British holiday resorts ‘passe’ to many

Many traditional British holiday resorts are considered passé as travellers seek trendy destinations, luxurious hotels and isolated country retreats, according to the findings of a new survey.

The poll of 2,500 Britons compared the most popular UK holiday locations and activities of two generations – the over 60s and the under 30s – to give an overview of the British holiday landscape in 2008.

The findings reveal that while holidaying within the UK is still popular, contemporary British breaks are much more likely to involve visits to theme parks, relaxing spas and extreme sports centres that offer activities such as surfing.

Six in ten of the survey’s younger respondents (60%) stated that they felt visiting traditional beach resorts had become distinctly unfashionable.

Punch and Judy shows are rapidly falling out of favour with just 2% of the younger respondents claiming they have been a feature of their recent holidays. 

Donkey rides, popular at resorts such as Blackpool, Weymouth and Skegness, also look set to die out with just 3% saying they would be likely to take one, with one in five (20%) rating them as animal cruelty. 

And, despite recent warmer temperatures, swimming in the sea off the coast of Britain is also likely to consigned to the past – popular with just 6% of under 30s, the poll conducted for Teletext Holidays found.

Other seaside favourite’s fast becoming history include; playing bingo (3%), sending novelty postcards (2%) and taking a stroll along the pier (1%). 

Cream teas look set to become a thing of the past with a third of under 30’s (33%) rating the once popular afternoon treat as outdated and 16% abstaining because they consider them too fattening.

However, some seaside favourites remain popular with holidaymakers – including water sports (18%), visiting fairground rides (17%) and caravanning (16%). 

One in ten (11% of respondents) also admitted to still loving fish and chips,

Just under half of Brits (45%) are likely to take at least one foreign holiday a year, while a quarter of Brits are likely to take at least two short breaks (2-5 days) within the UK in the same time period.

And while former seaside favourites such as Bognor Regis, Torbay and Llandudno look to be losing their appeal, resorts in the Lake District, North Devon and Cornwall seem to be popular with many travellers whatever their age.

A quarter of the nation’s under 30’s prefer to take city breaks, with Edinburgh, Brighton and Bournemouth registering most votes.

Meanwhile more than a third of over 60 year olds (35%) prefer more traditional resorts, identifying Blackpool, Torquay and St Ives as their favourite British resorts.

Teletext Holidays marketing director Ash Makkar said: “There is so much to choose from when you are looking for a holiday in the British Isles, there really is something for everybody.

“Whether it’s the traditional seaside fare or an extreme sports activity holiday, Britain has got it all. Holidays at home are as popular as they have ever been.” 

*Top destinations (all ages)

1.       Cornwall – 22%

2.       Devon & Somerset – 14.5%

3.       Lake District -13.5%

4.       Blackpool & North West -11%

5.       London – 9%

6.       South Coast – 8%

7.       Scotland – 7%

8.       Yorkshire & North East – 5%

9.       Wales – 3.5%

10.   Ireland – 2.5%

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