Launchpad London – 3 holiday escapes for 2020

If you’re lucky enough to live in London, there are enough eclectic activities in your home city to last a lifetime.  For instance, you can catch an awe-inspiring exhibition at the V&A, pick up fab fruit and veg at Borough Market, tree bathe in Kew Gardens and shop for snazzy threads in Carnaby Street.  But despite these dynamic distractions, you might still yearn for a change of scenery and the opportunity recharge your batteries in a beautiful new environment. And luckily, London airports like Heathrow are some of the world’s best connected, so there are plenty of desirable destinations to choose from.

With that in mind, if you’re using London as a launchpad in 2020, here are three suggestions for a sublime holiday escape.

1.    Jamaica

When you think of spending some time in the birthplace of reggae, a sun, sea and sand holiday possibly springs to mind.

And while they’re are available in spades, typical tropical attractions don’t make this inspirational island nation unique. In fact, taking an immersive Jamaica trip should involve so much more, because the island also boasts beautiful verdant mountains, magnificent waterfalls and unique historical attractions like pirate capital Port Royal and Accompong, the semi-autonomous stronghold of the Maroons.

Tip: plan your Jamdown break on the Visit Jamaica website – there are lots more suggestions.

2.    Scotland

Unless your geography is alarmingly awful, you’ll know that Scotland is only a stone’s throw to the north of London (or more accurately, just over an hour on a plane).

And if you’ve never ventured north, you certainly should – Scotland has been voted the world’s most beautiful country on several occasions by renowned travel gurus like Rough Guides and as well as stunning lochs and mountains, capital Edinburgh is captivating, cosmopolitan and hosts the biggest arts festival on the planet each August.

Tip: book cheap Heathrow Airport parking on Looking4.com when you’re popping up to Scotland.

3.    South Africa

The Rainbow Nation is replete with breathtaking beauty, fascinating history, wonderful wildlife and cool culture – plus, as the time difference from London is minimal, you won’t suffer from jet lag.

If you want to see lions and elephants in their natural habitats, Kruger National Park offers safari adventures that are out of this world, while Johannesburg is electrifyingly edgy, and Cape Town is arguably the most naturally beautiful city on the planet. Finally, if you want a stark reminder of the struggles this nation has endured, don’t pass up on the chance to visit Robben Island, where the late, great Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many long, hard years.

Tip: check out South Africa’s best hotels on TripAdvisor – there’s something for everyone.

This hattrick of holiday options should help you plan the perfect escape from London in 2020 – you’ll return after broadening your horizons ready to embrace everything the British capital has to offer all over again.

That’s our list! Share your own 2020 holiday tips for Londoners in the comments section.