Going on Holiday in the UK - WHY?
Discussion
Nethybridge said:
4 or 5 holidays this year, are you a minor royal ?
This is pretty common. A couple of people on my team at work do this. They maximise their company holiday allowance, buy themselves as much as they can. They don’t have kids so avoid peak holiday times, they aren’t particularly fussy about where they go. They look for cheap deals. One guy uses an Amex card to get air miles, was telling me how he maximises his points, and can get his Mrs to fly for free with a companion voucher.Personally, I have little terrors and find it easier to holiday in the UK. I find with them, everything revolves around kids stuff anyway, so not particularly fussed about going to see Ankor Wat at sunset or discovering myself hiking to Machu Picchu.
Edited by wyson on Monday 8th July 18:05
wyson said:
This is pretty common. A couple of people on my team at work do this. They maximise their company holiday allowance, buy themselves as much as they can. They don’t have kids so avoid peak holiday times, they aren’t particularly fussy about where they go. They look for cheap deals. One guy uses an Amex card to get air miles, was telling me how he maximises his points, and can get his Mrs to fly for free with a companion voucher.
Personally, I have little terrors and find it easier to holiday in the UK. I find with them, everything revolves around kids stuff anyway, so not particularly fussed about going to see Ankor Wat at sunset or discovering myself hiking to Machu Picchu.
I think that was my comment he quoted. We have a kid and will do 3-4 trips abroad with him. Find it far easier with warm seas/pools and activities just generally. Personally, I have little terrors and find it easier to holiday in the UK. I find with them, everything revolves around kids stuff anyway, so not particularly fussed about going to see Ankor Wat at sunset or discovering myself hiking to Machu Picchu.
Edited by wyson on Monday 8th July 18:05
Just done south of France and it was mostly great, and the weather mostly great too. Trip would have been miserable in the UK by comparison as 95% of it was outside.
Yes, definitely agree. Spain / Portugal / France are great options, not too far, not much of a time difference to adjust to.
Overall costs to staying in the UK are very similar. UK is more expensive, but the costs of flights offsets that. Agree with your comments about food as well. UPF’s are the default choice in the UK, they are very hard to avoid. Its much easier to find a bistro doing home cooked food in France etc.
On the other hand, in the UK, the travel is easier. Can hop in your car, travel half a day to the nearest Centre Parcs, Haven, Butlins etc. halving the amount of whining and questions of, how long is this going to take? Are we there yet? You will already be on holiday, when going abroad, you might be still waiting for your plane to take off. The aforementioned places have indoor options when the weather is poor. There is much less hassle booking flights, weighing baggage, following timetables. Little kids seem to exist in their own time bubbles, there are consequences to popping them. Overall I find it less stressful to stay back in Blighty.
Overall costs to staying in the UK are very similar. UK is more expensive, but the costs of flights offsets that. Agree with your comments about food as well. UPF’s are the default choice in the UK, they are very hard to avoid. Its much easier to find a bistro doing home cooked food in France etc.
On the other hand, in the UK, the travel is easier. Can hop in your car, travel half a day to the nearest Centre Parcs, Haven, Butlins etc. halving the amount of whining and questions of, how long is this going to take? Are we there yet? You will already be on holiday, when going abroad, you might be still waiting for your plane to take off. The aforementioned places have indoor options when the weather is poor. There is much less hassle booking flights, weighing baggage, following timetables. Little kids seem to exist in their own time bubbles, there are consequences to popping them. Overall I find it less stressful to stay back in Blighty.
Edited by wyson on Monday 8th July 19:11
PurpleTurtle said:
I've just searched the Longleat Center Parcs: four nights in August, lodge for two adults and a kid, 900 quid! 
Fortunately I have no desire to go there whatsoever, but that is crazy expensive.
£75 / night per person. That's not too bad. Fortunately I have no desire to go there whatsoever, but that is crazy expensive.
Sure you could go to some 3 star hotel or air BnB type thing in Spain somewhere for a week for a similar price, but it's unlikely to have all the activities for kids on your doorstep. Plus the travel time and probably antisocial flight times (for the cheap flights). Holidays with kids should be all about the kids.
I'd quite like to go to centre parcs (because never been) but my holiday this year will be 4 nights camping (and even that isn't as cheap as it should be).
Why do people holiday in the UK?
Because it's bloody brilliant. Britain is hugely varied from a geological point of view, and the contrasts and sights are just amazing.
If you are an outdoors fan, much of Britain is hard to beat. How about kayaking around the Cornish or Welsh coast? Trad climbing on the easy but interesting crags in Snowdonia or the Lakes. Long exposed hikes in Scotland.
