Plan a Weekend Away Without Breaking the Bank

I'd like to plan a weekend away but I need to keep it affordable. Here are the details:

Who's going: [e.g. just me, me and my partner, the whole family including two kids aged 6 and 9, a group of friends]

Where we're based: [e.g. Manchester, London, Cardiff, Edinburgh]

How far we're willing to travel: [e.g. up to 2 hours by car, happy to get the train, anywhere in the UK]

What we enjoy: [e.g. walking and countryside, city exploring and food, beaches, history and culture, adventure activities, just relaxing]

Any dates in mind: [e.g. this coming weekend, sometime in April, flexible]

Budget for the whole trip: [e.g. under £200 for two, around £300 for a family of four, as cheap as possible]

Things to avoid: [e.g. anywhere too touristy, long drives, camping, nowhere we've been before — or leave blank]

Please give me:
1. Three destination suggestions that match what we're looking for, with a quick reason why each one works
2. For your top recommendation, a rough itinerary covering Saturday and Sunday
3. Affordable accommodation options (e.g. budget hotels, Airbnbs, hostels, holiday parks)
4. Free or low-cost things to do at each destination
5. Any money-saving tips for getting there and eating out
6. A rough cost breakdown so I can see where the money goes

Use British English throughout. Keep the tone friendly and helpful — like a well-travelled mate giving me advice over a cuppa.