In times gone by, there were not many travel options available to the British holidaymaker so when it came to holidays, the majority would simply pack their case and head to their nearest British seaside resort. Hard to believe, but even though nowadays we have an endless supply of travel options available to us from air tours to cruises, UK coach tour holidays and rail journeys, us Brits simply wish to stay in the UK and take a holiday closer to home. The main reasons for this change in holiday habits could be because the cost of living is continuously rising whilst salaries stagnate and holidaymakers are having to cut back on many luxury items including holidays to make ends meet. The civil unrest in Europe as well as the fragility of the Euro and the poor exchange rates is also deterring Brits from taken European or Worldwide tours. All of these factors have resulted in a surge of interest for holidays in the UK which is part of the reason why the great British seaside holidays is making a well-deserved come-back. With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look at some of the seaside destinations in the UK that have seen a surge in interest and have cherry-picked a few for you below….
Scarborough
Image by erjkprunczyk via Flickr
This beautiful little gem of Yorkshire was Britain’s first seaside resort and has been welcoming visitors to its shores for hundreds of years. There are many first class attractions to be found on holidays to Scarborough such as the Sea Life Sanctuary, Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Scarborough Art Gallery and the refurbished Rotunda Museum. Scarborough is also home to many wonderful festivals that the whole family will enjoy including Seafest, Bike Week, Scarborough Fayre and Scarborough Cricket Festival. Visitors to Scarborough are also able to enjoy a number of renowned theatres including the Stephen Joseph Theatre which is home to the playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Music fans should head over to the Spa Complex as this is home to the only remaining seaside orchestra. Whether you like Greek, Italian, Indian, Chinese or traditional fish & chips, you’ll find it all here in one of Scarborough’s many tempting eateries. Step back in time with a visit to Scarborough Castle, a 12th Century Roman Ruin that dominates the headland, learn more about the dinosaur coast and watch geology come to life at the Rotunda Museum or take a trip on one of the county’s oldest miniature seaside railways. One thing’s for certain, you definitely won’t get bored on holidays to Scarborough.
Isle of Wight
Image via Wikipedia
Affectionately known as the ‘Diamond Isle’, the Isle of Wight is located just off England’s South Coast and is a favourite holiday destination for many families year on year. With one visit you’ll soon realise why this is a popular holiday resort from its award-winning beaches and over half the island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Step back in time on holidays to the Isle of Wight and discover its fascinating past that features dinosaurs, Roman Villas, medieval castles and historic houses. Maybe go ghost-hunting as the Isle of Wight is known for the many thousands of ghosts, spirits, poltergeists and apparitions that haunt the island. Did you know that the Isle of Wight has attracted many famous visitors over the years including Queen Victoria, Charles Darwin, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens and Alfred Lord Tennyson. There’s no end of carnivals and festivals that take place on this tiny island including the world famous Cowes Week. Where else in the world will you find: Needles you cannot thread, Freshwater you cannot drink, Cowes you cannot milk, Ryde where you walk, Newtown which is very old, Winkle Street where there are no winkles and Newport you cannot bottle?
Brighton
Image by What's the rush via Flickr
Holidays to Brighton offer a treasure trove of things to see and do from the stunning heritage of the Royal Pavilion to Victorian Aquariums and all the traditional seaside fun of the famous Brighton Pier. Stroll along the bustling Brighton promenade, head into the city to experience the cosmopolitan atmosphere of its many funky bars and cafes, relax with a good book on the famous Blue Flag awarded pebble beach or take a dip in the sea and try out the many beach and water sports such as sailing, kayaking or beach volleyball. Once you’ve had your fill of beach activities, celebrate in style at some of Brighton’s fantastic seafront clubs and bars located beneath the Victorian beachfront arches or take a relaxing stroll along the pier and check out the fairground rides. For something a little more sedate, take the whole family to discover the ocean with a visit to Brighton Sealife Centre or take a look at the quaint boutiques to be found on walks through the city’s famous ‘Lanes’. When you stop and look around, it’s hard to believe that there is an abundance of green spaces to be found in Brighton from the calmness of the Royal Pavillion Gardens to the picturesque duck pond and the Victorian Clock Tower of Queen’s Park. Brighton has an impressive 98 parks and gardens with 6 of them being awarded with Green Flags. Entertainment for the whole family can be found at Brighton Marina which is one of the largest in Europe where you can find diverse
This article was written by Steve Grant on behalf of Door 2 Tour, one of the UK’s leading coach holiday firms.
