Best apps for your UK break
Look at almost any list of the apps that’ll be useful on your next holiday, and it’ll be full of apps to track your flight, apps to learn the language basics. This is all well and good if you are jetting off to Barcelona, but what if you are embarking on a fun-filled holiday closer to home? From Land’s End to John O’Groats the UK is packed with excellent holiday destinations, and just because you won’t need your passport it doesn’t mean you should be any less prepared. So read on, to find the best apps for your UK break.
Dark Sky
Best for: Making the most of the weather
Here at Snaptrip we are big fans of staycations; the UK has many beautiful places to explore come rain or shine. However, as a wise person once said, ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing’. The weather in the UK is known for being fairly changeable, and this is where Dark Sky comes in. With their hyperlocal weather forecasts you can get a good idea of when the rain might start, stop or whether you’re better off packing the suncream. Don’t let the weather get in the way of a good time.
Plantsnap
Best for: Knowing your nature
Do you know your oak trees from your ash trees? It has been reported that spending time in nature has numerous benefits for kids and adults alike, but we often we don’t know much about what we’re looking at. Enter Plantsnap. This nifty little app allows you to take a picture of a plant and it will tell you what it is; great for satisfying children’s curiosity and a handy addition to your trip.
Google maps
Best for: Never getting lost
This feels like an obvious addition to the list, but do you know how to get the most out of this app that so many of us have already? It’s great for directions and traffic updates, but did you know that you can add a stop if you want to drive to your cottage via your favourite lunch spot? When you’ve put in your to and from locations, just press the three dots next to the start location, and choose ‘add stop’. If you don’t have a favourite lunch spot yet, Google maps can help you find one. Click on the three lines you see by the location search bar when you first open the app and click the ‘explore’ button. Here you will find places to eat based on the location given and you can filter by meal as well as categories such as ‘outdoor dining’ and ‘quick bites’.
National Trust
Best for: Finding local treasures
Across the UK there are dozens of amazing gardens, stately homes and more, all lovingly looked after by the National Trust. Scores of us visit at least one of these places every year, often while on holiday, but did you know that they also have an app? This handy app allows you to easily check out opening times, directions and prices as well as find out what events are on. In addition to a bunch of other nifty features it is available offline, so no matter how remote you are you can still get the information you need for a great day out.
Discover the National Trust App
Spotify
Best for: Bringing road trips to life
Sometimes, on holiday, it pays to have a trick up your sleeve for moments when your dream holiday might not be going to plan. Maybe there is a traffic jam and the radio is broken or maybe it’s raining and you wanted to go to the beach; whatever the situation chances are some upbeat music can help lighten the mood. With Spotify you can bring the sunshine inside with your favourite tunes and sing the time away until, before you know it, you’ve arrived at your destination.
