Take advantage of extra bank holiday by going on a short break in the UK

With next month's royal wedding giving Britons an additional bank holiday, going on a short UK break could be a great way for people to make use of the extra time off work.

With Britons set to benefit from an extra bank holiday in April due to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, next month could be an ideal time to take advantage of the additional time off and go on a short break in the UK.

The pair are set to marry on Friday April 29th and with the following Monday (May 2nd) being the May bank holiday, many people will be able to enjoy a four-day weekend.

And with Easter falling the week before the royal wedding, next month could be a great opportunity for Britons to make the most of the time they have off work and go away on a short trip away.

Indeed, a National Trust spokesperson recently claimed that the additional day offer may allow people to "possibly travel further afield than they normally would".

Her organisation notes that the extra-long bank holiday could be a great time for families to spend quality time together and go "somewhere where there is plenty of outdoor space and fresh air".

Staying at holiday properties in particularly scenic parts of the UK could make for a fantastic short break, with the National Trust representative pointing out Wales and the Lake District are two areas that are especially well suited for pursuits such as walking and cycling.

However, those looking to take advantage of April's long weekends and explore the UK might prefer the freedom and flexibility that comes with caravans.

By hooking up a caravan to the back of a car, people can have the option of staying at camping resorts throughout the country.

There is the option of exploring seaside towns and villages in northern England - such as Scarborough and Whitby - or holidaymakers may want to head to Essex for a short caravan break in somewhere like Colchester or Southminster.

Wherever they go, spending the long bank holiday weekend on a caravan break could prove a rewarding way for travellers to spend their time, should the comments of one expert be anything to go off.

Jon Dale, publicity manager for the Camping and Caravanning Club, states those who go on caravanning trips enjoy the sense of "community and family togetherness" that they foster.

"People come together when they go on a caravan holiday and embrace the concept. They cook together, they clean together, so it is really a community spirit which you can't always get when you travel abroad because not many people can afford to go," he claims.

Cornwall is one of the UK's most popular tourism destinations - whether for those staying in caravans or seeking holiday rental properties such as cottages, farmhouse and villas - so a visit to the south-west county could prove a great way to spend the long weekend.

Here, people will be able to travel to Land's End - the most southerly point on the UK mainland - spend time surfing off the coast of Newquay or visit the Eden Project.

A holiday here could also allow people to sample local produce such as freshly caught seafood and the traditional Cornish pasty.

David Rodda, rural delivery manager at the Cornwall Development Company, recently stated that "a high proportion of tourists look for local food when they come to Cornwall". Using the long weekend as an opportunity to sample the region's gastronomic delights could prove a great activity for foodies.

Alternatively, a city break could be a great way to spend the bank holiday. Manchester is home to a range of family friendly attractions such as the Museum of Science and Industry and the Imperial War Museum North. Staying in tourist properties in London - which will be the location of the royal wedding - may put people within easy reach of attractions such as Big Ben, the London Eye and the National Portrait Gallery.

With so many places to go, people will not be short of finding somewhere to go on a short UK break during the long bank holiday weekend.