The holiday season has arrived and although some will race abroad to catch the sun, many of us will choose to enjoy time here in the UK.
With the wonderful British countryside and coastal walks, our small island offers an array of scenic regions waiting to be explored. But what exactly is it about UK holidays that we love? We commissioned a survey to our customers to find out…
So, what did we discover?
Over 70% of people chose the beautiful countryside as the main reason they holiday in the UK. This comes as no surprise, with 15 national parks scattered across the UK including the New Forest, the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Yorkshire Dales and around 2000 miles of coastline, holidaymakers are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a location to visit.
Yet despite there being no shortage of moors, mountain ranges and rolling green hills to visit, a seaside holiday remains the top choice for most Brits, with 77% choosing Brighton, Blackpool and the Isle of Wight as their favourite staycation destination.
Beside the gorgeous landscapes, the UK is a historian’s paradise and it’s something we are proud of as a nation, with 59% of people saying that they enjoy staycations due to the UK’s rich history and heritage. Popular historical locations include the medieval Warwick Castle, built in 1068, Hadrian’s Wall which runs for over 80 miles, and Battle Abbey situated where the infamous battle of Hastings took place in 1066. With so many landmarks of significance, occupying only 242,000km2 of land, travelling from one to another isn’t difficult at all.
In fact, 55% of people said that travel convenience is one of the things they like most about holidaying in the UK. You can say “no” to luggage restrictions, passport control and jet lag; and simply pack your bags, jump into your car and follow the map. And if you’re not driving, the National Rail spans over 10,000 miles, so you’ll have no problem finding your way to your destination. Maybe it’s this sense of freedom which comes with staycations, that makes them so appealing.
For others, staycations are simply nostalgic. Taking a weekend trip as a child to Cornwall or Blackpool and playing on the penny slots in the arcade or enjoying a donkey ride recall times of pure innocent fun. The simple pleasures of building a sandcastle (83%), eating ice cream (77%) (no matter what the weather!) and swimming in the sea (76%) were voted the most popular activities for Brits during their childhood staycations.
Although there’s plenty of reasons to love staycations, there’s one thing which tops all the reasons to dislike them – the weather. In fact, over 80% of people say they dislike the unpredictable weather when it comes to holidaying in the UK. Unfortunately, due to our little island being situated bang in the middle of multiple different air masses, experiencing all four seasons in one day is something we are used to!
But it’s not all gloom and doom. Many of us have managed to make the most of our holidays despite the weather. From having wet picnics, to resorting to playing indoor games while it rained outside, we always find a way.
Are you planning a staycation this summer? Let us know your go-to destination and contact us on Facebook or Twitter! And if you’re hiring a car, don’t forget to purchase car hire excess insurance before you travel to protect yourself any excess charges you may incur from your rental provider.
