As the weather (finally) warms up, our thoughts turn to the summer holidays and where to take the family. And the fantastic news is that you no longer need to traipse all the way to Spain, France or Turkey – because you can have a fantastic experience just by staying at home. Yes, the staycation is still alive and well and in fact the Daily Mail reports that two out of three families have decided to invest in a staycation this year! There’s never been a better time to discover the UK; with pristine blue-flag beaches, ancient heritage and oodles of things for all the family to do!
Staycations have become an impressive trend, boosting the UK industry by more than £12 billion and the reasons why a staycation is a viable option this summer, is obvious! There’s no fiddling around with foreign currency, no long queues at the airports to content with and no hidden airline extras that seem to s-t-r-e-c-h on forever blowing the holiday budget! And there’s tons of choice too, with boutique hotels, quaint country cottages or a traditional resort-style break. And with many of the UK seaside towns currently enjoying a huge revival, this is our pick of the best;
Minehead in Somerset
The traditional coastal town of Minehead is nestled in sunny Somerset and it is a fantastic destination to rediscover the great British outdoors. If you time your visit right, you will find that you can catch the Minehead and Exmoor Festival, a week-long event that has been running for the past thirty years. Minehead has a wealth of superb family-friendly beaches for swimming and water sports. There are also fantastic trails for hiking and horseback riding. If you want a fascinating place to take your children, consider the nearby Exmoor National Park and the Exmoor Hawk and Owl Centre.
Skegness in Lincolnshire
Take time out with the family on summer breaks UK this summer at friendly Skegness, which is the archetypal British seaside resort town and when you are looking for pristine beaches and crystal clear sea, this is the place for you! Visitors can enjoy the traditional amusement arcades, take a ride on a donkey and try local fish and chips the way they should be eaten; with fingers with the sea air in your face. Families will enjoy the Fantasy Island themepark and can feed seals and penguins at Natureland. Head out to the Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve, where you can get stuck in as a volunteer, surveying and maintaining the important nature reserve.
Bognor Regis in West Sussex
If you are looking for a laidback holiday spot with plenty of sun and fun, you won’t go far wrong with Bognor Regis. Just 50 miles south of London, Bognor Regis is one of the sunniest places in England. Throw off the winter of gloom and soak up the clean beaches, traditional promenade and exciting watersports on offer. If you are a keen bargain hunter, make sure that you stop by the seafront market, which runs weekly throughout most of the year, and will provide you with a little bit of everything you could look for! If you are a history buff, make sure that you stop by the Bognor Regis Museum, where you can learn everything about the town’s fascinating history.
