logo
Huge blow to Butlin's and Pontins as UK's best holiday park named

Huge blow to Butlin's and Pontins as UK's best holiday park named

Daily Mirror5 days ago
Brits looking for their next staycation have been urged to 'look past heavyweights' like Butlin's and Pontins after both were snubbed in the league tables for the UK's best holiday park
The UK's best holiday park has been revealed - and it's bad news for the Red Coats. With the cost of living crisis still grappling cash-strapped Brits, many of us are ditching their fortnight abroad for a much more affordable staycation.

In fact, data from last year showed a whopping 52 per cent of Brits were opting to holiday in the UK instead of jetting off to the likes of Spain and Greece, with 34 per cent planning for at least two staycations during 2024. Now that the school summer holidays are just around the corner, swathes of households will be searching for a last-minute break to escape the city and relax.


As a result, consumer brand Which? has ranked all of the UK's holiday parks - arguing you might want to 'look past heavyweights' like Center Parcs, Butlin's and Pontins.
Despite attracting around 1.5 million visitors a year, Butlin's was dealt a huge blow in the league tables - ranking fifth to last. The resort, which has three sites across the UK, scored an overall customer score of 67 per cent.
Travellers gave Butlin's a meagre two stars for its value for money, food and drink offerings, and overall customer service, and three stars for its dog friendliness and variety of free facilities. When it came to the 'quality and variety of children's activities', Butlin's received a much more respectable four stars.

However, it was Pontins that came scraping in at the bottom - with a 56 per cent overall customer score. "The furnishings were extremely tired, the chairs and beds were incredibly uncomfortable, and the grounds within the complex were mostly overgrown," one visitor scathed.
Another agreed, fuming: "It is cheap to book and entertain children. However, the facilities available and prices were below par when actually at the resort."

Taking home gold, with an impressive 87 per cent customer score, is Potters Resorts. The adult-only, all-inclusive park has just two locations (one in Norfolk and one in Essex) and prides itself on its 'award-winning hospitality' and 'West End-quality evening entertainment'.
Operating for more than 100 years, visitors spent around £110 per person per night - and was hailed for its good value for money (remember this price covers your food and drinks too). "The facilities are excellent," praised one recent traveller. "Activities varied and well organised. Entertainment was outstanding. The all inclusive deal was very good value. Food superb and plentiful."

UK's best holiday parks and resorts rated
Potters Resorts
Forest Holidays
Bluestone Wales
John Fowler Holiday Parks
Hoburne Holidays
Hoseasons
Waterside Holiday Group
Warner Leisure Villages
Centerparcs
Haven Holiday Parks
Parkdean Resorts
Butlin's
Park Holidays UK
Away Resorts
Largo Leisure Parks
Pontins
*Which?'s league tables are based on 2,255 responses from 1,717 Which? members and the general public. The survey was carried out in February and March 2024.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UK Foreign Office warning to any tourists travelling to Malta
UK Foreign Office warning to any tourists travelling to Malta

Daily Record

time23 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

UK Foreign Office warning to any tourists travelling to Malta

The Foreign Office has issued new guidance to Brits travelling to the popular holiday destination Holidaymakers heading to a beloved getaway spot have been urged to watch their drinks carefully in specific locations. More than 700,000 Brits go to Malta each year to unwind and bask in the Mediterranean sunshine. ‌ Whilst Malta generally poses fewer safety concerns than many other destinations, the Foreign Office cautions in its travel advice that "no travel can be guaranteed safe". A particular threat facing British tourists in Malta involves criminals tampering with food and drink. ‌ The Foreign Office guidance for Malta warns of documented incidents of drink spiking occurring in various bars and what they describe as gentlemen's clubs within the Paceville area. ‌ Paceville stands as Malta's premier nightlife hub, packed with numerous nightclubs and bars that draw many visitors. Yet this bustling atmosphere may also create greater scope for criminal activity. The FCDO guidance warns: "Criminals have drugged people in some bars and gentlemen's clubs in the Paceville district. They've forced them to spend large amounts of money or assaulted them." ‌ Officials recommend that tourists venturing into Paceville exercise extreme caution when purchasing drinks and maintain constant vigilance over their beverages to prevent spiking. Visitors should also scrutinise their bills thoroughly to avoid being overcharged. In the event of a medical emergency, including instances of drink spiking, dialling 112 is recommended. This emergency number connects you to all essential services in Malta, including ambulance, police, and fire brigade. Should you encounter a medical situation while travelling, it's crucial to inform your travel provider and insurance company. They can offer further guidance on available assistance and necessary steps. ‌ Drugs in Malta Tourists should note that any involvement with illegal substances could result in severe penalties. Although Malta legalised home cultivation and personal use of cannabis in 2021, public consumption remains strictly prohibited. Moreover, only Maltese residents are permitted to possess up to 7g of cannabis in public for personal use at home. Brits found violating these drug laws may face extended prison terms and hefty fines. Additionally, upon release from detention, they could be slapped with a Schengen ban lasting up to five years along with fines. Full details on the Foreign Office's advice for Malta can be found here.

