Your Holiday Checklist at Drake Circus

Whether you’re camping in Cornwall or lazing on a beach in Corfu, this summer is all about some much-needed downtime with family and friends basking in some sunshine.

To make your life easier, we’ve put together a list of summer 2022 must-buys alongside holiday prep and useful essentials for city breaks, road trips, beach holidays, weekends away and long summer holidays. Just don’t forget your toothbrush. 

Must-buy SPF and skincare

In need of some Vitamin D? Don’t leave home without your SPF and sunscreens whatever your skintone (there are some excellent transparent sunscreens designed for darker skintones that won’t leave that annoying white residue). Even on cloudy summer days in the UK, you should be applying SPF when the UV index is at its highest between 11am and 3pm (remember that SPF moisturisers are good but no replacement for sun cream). 

UVA causes skin ageing while UVB causes sunburn so when buying good sunscreen, look for a UVA logo with the letters UVA printed in a circle or choose a four of five-star UVA rating. UVB rays are responsible for the vast majority of sunburn cases and linked with increased risk of skin cancer; SPFs with 50+ offer the strongest forms of UVB protection and you should wear an SPF of at least 30 in the summer. 

For children under the age of two, UVA clothing and broad-brimmed hats are excellent buys as they protect the back of the neck and ears as well as providing shade for the face. A sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and a high UVA protection should be applied to children every two to three hours. And, don’t forget your hair sunscreen too. For all your skincare needs from go-to brands including L’Oreal, La Roche-Posay, Garnier, Avon and Nivea, try Boots. 

This summer’s holiday clothes and footwear

This summer holiday season, colour and fun are back. Think ice-cream shades, 90s-style slip and prairie dresses (Monsoon and Marks & Spencer have some gorgeous collections) while for shoes it’s all about sky-high platforms, summer sliders, ballet pumps, clogs and knee-high boots (schuh, Shoeaholics, H&M, Next, River Island, New Look and Primark have you covered). 

Delicate and chunky gold chains (wear round bellies, hands and feet for Ibiza vibes), giant hoops and statement hair slides are leading the way in accessories (try Accessorize, Claire’s, Ernest Jones, Pandora, Warren James and Fraser Hart for beautiful looks). 

For evenings, wideleg trousers and oversize shirts are your go-to for easy tailoring while airport looks are all about neat-but-comfy joggers and sweatshirts at Boux Avenue.

For men, tropical print and board shorts with lightweight jackets and polos will instantly update his holiday wardrobe with bright citrus pops of colour and accessories that embrace the summer feelgood factor. Head to H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, BOSS, Jack Wills and Superdry for breakout looks to suit him. For fresh out-the-box trainers, don’t miss schuh, JD Sports, Footasylum and Footlocker. 

Get some new sunglasses

When it comes to women’s sunglasses, colourful, oversize and angular frames are big trends for s/s 2022 with men’s leaning more towards more conservative tortoiseshell and metal looks. Accessorize, Sunglass Hut and Boots are essential pre-holiday visits. 

Swimwear for the pool and beach

Swimwear has upped its game this season with colourful crochet, cutout slimline one pieces and 50s silhouettes making for wearable and universally good-looking pool and beachwear at Boux Avenue, White Stuff, Marks & Spencer and H&M. Meanwhile for men, it’s sport-casual (think 70s-Californian running shorts) or more tailored finishes to give a slightly preppy look – try Tommy Hilfiger and Jack Wills. 

Bags and luggage for travelling

We’re home to some high-street wonders from Next and H&M. The bum bag/banana sling/fanny pack is everywhere this summer and perfect for holiday packing. You’ll need to complement it with a useful tote though for those everyday vacation essentials – straw, crochet and colourful are leading the way while you can also find everything from cabin bags to family-sized cases at Marks & Spencer. 

Beauty and travel essentials

From a signature summer fragrance at The Perfume Shop and The Fragrance Shop to bronzers and lipsticks from Boots (orange and pink vs neutrals), update your beauty bag before you get on board your flight. If you’re carrying your bags on the plane, remember to ensure you decant all your favourite items into 100ml travel sizes. Then, don’t forget essentials such as dry shampoo, moisturising conditioners for curls and Afro hair, waterproof mascaras that can be worn to the sea and pool and soothing body moisturisers at Lush and after-sun oils. 

Plus there’s the practical bits: mosquito repellent sprays and plug-ins, anti-insect bite creams and antihistamines, ear plugs for the flight, Calpol, plasters and Sudocrem for children plus wet wipes and contact lens solution.  

Holiday tech accessories – don’t forget your charger

If you don’t want to spend the first morning of your holiday trying to find the local tech supplier then now’s your chance to stock up on the holiday accessory essentials at Boots, Apple and iSmart. Don’t forget essential hair straighteners and curlers, travel adaptors and hairdryers and take a travel charging unit in case anything goes walkabout and you desperately need to access tickets and contact details on your phone. You can also pick up handy passport and document folders so you don’t forget your paperwork at Smiggle and Paperchase.  

Holiday essentials for kids

For kids’ swimwear, summer outfits and shoes, head to H&M, Next, Marks & Spencer, River Island, New Look and Primark. For inflatables, armbands and buckets and spades head to The Entertainer. For travel games and in-flight entertainment, we recommend Tiger and for updating tablets and iPads for long journeys then head to Apple. Pick up puzzle books, fiction and games for them (and you) at Waterstones.

Finally… 

Top up your holiday cash at No1 Currency and relax into a much-needed break then head for pre-holiday cocktails, beers and food from any of our incredible cafes and restaurants as your reward. Happy holiday shopping.

Discover the best places to eat, drink and shop at Drake Circus and follow us @drakecircus