Everything you might
want to know

It starts with a relaxed conversation — by phone, email or a callback at a time that suits you. We find out where you'd love to go, what you enjoy, what a good trip looks like for you personally and any practical things worth knowing. We then go away and do the research, coming back to you with three to five carefully chosen options. You choose what feels right, we finalise the details and put together your complete itinerary. The whole thing happens at your pace and entirely on your terms.

It depends on the complexity of the trip, but as a guide most short breaks are researched and presented within five to seven days. Longer or more complex trips may take a little longer — but we'll always give you a clear idea of timescales from the start and keep you updated along the way.

All of them. From the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, the Lake District to the Norfolk Broads, the Welsh valleys to the Yorkshire Moors — the UK is full of stunning, often underestimated places and we love finding the right one for each customer. If you have somewhere in mind, wonderful. If you'd like a suggestion based on what you enjoy, we're very happy to help with that too.

Then we go back and look again — it's as simple as that. We present three to five options precisely so that you have genuine choice. If none of them feel quite right we want to know, because getting it right for you is the whole point. There is no pressure to accept anything that doesn't feel perfect.

Absolutely. This is your trip and it stays that way throughout the entire process. If something changes, if you think of something new or if you simply want to take things in a different direction — just call us. We'd rather know early and get it right than have you go along with something that doesn't feel quite right.

Just call. Any time during the research process, if something comes to mind — a place you've always wanted to visit, something you forgot to mention, a practical detail you've just thought of — please don't hesitate to get in touch. The more we know, the better the trip. That's what we're here for.

Our planning fee is paid before we begin research — this covers all the work involved in finding options and building your itinerary. If you choose our booking management service, all payments for accommodation, restaurants and activities are made directly by you to the supplier. Your money never passes through our hands. No hidden fees, no unexpected additions. What you see is what you pay.

Entirely your choice. Some customers prefer to handle their own bookings once they have the itinerary — and that's absolutely fine. The booking management service is an optional add-on for those who would rather hand that part over too. Either way, your itinerary will have everything you need to make the bookings yourself if you prefer.

None whatsoever. The first conversation is just that — a conversation. There is no commitment, no pressure and no obligation at any stage of the process. If after chatting you decide Gentle Escapes isn't for you, that's absolutely fine. We'd rather you felt completely comfortable than pushed into anything.

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Whatever the Weather

Every Gentle Escapes itinerary includes a Whatever the Weather section — a carefully chosen collection of indoor alternatives for each day of your trip. Because this is the UK, and sometimes the weather has other ideas. Whether it's a characterful tearoom, a fascinating manor house, a good restaurant worth a long relaxed lunch or a gallery worth an afternoon — we research genuine, interesting options so that a rainy day becomes an opportunity rather than a disappointment. During our initial conversation we'll ask how you feel about wet weather and plan around it from the very beginning.

We do everything we can to make sure your trip is well planned and well researched before you leave. Every itinerary includes the contact details for your accommodation host, as well as local pharmacies, doctors and the nearest hospital — so you always know where to turn if you need to. Beyond that, we strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance before any trip. We can point you towards insurers who specialise in cover for people travelling with existing medical conditions.

Yes, always. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance for every trip, regardless of age or health. We can suggest insurers who specialise in cover for people with existing conditions — just ask when we speak and we'll point you in the right direction.

What a wonderful idea — and yes, absolutely. A Gentle Escapes trip makes a genuinely thoughtful gift for a parent, grandparent or anyone who deserves a well organised break away. Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or simply because — we'll work with whoever is arranging the gift to make sure the trip is perfect for the person receiving it. Just get in touch and we'll talk it through.

We'd love that. In fact some of the most enjoyable trips to plan are for customers who've been before — because we already know what they love, what matters to them practically and what makes a trip feel just right. The UK has no shortage of wonderful places to discover. We'll never run out of ideas.