Pot holing, sailing, kayaking, flying, climbing, hiking, cycling. The list just goes on and on. And even better, we have great accessibility, with fantastic guides for example willing to take you to some of these places, for fairly sensible prices. Also, the UK has a fabulous network of clubs that are keen on introducing new members to these fantastic experiences.
Add decent food, and brilliant beer, and it really is a top place to be an outdoors enthusiast.
And even better, most people speak English.
Don't get me wrong, we don't have the Dolomites on our doorstep, and no skiing, or high mountains, so the sports you choose have to be consistent with the terrain, but that doesn't mean you can't have really world class experiences here. It's more interesting and varied than almost anywhere else on earth. (And I say that as an experienced bloke who has been to many places to seek adventure - other places can be more dramatic, but nowhere is as varied - though haven't been to Iceland)
Because it's bloody brilliant. Britain is hugely varied from a geological point of view, and the contrasts and sights are just amazing.
If you are an outdoors fan, much of Britain is hard to beat. How about kayaking around the Cornish or Welsh coast? Trad climbing on the easy but interesting crags in Snowdonia or the Lakes. Long exposed hikes in Scotland.
Pot holing, sailing, kayaking, flying, climbing, hiking, cycling. The list just goes on and on. And even better, we have great accessibility, with fantastic guides for example willing to take you to some of these places, for fairly sensible prices. Also, the UK has a fabulous network of clubs that are keen on introducing new members to these fantastic experiences.
Add decent food, and brilliant beer, and it really is a top place to be an outdoors enthusiast.
And even better, most people speak English.
Don't get me wrong, we don't have the Dolomites on our doorstep, and no skiing, or high mountains, so the sports you choose have to be consistent with the terrain, but that doesn't mean you can't have really world class experiences here. It's more interesting and varied than almost anywhere else on earth. (And I say that as an experienced bloke who has been to many places to seek adventure - other places can be more dramatic, but nowhere is as varied - though haven't been to Iceland)
bearman68 said:
Why do people holiday in the UK?
Because it's bloody brilliant. Britain is hugely varied from a geological point of view, and the contrasts and sights are just amazing.
If you are an outdoors fan, much of Britain is hard to beat. How about kayaking around the Cornish or Welsh coast? Trad climbing on the easy but interesting crags in Snowdonia or the Lakes. Long exposed hikes in Scotland.
Pot holing, sailing, kayaking, flying, climbing, hiking, cycling. The list just goes on and on. And even better, we have great accessibility, with fantastic guides for example willing to take you to some of these places, for fairly sensible prices. Also, the UK has a fabulous network of clubs that are keen on introducing new members to these fantastic experiences.
Add decent food, and brilliant beer, and it really is a top place to be an outdoors enthusiast.
And even better, most people speak English.
Don't get me wrong, we don't have the Dolomites on our doorstep, and no skiing, or high mountains, so the sports you choose have to be consistent with the terrain, but that doesn't mean you can't have really world class experiences here. It's more interesting and varied than almost anywhere else on earth. (And I say that as an experienced bloke who has been to many places to seek adventure - other places can be more dramatic, but nowhere is as varied - though haven't been to Iceland)
Very good points. But, cue someone about to come in and say 'yeah but rain, cold, depressing, that's not a holiday etc' Because it's bloody brilliant. Britain is hugely varied from a geological point of view, and the contrasts and sights are just amazing.
If you are an outdoors fan, much of Britain is hard to beat. How about kayaking around the Cornish or Welsh coast? Trad climbing on the easy but interesting crags in Snowdonia or the Lakes. Long exposed hikes in Scotland.
Pot holing, sailing, kayaking, flying, climbing, hiking, cycling. The list just goes on and on. And even better, we have great accessibility, with fantastic guides for example willing to take you to some of these places, for fairly sensible prices. Also, the UK has a fabulous network of clubs that are keen on introducing new members to these fantastic experiences.
Add decent food, and brilliant beer, and it really is a top place to be an outdoors enthusiast.
And even better, most people speak English.
Don't get me wrong, we don't have the Dolomites on our doorstep, and no skiing, or high mountains, so the sports you choose have to be consistent with the terrain, but that doesn't mean you can't have really world class experiences here. It's more interesting and varied than almost anywhere else on earth. (And I say that as an experienced bloke who has been to many places to seek adventure - other places can be more dramatic, but nowhere is as varied - though haven't been to Iceland)
okgo said:
I think that was my comment he quoted. We have a kid and will do 3-4 trips abroad with him. Find it far easier with warm seas/pools and activities just generally.
Just done south of France and it was mostly great, and the weather mostly great too. Trip would have been miserable in the UK by comparison as 95% of it was outside.
