Britain, as you know, is an island, which means you are never far from a beach.

The furthest-away point is found in Derbyshire, at approximately 70 miles from the sea, so it’s relatively easy to get to the beach for a weekend or holiday from anywhere in the UK. And there are a wealth of characterful places to try out.

Here is a selection of our favourites.

As the mercury rises, the long, hot days of summer are the perfect time to get out and about and explore your new area.

Your nearest tourist information centre will have details of top attractions near you, and can advise on the best places to take children for a great day out.

And don’t forget local events like school fetes. They can be a useful way of getting a feel for the school and the neighbourhood, as well as meeting new people in an informal setting. Carnivals and fun days also provide welcome opportunities to mix and mingle.

Here, to help you get started, are just a few ideas for things to do this summer.

It’s cold outside, but wrap up warmly and you can brave the elements and enjoy a host of outdoor activities and events. Here are some ideas.

Christmas markets and fairs

Christmas markets, both Continental style and traditional British, are taking the UK by storm. They sell a wide range of goods, from gifts and crafts to food and drink. Many of the larger ones start in late November and run for several weeks.

Major towns and cities boasting Christmas markets include London, Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Peterborough, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast. These popular events also take place in smaller towns, including Rochester, in Kent, Winchester, in Hampshire, Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk, Skipton, in North Yorkshire, Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, and Carlisle, in Cumbria.

Christmas fairs are held by churches, schools and other organisations, including National Trust properties. As well as enabling you to do your Christmas shopping away from the hustle and bustle of the high street and huge shopping malls, they can be a great way of meeting local people.

For a list of Christmas markets, see www.christmasmarkets.com/UK.html

Details of National Trust Christmas Fairs are available from www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-christmas2010/w-events-christmas-fairs.htm

Ice skating

Seasonal skating rinks, both outdoor and under cover, some of them combined with Christmas markets, are ideal for family fun.

Try the undercover rink at giant Kent shopping complex Bluewater’s Winter Wonderland, or head for London’s Canary Wharf, Somerset House, Hyde Park (which has one of the capital’s largest rinks), Natural History Museum, or picturesque Tower of London.

Other locations for ice skating include Edinburgh, Cambridge, York, Lincoln, Newcastle, Winchester, Cornwall’s Eden Project, and Worthing, in East Sussex.

Winter walks

To keep the whole family warm – and work off that Christmas dinner – there’s nothing like a bracing country walk.

Strike out on one of the UK’s many waymarked footpaths (ensuring you are suitable equipped), or join an organised walk. Many of these take place on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and in the often difficult-to-fill days between Christmas and New Year. Again, this type of event is a great way of getting to know your new area and meeting new people.

For details of National Trust winter walks, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-christmas2010/w-christmas-winter-walks.htm

With half term week and Halloween both happening this month, and Bonfire Night just around the corner, there are plenty of fun activities to enjoy in your new area this autumn.

Half term events

All around the UK, there are special events, many involving craft or sports activities, to keep children entertained during the autumn half term. Some are organised by local councils, while others are provided by independent operators, from zoos and theme parks to museums and the National Trust.

These events can be a great opportunity for children to make new friends as well as learn new skills, so do investigate provision local to you.

If you’re hoping to escape the cooler UK weather by taking a half-term break abroad, you’ll find lots of last-minute deals and ideas on the internet.

Things that go bump in the night

Over the last few years, Halloween (31 October), when the souls of the dead were traditionally said to walk abroad, has become an increasingly important part of the social calendar. This is particularly so among children – who enjoy activities like making pumpkin lanterns and trick-or-treating – but adults can enjoy it, too.

There are events throughout the UK that promise lots of family fun. In the South East, Chessington World of Adventures’ Halloween Hocus Pocus takes place from 22­–31 October, and the London Dungeon is holding what it describes as its ‘most terrifying Halloween event ever’ from 15–31 October.

Bristol Zoo, in the South West, has a Halloween Festival from 23–31 October.

In the Midlands, Warwick Castle offers a Haunted Hollows Trail from 16–31 October. If you’re in the North, try the Children’s Halloween Tours at Lancaster Castle on 30 October, or spooky fun at York Maze from 23–31 October.

Wales has Halloween Horror at Roath Park Conservatory, Cardiff, on 31 October, while, in Northern Ireland’s Londonderry, you can experience the Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en Carnival, complete with fireworks display, from 28–31 October.

Remember, remember the fifth of November …

Looking ahead to Bonfire Night, attending a local display could be a fun, relaxed way of meeting people in your new area.

Held on 5 November, Bonfire Night (traditionally called Guy Fawkes Night) is an annual celebration that marks the failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I that took place in 1605.

There are lots of events, large and small, up and down the country, many of them held in aid of charity, from small village fireworks displays to sophisticated large-scale events in towns and cities and in the grounds of stately homes. London boasts a number of displays, at venues that include Battersea Park, Alexandra Palace, Victoria Park, Clapham Common, Wimbledon Park, and Blackheath.

Most civic displays are held on the Saturday or Sunday closest to 5 November.

We know it’s only October, but it really isn’t too early to look ahead to Chrismas and organise a special seasonal treat.

An outing to the theatre, with family, friends, or alone, is a fabulous way to celebrate Christmas, whether it’s to the local amateur dramatic society’s production or a glamorous high-budget show in a big city.

This is a time of year when everyone wants to be out celebrating, so even local events can sell out quickly. Programmes with a seasonal theme – like Tchaikowsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, Rossini’s opera La Cenerentola (Cinderella), or a pantomime – are particularly popular. Oh yes, they are …

Secure your choice of seats by booking now – and celebrate an unforgettable first Christmas in your new location!

As the days become shorter and the leaves begin to change colour, there are plenty of great ways to enjoy your new location – outdoors and in.

In the first issue of Smart Move Plus, we looked at some great ideas for getting out and about in your new location. Here are some more family-friendly ways of enjoying this sizzling summer.

Explore the UK’s history and heritage

There’s no better way of entertaining the whole family than by visiting one of the UK’s many heritage sites. The National Trust has historic properties across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in its care, while the National Trust for Scotland fulfils a similar function north of the border. Properties include everything from castles to Paul McCartney’s childhood home in Liverpool.