Brits only know one foreign language phrase - and it's exactly what you think
Brits only know one foreign language phrase - and it's exactly what you think

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Brits only know one foreign language phrase - and it's exactly what you think

Most feel embarrassed about their lack of language skills when travelling abroad but there's one key phrase they make sure to learn beforehand. The only foreign phrase that half of Brits have truly mastered is how to order a drink when they are abroad on holiday. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 30 per cent are likely to invent a word in another language when attempting to communicate with locals whilst on holiday. ‌ If this strategy fails, many resort to other methods such as frantically pointing at menus, a tactic favoured by over half of holidaymakers. Nearly a quarter will depend on exaggerated hand gestures to convey their message or opt to speak very slowly in English in the hope of being understood. ‌ ‌ Despite their best attempts, this lack of communication often poses problems as one fifth have found themselves spending far longer than necessary trying to sort out something simple. One in ten admitted they have hopped on the wrong train or bus due to a misunderstanding, or have mistakenly ordered the wrong food or drink as a result. It appears navigating menus is a particular source of anxiety, with four in ten entering full panic mode if an English version is not available. ‌ The study was commissioned by Samsung to celebrate the launch of its Galaxy Z Flip7, which boasts an AI-powered Live Translate and Interpreter feature. The feature is designed to assist users in translating phone calls in real time and overcoming awkward language hurdles when travelling. The research revealed that the majority of Brits feel a sense of embarrassment over their lack of foreign language proficiency when overseas. To navigate this, a third have resorted to smiling and nodding in conversations, pretending they have understood when they have no clue. Moreover, one in five have made an effort to converse in the local language, only to be met with a fluent English response from the other person, leading to further embarrassment. 10 WAYS BRITS HAVE TRIED TO CHAT WITH LOCALS: Pointed at items on a menu Asked locals if they 'speak English?' before anything else Said English words very slowly Used dramatic hand gestures Tried to mime what I was trying to say Butchered basic phrases Used translate apps Mixed multiple languages together Repeated the same phrase multiple times in different tones Tried speaking louder in English, hoping it would help

Holidaymakers in France could be turned away at the border for five reasons
Holidaymakers in France could be turned away at the border for five reasons

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Holidaymakers in France could be turned away at the border for five reasons

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be needed for travel to and between 25 EU countries and four other nations from 2027 Brits planning to jet off to France, Spain and other popular holiday spots could soon be turned away at the border if they don't have a travel permit. Post- Brexit rules mean that anyone travelling on a British passport will need this document before heading to any part of the Schengen area, which includes 25 EU countries and four others. ‌ EU bosses are introducing the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a new travel permit, to beef up security and tighten the borders of the Schengen zone. The scheme has been delayed several times, but according to the latest update, UK travellers won't need one for EU travel until at least April 2027. ‌ ‌ Earlier this year, the EU's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs announced that the ETIAS will be launched in the last quarter of 2026. However, due to a transitional and grace period, the requirement to apply for an ETIAS before setting off won't become mandatory until 2027. The roll-out of ETIAS is tied to the launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES), and each permit will set you back €20 (£17.44). After numerous delays, the EU has agreed to start implementing the EES from October this year. ‌ This phased introduction allows member states to gradually introduce the new border system over a six-month period, reports the Liverpool Echo. It will be required for travel to and between the following nations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. If you're journeying to a Schengen area destination with a UK passport, you'll be required to register biometric information, including fingerprints or photographs, when you arrive. The EES registration will substitute the existing system of manually stamping passports as visitors enter the EU. ‌ The ETIAS is linked to an individual's passport and stays valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Should you obtain a new passport, you'll be required to obtain a fresh ETIAS travel authorisation. Possessing a valid ETIAS travel authorisation permits multiple entries into the territories of participating European nations for brief visits, typically up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nevertheless, this doesn't guarantee entry. At the border, officials will request your passport and supplementary documents to confirm you satisfy the entry requirements. Most ETIAS applications are processed and approved "almost immediately", but mistakes in your application could result in rejection. Without a valid ETIAS, you'll be barred from entering countries like France, Spain and Italy. SchengenVisaInfo has outlined five potential reasons for your ETIAS application being turned down: You don't have a valid passport You miss to attend a required interview You submit an incomplete application You're considered a '"risk" You have a Schengen Information System (SIS) alert If your ETIAS application is rejected, you have the right to challenge the decision.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store