We have a kit too, we have yet to stay in Centreparcs (or similar). Europe is fab, we've been all over France, Switzerland, Italy, Norway. But there are parts of the UK just as nice. Personally I love the weather in the UK, Constable wouldn't have got very far in life if all he had to work with was blue sky's and sun all dayJust done south of France and it was mostly great, and the weather mostly great too. Trip would have been miserable in the UK by comparison as 95% of it was outside.
.I've actually not been on a plane since COVID, but at some point need to get into an aluminium hamster wheel, South America is next aboard holiday destination we need to do, which I suspect will put all places in the UK to shame
.bearman68 said:
Don't get me wrong, we don't have the Dolomites on our doorstep, and no skiing, or high mountains
We don't do any sports, the sight of mountains is enough to keep me happy. It's a massive shame we don't have anything close to real mountains in the UK, but equally it's probably why the UK is relatively well developed, it's hard to farm/build stuff on proper mountains.When ever we retire I do like the idea of moving somewhere closer to mountains, someone mentioned beeches? On last trip we did in April to Wales we show how ended up on a beech near Cardiff, beeches aren't my thing, much prefer a pool, cleaner and less salty. Dolomites would have been a much nicer back drop
I will 100% agree you simply cannot get an view like this in the UK
.
Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 9th July 07:05
Yeah but there's no lift up Sgurr na Stri and you can't get lunch and beer at the top!
I agree that the UK is really good for outdoor trips if that's your thing. I find it cheaper to go to the Alps than Scotland though, but go to Snowdonia for weekends/weeks away frequently.
The UK isn't great if your ideal of a good holiday is sitting in the sun on a beach though.
I agree that the UK is really good for outdoor trips if that's your thing. I find it cheaper to go to the Alps than Scotland though, but go to Snowdonia for weekends/weeks away frequently.
The UK isn't great if your ideal of a good holiday is sitting in the sun on a beach though.
There is nothing wrong with holidays in the uk. we split our holidays 50-50 due to the pain of flying with children.
2 weekends away in the uk
1 cruise from Southampton
1 euro tunnel
2 via airports
It's the cost of staying in the uk which I don't like, we tend to spend longer away abroad.
2 weekends away in the uk
1 cruise from Southampton
1 euro tunnel
2 via airports
It's the cost of staying in the uk which I don't like, we tend to spend longer away abroad.
simons123 said:
Carried on from another thread, where I seemed to get a negative reaction to a comment i made about the UK. Thought id start a new thread.
The idea of going away in the UK depresses me so I always aim to go abroad. Other than bits of Cornwall (which is a 5-6 hour drive) and hardly warrants a full week, it's all pretty much meh (IMO).
Overpriced hotels, crap weather, nothing really interesting to see or do All very depressing. I like the Cotswolds but not really a holiday place. Horses for courses and all that but I'd rather stay at home then waste money in the UK.
Been all over India, China, Cambodia, etc so like doing more then generally sitting around a pool. Just think the UK is one big expensive, depressing dump and I work to get away from the UK as much as possible (it's still my home though so no plans of leaving). But if I'm stuck in 1 place for a week then at least you want is nice weather, good food, good hotels, nice beaches (none of which can be found here). Cant even go in the sea in the UK as it's filthy...for the life of me cant understand why anyone would choose to holiday in the UK, except those with young kids or the elderly.
Is it just me and few others who think this way?
Where in China have you been?The idea of going away in the UK depresses me so I always aim to go abroad. Other than bits of Cornwall (which is a 5-6 hour drive) and hardly warrants a full week, it's all pretty much meh (IMO).
Overpriced hotels, crap weather, nothing really interesting to see or do All very depressing. I like the Cotswolds but not really a holiday place. Horses for courses and all that but I'd rather stay at home then waste money in the UK.
Been all over India, China, Cambodia, etc so like doing more then generally sitting around a pool. Just think the UK is one big expensive, depressing dump and I work to get away from the UK as much as possible (it's still my home though so no plans of leaving). But if I'm stuck in 1 place for a week then at least you want is nice weather, good food, good hotels, nice beaches (none of which can be found here). Cant even go in the sea in the UK as it's filthy...for the life of me cant understand why anyone would choose to holiday in the UK, except those with young kids or the elderly.
Is it just me and few others who think this way?
MC Bodge said:
okgo said:
More varied than anywhere on earth?
Good lord. It’s not even more varied than France ffs, the next closest major country.
Why would you say that?Good lord. It’s not even more varied than France ffs, the next closest major country.
The geography/location of the UK produces a mild, wet climate, but that should not blind people to other aspects.
Its a fact for instance that you can find rain forests in the UK, desert like landscapes, mountains, glaciated valleys, gorges, what is arguably the 2nd largest natural harbour in the world,
If you want guaranteed sunshine and 33 degrees C in August then go to Benidorm but to dismiss the UK as not being varied is pretty ignorant IMO
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