Brits desperate to relive the Great British holiday of their youth
Brits are dreaming of reliving the Great British holiday of their youth.
A whopping 80% of those asked in a recent poll said they will be indulging in a UK-based holiday this year. More than half of Britons are eager to recreate cherished childhood holiday memories with their own offspring.
While it may be the sunny weather much of the UK has enjoyed so far this summer, a staggering 90% of us reckon that staycations trump all other types of holidays, as per research conducted by Coaching Inn Group.
The quintessential joys of UK breaks, such as indulging in fish and chips, lounging in pub gardens, and bracing beach walks, rank high among our favourite things. Taking in the grandeur of historic sites and meandering through quaint market towns are also among the top reasons for opting to holiday on home turf, reports the Daily Star.
The great British seaside holiday came into its heyday in the post-war years, the 1950s and 1960s. It became affordable for the first time during that era, when workers started receiving paid annual leave (thanks to the Holiday Pay Act 1938) for the first time.
The destinations of choice depended largely on where you lived, meaning many headed for the seaside resort closest to them. For example in the north, those from the mill towns, Manchester, Liverpool or Glasgow would most likely go to Blackpool or Morecambe: those from Leeds would head for Scarborough or Filey. Londoners might choose Brighton or Margate.
While today many of us are used to hopping on a plane and flying to a sunny Spanish or Greek destination in a short few hours, travel used to be quite a lot more complicated.
"If you were heading some distance for your holiday, for example driving to the popular resorts of Torbay or the West Country, it would take a full day to travel there as there were no motorways in the early post war years. The first stretch of motorway in the UK to be opened was the Preston Bypass in 1958: not much use if you were heading to Cornwall or Devon!" writes Historic UK.
As slow as aspects of life back then may have been, clearly, many of us are longing for it. For a good quarter of poll respondents, there's no beating the simple pleasure of a cuppa in a traditional tea shop, while others relish the thrills of amusement and adventure parks.
Nearly half of those surveyed expressed their love for exploring the British Isles, with 44% appreciating the cost savings compared to jetting off overseas. The reduced stress, ease of navigation, and the convenience of hopping into a car for a quick getaway are key factors for many choosing to stay local.
Adam Charity from Coaching Inn Group said: "It's great to see so many Brits embracing a staycation this year. Holidaying in Britain isn't just a more convenient option than travelling abroad, it's also the best way to create memories that you'll cherish."
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