What Are The Best Budget-Friendly British City Breaks For October Half Term On A Bike?

The October half term is just around the corner, and the thought of keeping everyone entertained without breaking the bank can be a bit of a headache. But what about getting away for a few days? A change of scenery, a bit of exploring, and maybe even a chance to get some miles in on the bike. A new study has just dropped from the folks at Leisure Lakes Bikes, a well-known UK mountain bike supplier, and it’s packed with brilliant ideas for budget-friendly British city breaks. They’ve crunched the numbers on 20 British cities to find the ultimate cheap getaway that’s also perfect for anyone who loves two wheels.

The results are in: ranking the UK's best cities

So, who came out on top? It might be a surprise, but the big smoke, London, grabbed the number one spot. Now, before anyone scoffs at the idea of a 'budget' trip to the capital, the study looked at a bunch of different factors, not just the price of a pint. The research, with data provided by Mediaworks, measured key city break metrics to figure out where people can get the most bang for their buck. This included everything from the number of budget hotels and cheap eats to, most importantly, the cycling scene.

After London, Manchester and Birmingham rounded out the top three, proving the North and the Midlands have some serious clout for a budget-friendly trip. Leeds also made a strong showing, landing comfortably in the top five. Here’s how the top ten British cities stacked up in the final study:

Rank	British City	Score
1	London	100.00
2	Manchester	40.41
3	Birmingham	36.37
4	Liverpool	29.12
5	Leeds	28.26
6	Newcastle	27.70
7	Glasgow	24.98
8	Cardiff	23.50
9	Southampton	23.42
10	Sheffield	23.35

What makes a city good for a budget bike break?

It’s not just about having a cheap hotel room. A proper good city break needs decent, affordable grub and plenty to do. The Leisure Lakes Bikes study dug into the things that really matter for a trip that won’t empty the wallet. The whole methodology was designed to balance cost with fun, especially for cyclists.

First up, budget hotel availability. There's no point in a cheap city if there's nowhere to stay. London stormed ahead here with a massive 330 budget hotels available for the October half term. In contrast, you’d need to get your booking skates on for places like Brighton or Cambridge, which had only six each. When it comes to average hotel prices, Birmingham is the real winner. An average hotel price of just £48 a night makes it a seriously tempting option. On the flip side, Edinburgh’s popularity means it has the highest hotel price at £110 a night.

Next are the dining options. Exploring a new city on an empty stomach is no fun. The study looked for places with plenty of budget restaurants. Again, London came out on top with over 2,600 'cheap eats', offering a massive choice. Even smaller cities like Durham still offered a decent 74 budget-friendly places to refuel.

The important bit: what’s the cycling like?

Let's be honest, this is what it's all about. A city can have the cheapest hotels in the world, but if it’s rubbish for a bike ride, what's the point? This is where the study gets really interesting. It looked at two key things: guided bike tours and independent cycling routes. Think of it as the difference between joining a club run with a leader who knows all the best cake stops, versus just grabbing a map and heading out to explore on your own.

For those who like a guided experience, there are plenty of bike tours available in most major UK spots. These are brilliant for seeing the sights without the faff of navigation. London offers a whopping 33 different bike tours. At the other end of the scale, cities like Southampton and Durham didn’t have any listed, so independent exploration is the name of the game there.

And for those who prefer to go solo and find their own adventure, the number of mapped cycling routes is crucial. These are pre-planned rides, often available online, that take you on the best, safest, or most scenic paths. It means less time staring at a map and more time enjoying the ride. Again, the capital smashed it with 113 routes, while cities like Oxford and Durham had none listed on the platform used for the research. Having good cycling routes makes a huge difference for a budget trip; a bike is a cheap way to get around and see things off the beaten track.

A closer look at Leeds

Since it landed in the top five, it’s worth seeing what makes Leeds a great choice for British city breaks this October half term. The Yorkshire city scored well across the board. It has 22 budget hotels available, which is a decent number, and a fantastic 304 budget restaurants to choose from. The average hotel price is a very reasonable £63 per night for two people. For cyclists, there are two bike tours on offer and an impressive 46 cycling routes to explore. This makes Leeds a brilliant all-rounder: affordable, full of good food, and with plenty of options to get out on the bike. It's a proper contender for a budget-friendly getaway.

A word from the experts

Ben Mercer, a director at Leisure Lakes Bikes (#ad), shared his thoughts on why a cycling city break is such a great idea.

“October half term is an ideal time to soak up another British city and be a tourist for a few days, especially while the cities are alive with people.”

“With a monthly average of 22,200 online searches made for “bike hire” this year, across the UK, there is a nation that loves to jump on a hired bike for their short journeys. Cycle share schemes have popped up across all our cities, offering a quick and handy way to travel around, while at home or away. And at a low cost per ride, hiring a bike could help you save on your holiday budget too.”

“Why not hire a bike for the morning and seek out a mapped cycling route? Cycling through a greener part of the city or along a waterway is a great way to energise yourself and soak up some nature for a few hours. You might find an unexpected coffee stop or a place to grab a bite. Quick pit stops and spontaneity are just some of benefits of being on a bike.”

“If you prefer a guide to help you explore, most cities have some good options to join a guided bike tour. From the bog standard city bike tours to the more bespoke foodie bike tours, you can discover your surroundings in a more social way. Pedalling around with others is certainly a great buzz and makes for a fun shared experience!”

Planning your October half term adventure

The research looked at availability and prices for a two-night stay from Monday 27th October to Wednesday 29th October 2025, so it pays to plan ahead to get the best deals. For a northern adventure in Leeds, there are plenty of options for a brilliant, budget-friendly city break. And doing it by bike is the perfect way to see more, save cash on transport, and burn off the pastries from that cool little café you found down a side street. It’s a win-win.