Milton Keynes among the UK’s top beer garden destinations

Milton Keynes is named the 4th best UK city for beer garden trips this bank holiday.

• Southend-on-Sea is the best city for a beer garden trip, while London is revealed as the worst city for beer gardens 

• Blackpool boasts the cheapest pint in the UK, averaging  £3.25, while London is home to the most expensive pints, on average at £6.50

• Expert reveals top tips for budgeting and saving during the summer season

The August bank holiday is nearly upon us, and whether we’re sipping our favourite pint or quenching our thirst with an icy soft drink, there’s nothing Brits enjoy more than soaking up the sun in a beer garden. 

With this in mind, the team at credit card brand Aqua has conducted research to determine which UK city is the best for beer garden lovers. The research analysed factors such as the price of drinks, average temperatures, and the amount of sunshine and rainfall during August in the different cities. 

Southend-on-Sea is the best city for a beer garden trip

With 212 average sunshine hours in August, plus the least amount of rainfall at just 49mm on average, Southend-on-Sea has been crowned the best city for a beer garden trip. An average pint here will set you back just £4.50, with soft drinks (£1.74) also being relatively cheap compared with other cities. 

Portsmouth comes in as the second-best destination for a beer garden trip, with an average temperature in August of 18°C, one of the warmest of all locations, and 214 hours of sunshine, the highest of all cities analysed. An average pint here costs £4.40, making it a great spot to enjoy a sunny afternoon without breaking the bank.

In third place, we have Northampton, thanks to its cheap soft drinks averaging at £1.30, tied for the best on the list with Milton Keynes. Beer lovers can also enjoy a pint on the cheap for just £4 under average August temperatures of 17°C. 

Blackpool boasts the cheapest pint in the UK, with beers costing on average just £3.25

Blackpool takes the crown as the city with the cheapest pint, with an average price of just £3.25. Close behind is Swindon, where a pint will set you back £3.85, followed by Kingston upon Hull at £3.88, making these great spots for a night out without breaking the bank. 

Unsurprisingly, London and Belfast, both capital cities, top the list as the most expensive places for a pint, with an average price of £6.50 and £6, respectively. This is followed closely by Edinburgh, where a pint costs £5.90, then Southampton (£5.75). 

Finance expert reveals how to be mindful of your finances over the bank holiday

Sharvan Selvam, Commercial Director for Aqua says, “When faced with lots of social plans, or even just the lure of long afternoons enjoying the sunshine with friends and family, it’s easy to spend more than you had planned. Putting a budget in place is the first step in helping you stay in control of your money. If you feel pressured to overspend, communicate your goals with friends and family and look for budget friendly alternatives. Everyone’s financial situation is different, so it’s important to do what’s best for you and your future.”