UPDATED – October 2023
OK, where do I start? The Great British Seaside Holiday. Going on a UK Staycation. I am aware some of my readers may not know what it is. Do not fear, I will explain below. As kids, we visited many places in Britain. Mainly because of lack of money and well, traveling abroad with two kids ain’t fun.
I’m calling it the “British” holiday because that’s mainly where we visited as kids. Since being an adult, we have visited Wales quite a lot and I will talk all about this in future blog posts.
I wanted to discuss this subject because my younger sibling has grown up not valuing this type of holiday as much as I do. My reaction is totally different. These holidays make me really excited and I absolutely love everything about it. Based on our family experience, I suspect other people out there either love or hate it.
If after reading this article, you feel inspired to book your next UK Staycation, I have included all the links you need…
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History of the Great British Seaside Staycation
Butlins is a household name in the UK. My Grandma had the same pictures of my Mum on the beach as us when we were little. The only way you could tell the difference was one set of pictures was black and white, and one was in colour.
I’ve also stayed in a few Pontins holiday parks, for party weekends. Back when I was young and full of energy.
The fascination with this type of holiday began in the 1950s and this article explains the history in more detail.
We have a Haven holiday coming up and also regularly visit Parkdean. With our little one becoming more aware of the world around her, these types of holidays will soon become the norm. I pack up the car with everything we need and the drive is generally about two hours away. Perfect when you have a toddler!
What attracts me to these holiday parks, over a different type of holiday?
1. Bingo
Who doesn’t love bingo?
Quite often these parks will offer linked bingo, where you can win a large prize, and it’s fun, sitting in the entertainment room with the kids zooming around.
It reminds me of a bit more upmarket Working Men’s Club. When we were young teens, everyone had their parties here and it was right across the street from us. It is now a housing estate. This Guardian article explains how some have remained and adapted to the current times.
2. The entertainment
I must say the quality of entertainment has improved over the years and I am very impressed with the activities we have been able to pre-book for our upcoming Haven holiday.
The joy of getting ready to go out and knowing there will be something to entertain the kids. Family fun for everyone involved and I just love it.
3. Cheap drinks & lovely food
Parking the car up, throwing the bags on the bed, walking to the pub. Can’t wait. We already have a table booking just after our check-in time, haha!
It’s great for us because we know the setting will be child-friendly and we don’t have to worry about disturbing other people who are also trying to have a nice meal. Our little one can make friends, play in the arcades, we can eat and drink, safe in the knowledge she is entertained and looked after.
This is a huge bonus for families with young children!
Pre-children, we also visited as a couple and absolutely loved it. We rented a caravan for a weekend and enjoyed the bar, minus the kid’s entertainment (there is usually a separate entertainment room and the bar is a bit quieter). I did insist on playing bingo though and hubby wasn’t that impressed.
4. Play area for kids
Now I have a child, it’s also beneficial to have a play area and this is usually right outside the bar, making it convenient for everyone to have a good time.
Whilst I love our local park, the play area tends to be far away from the cafe, which I totally get. However, when you’re on holiday it’s a different vibe. It’s accepted there will be children around and everyone has fun together.
It reminds me of the vibe I get in Spain, where families go out more and do things together. Children are welcome everywhere. I am not saying in the UK they aren’t, there is just still this stigma of child-friendly and non-child-friendly places to eat and drink. I totally understand. If we had a date night, I wouldn’t want a screaming child next to me.
Maybe we are all just a bit more relaxed when we’re on holiday, and it’s a great thing.
If you don’t have a holiday planned, you can check out my blog post, which includes 20 ideas for fun activities adults and children can do together…
I’ve made use of the list this year, as this is the first holiday we’ve been on over the summer.
5. Planned activities for kids
As we usually have a week of school activities to keep the little one entertained, she will need something similar when we go on holiday.
In the past, I’ve booked a bug hunt, nature trail, and slime-making class. This is quality family time spent together and uses up some of her energy.
6. The accommodation
When planning a Great British seaside holiday, there is something that always attracts me to stay in a caravan.
Staying in a caravan isn’t the most luxurious accommodation I’ve ever stayed in, but it’s nostalgic and fun. There is just something about it I love.
These days we book the top brand of caravan. This allows us to have more bedrooms, bathrooms, and overall comfort. As we stay with the in-laws it gives everyone a bit of personal space. Having decking is also a must. Our little one can play outside, but she’s safe in an enclosed space, and it’s also nice to sit there in the morning with a coffee, or a drink at night.
I can picture myself now! Having a sneaky look on Twitter and a lovely coffee, hopefully, before anyone else gets up, breathing in the sea air. I need it after the year I’ve had.
