The best of British
NEAR PERFECT: As staycations grow in popularity, looks at why so many of us are choosing to holiday at home this year.
IKE many of us, I’m guilty of ignoring what’s right under my nose. It’s all too easy to assume that a holiday in the UK plays second fiddle to a more exotic break abroad; like some sort of consolation prize awarded to those hard-up individuals who can’t afford a “proper getaway” this year. In reality, that’s total nonsense. I recently returned from a visit to Northumberland, and was amazed by the undulating sand dunes at Bamburgh beach, the sombre light that cloaks Lindisfarne Castle and the big, big skies crowning some of the most beautiful scenery Britain has to offer.
And it’s scenery – from patchwork rural farmlands to craggy granite cliffs – that’s convincing more and more Britons to book a staycation this year.
TV shows and films have no doubt done their bit to showcase what the UK has to offer ( Poldark and Far From the Madding Crowd are partly responsible for a surge of interest in the South West), while fine weather is restoring confidence in the British seaside.
But more than anything, perhaps we’re beginning to realise that so much of what we crave in a holiday can easily be found close to home.
Last year, 53 million Brits chose to stay in the UK compared with 39 million who went abroad, according to the Office for National Statistics and VisitEngland.
Freedom To Go (www.freedomtogo. co.uk), a leisure vehicle holiday campaign spearheaded by the NCC (National Caravan Council) and designed to get people outside and active exploring Britain, has conducted a survey looking at the benefits of a staycation.
For the majority (67 per cent), beautiful scenery is the main draw, the most venerated locations being the Lake District, Stonehenge and Cornwall.
TV presenter and outdoor enthusiast Michaela Strachan, who is fronting the campaign, says: “Going on a UK break is a great way to get outside with the family, experience nature and come back feeling thoroughly refreshed.”
A growing fondness for rural England is also demonstrated by VisitEngland’s recent Annual Attractions survey, which reports a four per cent increase in visitors to English attractions in 2014, with farms seeing the biggest rise (10 per cent).
Historic landmarks also continue to do well, with the Tower of London being the most popular paid for attraction (with 3.1 million visitors).
All over the country, there are numerous beauty spots, ancient ruins and wildlife havens to discover. Visit and, I can almost guarantee, you’ll feel anything but hard done by.