incredible week-long cruise on a Holland America Line ship to the USA’s Alaska – an unforgettable wildlife spotting voyage that reveals some dramatic frozen scenery.
The adventure continues in Canada, boarding the famous Rocky Mountaineer for a two-day railway journey through some of the world’s most fantastic landscapes as the autumn colours emerge. There aren’t cabins aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, so you won’t stay on board the train. Instead, you’ll disembark in Kamloops for a night in a comfortable hotel and continue your journey through British Columbia the following day.
Where to go on holiday in October: Bordeaux
If you love wine, particularly rich Cabs and Merlots, October is a prime month to visit the Bordeaux region of France. It’s harvesting season and a fascinating time to watch the winemakers work in the magnificent estates dotted through this region. There are plenty of delicious pairings for the wines to search out too, and you can wander through food markets in the towns where the local produce is rightly celebrated.
Join a food-themed cruise to make sure you see the best of the food and wine hotspots in Bordeaux. Good Housekeeping has an extra-special departure in October 2023,where you’ll be joined by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc. Raymond will deliver a cookery masterclass onboard the gorgeously luxurious Scenic Diamond, your base for the seven-night cruise.
Where to go on holiday in October: Morocco
Autumn is the ideal time to visit Morocco. You’ll avoid the intensity of the summer heat, but it’s still pleasant and warm to explore the bustling souks or go hiking. You can take plenty of photos in the beautiful blue city of Chefchaouen, explore Casablanca, and shop for spices in Marrakech.
Put the worry of arranging a multi-stop trip to Morocco aside – we’ve planned an incredible itinerary that makes sure you see the best bits. You’ll travel by train from London to Barcelona and then get a ferry from Spain to Morocco after exploring Barcelona and Madrid. It’s a memorable and exciting holiday with an adventurous spirit without giving up the comfort of four-star hotels throughout the trip.
Where to go on holiday in November: Shropshire
Gather your favourite people and start your Christmas shopping in Telford, Shropshire, where there’s a Little Christmas Shop open year-round and plenty of festive shopping to enjoy. Afterwards, check into the Mercure Telford Centre and start your stay with afternoon tea before a murder mystery party starts — an immersive experience delivered by professional actors.
November’s murder mystery theme at the Mercure Telford Centre is Murder on the Dancefloor. Your evening starts with prosecco and a three-course meal before the drama of the evening unfolds – will you guess the culprit?
Where to go on holiday in November: London
When you’re considering where to go on holiday in November, London may not be the first place that springs to mind. But we love London any time of year despite the mizzle that may drift over the metropolis in the late autumn. Besides, there’s Christmas shopping to be done and where better to get ahead than a shopping break in the capital?
Jostling for the top spot in our favourite London hotels is the oh-so-elegant Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. The guestrooms are sleek and modern, and you’ve got Marylebone village and its independent stores, lovely coffee shops, and ateliers right on the doorstep.
Where to go on holiday in December: The Alps
To get yourself well and truly into the Christmas spirit, a visit to the snowy landscapes of the Swiss and Italian Alps promises frosted beauty and the most festive feeling. See the fairy lights adorning chalets and feast on cinnamon-dusted treats at the markets – it’s a spectacular time to visit this snowy fantasyland.
Good Housekeeping has an exceptional trip planned in early December 2023, where you’ll stay on the shores of Lake Como and take a day trip to elegant St Moritz on the Bernina Railway. This train ride takes you along the highest railway line in the Alps. The spacious, panoramic carriages provide a spectacular viewpoint to admire the best of Switzerland's pristine lakes and stunning mountain tops.