Check out my other blog posts in the holiday section:
TIPS TO MAKE YOUR FAMILY HOLIDAY ADVENTURE UNFORGETTABLE
THE CHARM OF HANDMADE GIFTS WHILST YOU’RE ON HOLIDAY
4 TOP TIPS FOR AN EXCITING FAMILY HOLIDAY
Too busy to read on? Pin it for later…
7. Dog friendly
Our little one loves meeting dogs in the park.
We also want a dog to join our family, eventually. When the time is right. This year we have family members joining us with a new puppy and we were struggling to find accommodation to house us all, along with the dog. This caravan site is the perfect solution.
It’s great that some of the parks we visit are dog-friendly. Another bonus of staying in the UK for a holiday is for those who don’t want to leave pets behind.
8. Amusement arcade
When the hubby & I got together, one of our shared passions was travelling to the seaside and spending hours on the 2p machines. We did this even before having a child. It’s something we both did as kids, we’ve grown up loving caravan holidays, and we want our little one to experience the same joy.
But he draws the line at loving the bingo and entertainment as much as I do. That’s why I bring my mum along. Eyes down…
9. Near the seaside
These caravan parks are perfect to use as a base camp to explore other nearby areas.
During our stay, we usually split our time between park activities and going out for the day to the nearest seaside.
Other holiday parks, booking sites & hotels I want to mention
As I am usually the event planner in the family, I’ve spent many hours researching holidays and know quite a bit about when prices spike and what facilities are available in which parks.
The Great British seaside holiday, happens to be my area of expertise, simply because it’s where we visit the most as a family. When you go abroad, the work is taken care of for you, but these types of holidays need someone organised at the helm.
I frequently use Hoseasons, as their website has a large range of bookings at other caravan parks. You can also filter by holiday type, whether it be adult-only with hot tub, child-friendly, activity parks, cottages, or large houses. They also have a range of special collections you can search by. If you sign up for their email list, you also get sent regular offers.
I’m also a huge fan of Booking.com. The biggest selling point of Booking.com is free cancellation. With what’s going on in the world recently, this is a huge benefit. It gives you peace of mind if for any reason you’re unable to travel.
We have a Village hotel near us and it’s where we go if we want some child-free time to relax. What I love about their hotels is the layout. Everything you need is onsite. You just park the car up and get ready to relax and indulge.
They have a Starbucks, a pub, a restaurant, and leisure facilities including a swimming pool, gym, and classes. A spa. Room service, rooms you can upgrade to with a coffee machine and sky package.
What more could you possibly want?
The pandemic & its impact on UK holidays
The pandemic caused a whole different take on the British holiday. All of a sudden, people couldn’t travel outside the UK and therefore had no choice but to book a holiday in this country.
This article provides some practical guidance on how to ensure you are covered when booking a holiday.
Due to the high demand for UK holidays, we struggled to find suitable accommodation for this break, at a reasonable price. We had to compromise on the location and duration of the stay, but I am looking forward to a break and that’s what matters.
Hopefully next year we can get back to our usual routine, of going abroad, with some holiday parks scattered throughout the year, so I can get my bingo fix!
Before I pack up my car & get going…
Do you have any holidays coming up? Tell me about them below or add me on social media – for updates on mine.
I can’t wait to hear from you.
I remember going to Brighton a lot with my dad as a kid, I loved it there. I have only ever been abroad once as I think we have so much to see in England.
Plus you get delicious fish n chips!
The fish & chips cannot be beaten. And I agree, there is so much to see.
This definitely looks like the perfect staycation! Thanks for sharing all about it!
Love a Staycation. Can’t wait to plan the next one.
We don’t really do British seaside holidays for staycations although we did go to Great Yarmouth last year and it was okay. I wouldn’t go again. We have a staycation booked to York soon and I’m really looking forward to it – I love exploring smaller cities.
York is beautiful. We want to go back soon!
This is such a creative post and I love taking time to explore places around where we are! Travel doesn’t have to be this big international adventure, where there is so much around us. I love the smell of the seaside and am so jealous of your trips!
Thank you.
I think we have all realised holidaying near where we live isn’t so bad after all.
The smell of the seaside is amazing and I can’t wait to share more of my trips with you all.
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
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Thank you for your comment. It’s a great place to explore.
Great post! Food and the overall vibe are a must for me! I love the smell of fresh sea air too! Thanks for sharing xx
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
I will be visiting the UK soon, will sure keep these places in mind… thanks for sharing
Thank you for your comment and I am glad this was helpful. We will see you in the UK soon x
When it comes to UK, I always think about the English countryside. But seaside sounds amazing too. Thank you for sharing. Greetings from Malaysia.
