Did you know that it’s English Tourism Week (16th to 24th March 2013) and the team at Door2Tour coach tours has sent their Guest Blogger, Ruby Glover, on a mission to discover why everyone should consider taking their holidays in England instead of opting to go abroad. Her findings have proved what we already knew, there is so much to see and do in England that you needn’t travel far to see something wonderful…
Going abroad every year might seem to be a nice get away with your family or friends but have you ever thought about holidaying in England? Taking holidays here is a brilliant travel alternative for those with families, friends or partners as England really does have a lot more to offer than you might think. I carried out some research on pricing based on a family of 4 staying for 7 nights on a full board basis and here is what I found; Staying in Blackpool for 7 nights in a 3* hotel full board would cost £390 compared to the same kind of holiday in Benidorm costing £1598. What a huge saving you could make if you opted to taking holidays in England instead?
Everyone has their own tastes and reasons for where they travel to on holiday and through my investigations, I have found some wonderful beaches, coastal towns, attractions and sights that are all worth seeing and are perfect to entertain the whole family. Perhaps when you’re considering your next holiday, maybe feature one of the following in your itinerary…
Blackpool
In the north of England, we have stunning Blackpool, a very popular seaside resort with a lot of people as it has so much to offer every visitor. It’s perfect for families of all ages as the resort provides a wide variety of activities to keep everyone entertained during their break here. There’s donkey rides, amusements , a theme park and some wonderful nightlife should you wish to dance the night away! No visit to Blackpool would be the same without including a visit to the infamous Tower. Take a climb to the top of the Tower and you will be rewarded with some amazing views of the resort below. There’s the Comedy Carpet too located at the bottom and why not catch a show in the Grande Theatre inside. Did you know there have also been sightings of the Northern Lights(Aurora Borealis) – a rare visitor to Britain?
Margate
Thought to be one of the best coastal towns in the South East with tourism dating back hundreds of years so you’ll discover a lot of historical connections. It’s also home to a blue flag beach, perfect for swimming or surfing. If you venture away from the beach, you will find some charming sights including; the new Turner Contemporary Gallery featuring works by JMW Turner and Tracey Emin. For pure English eccentricity, head over to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Rooms with Victorian clutter vying for shelf space where tea and cakes are served by the Mad Hatter himself. Visit Nayland Rock Shelter where poet T S Elliot penned his poem ‘The Wasteland’, try your luck in the amusement arcades or take a gentle stroll around the Old Town – Margate is definitely trying to capture its retro feel! The magnificent and mysterious Shell grotto has 4.6 million shells perfectly aligned onto a 2000 sq ft mosaic. If you fancy it, follow a 70ft winding underground passage leading to the mosaic and a rectangular chamber – still, no one knows why this is here or what its purpose was.
Cornwall
In the South West of England, we have Cornwall which should definitely feature high in anyone’s holiday itinerary. Cornwall is home to many beaches with Newquay being among the most stunning. Watersport enthusiasts of all ages head to the bustling seaside resort of Newquay and with one look, you can see why it has become a ‘surfers paradise’. Why not add a little romance to your holiday here by staying in a cliff-top cottage which can be hired for a weekend. You could also visit the castle and then treat your other half to a meal on the beach front – a fabulous break away for everyone!
Quick Facts to remember about England;
-The Sunniest place in Britain is Eastbourne, their sunshine averages 5.02 hours per day, the only place with over five hours!
-Blackpool was voted best seaside resort in the UK
-Brighton is one of the top 5 favourite cities visited by tourists with approximately 8 million tourists every year
-The best beach was won by Rhossili Bay, Swansea, Wales. It has the largest expanse of white sand on the Gower Peninsula
-The most traditional and oldest beach is Scarborough. Scarborough is blessed with two sandy bays in the blue flagged north beach and south bay
Always remember what England can offer when you’re considering your next holiday, it is a wonderful country that never ceases to amaze.
Have you been on holidays in England? Would you recommend a visit to any of the places mentioned above or is there somewhere else you would prefer?