We are quite near the countryside, which is amazing if we want a day out! The seaside is fun for all the family though.
Wow all the way from Malaysia – its amazing we can connect & support one another from so far away!
I would visit England to see family but I never knew there were so many things I can go and try, definitely gonna keep this in mind for my next visit. Great post! xx
Thank you. There are so many lovely places to visit, even we find new ones all the time xx
This sounds so lovely. I’d love to visit someday. I was sold on seaside and exploration! I’m definitely looking forward to adventure soon.
Thank you for reading. I am glad you like the sound of the seaside.
Let me know if you manage to visit and where you end up going. I have loads of places on my bucket list. I need to make a plan for these trips over the next few years.
Oh loved reading this! I spent my childhood in Italy so seaside holidays were a must in summer and made some of the best memories! Really need to visit more of the UK next x
I am glad you liked reading the post.
Italy sounds amazing and I really want to go. We need a honeymoon at some point, so may try and fit that in.
I feel the same about the UK – we are always looking for somewhere a bit different to visit. We end up at the coast nearest to us because it’s a short drive, but we did recently make it to Norfolk, which was 4-5 hours in the car x
I live by the sea so I’m lucky in that sense as I don’t need to go away to experience seaside life! However, I used to go on loads of Haven holidays and Pontins too as a kid and loved every second exploring the parks – great post x
I would love to live by the sea. it’s calming & relaxing and there is a reason everyone wants to travel to the seaside to get away.
Pontins brings back memories, mostly blurred ones, from my party weekends. Haha xx
Loved the post…..
thank you 🙂
Pretty similar to the Irish seaside holidays! We would pack up and head to Kilkee for a few days and rent a mobile home. I’ve heard a lot about Butlins and some of my friends growing up even went to visit – I was so jealous! This post definitely brought back the childhood memories! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am glad it brought back childhood memories and you also experienced the same thing growing up.
We couldn’t always afford Butlins, but we went a few times and loved it. It was more caravan parks for us. Butlins is expensive. I don’t mind taking my little one when shes older and won’t fall asleep during the entertainment, but for now, I am getting more holidays in for my money 🙂
Just coming into Spring here! And I am hanging out for a bit of sunshine and surf! I love paddles boarding so a lake is just the perfect spot for me. And while we can’t go abroad right now- I’m loving reading about places I will one day soon, visit!
I am glad you liked the post and enjoyed reading it.
All those things sound amazing. We have the lake District near us (about two hours away) and that’s the most beautiful, scenic place
Lovely post 🙂 I wish to visit the UK sometime🙂
Last weekend we had our first long trip with our toddler. Yes, 2 hours drive is a good distance when we have a toddler!
Thank you for your comment.
Hopefully, you will visit sometime, there are a lot of lovely places to see.
Aww, the first trip with a toddler 🙂 you need a bit of a drive, but not too long. 2 hours is perfect for us at the moment.
Seaside holidays with family seems like haven. Visiting England is on my bucket list maybe soon in better days! Thanks for sharing.
Hopefully you can come and experience our seaside soon! x
It has been since March 2020 that I last traveled abroad. I live in Greece and visited UK twice but both of them were in London. I would love to visit the sea sides of UK in the future.
Pandemia taught me that there are always beautiful places around where you can have fan. No need to travel to the other side of the planet.
Yes, of course I love traveling but I can also escape somewhere inside my country and have great time as well!
Thank you for this post 😊
Thank you for your comment.
We also love traveling abroad, but it’s also nice to fit in some shorter seaside holidays as well. This year in the UK we’ve had no choice and it’s mainly UK stays only. Hopefully doing both next year, when things go back to normal travel-wise.
I think British seaside holidays are so underrated. I used to love going to Butlins as a kid. Even as an adult, there is still a lot of fun, enjoyment and nostalgia.
We went to Butlins many times as kids. I am waiting until my little one is a bit older and can enjoy all the entertainment.
As adults, we have as much fun as the kids – that’s the beauty of it x
Going on holiday by the seaside is an absolute must! I also love 2p machines – this post has brought back such memories 🙂
There is just something about it, isn’t there? I can’t wait for the 2p machines 🙂
Glad it’s brought back memories for you x
I love London so much, that I never think beyond it. This has given me new ideas to do when I visit Britain next.
That’s fantastic, glad you found it helpful.
I also love London. I could easily move to a big city and love the hustle & bustle. It’s nice to get away to the seaside though, where it’s a bit quieter
xx