When you look back on the holidays you went on as a child, what comes to mind first? Is it building sandcastles on the beach? The smell of fish and chips? Or the car journey that never seemed to end?
Over the past couple of years, Brits have revealed their love of the Great British holiday, with the term ‘staycation’ eight times more popular than it was three years ago*. With this in mind, we've asked 3,000 people in the UK** for their memories of childhood holidays.
Take a look at the findings to see how they match up with your own recollections.
The place to be
The UK was the destination of choice for childhood holidays, with 83% of survey respondents saying they stayed here rather than went abroad most of the time.
That’s perfectly understandable when you look at the range of holiday options available which don’t involve hopping on a plane or ferry. Miles upon miles of gorgeous coastline to explore; thriving towns and cities bursting with culture, history and heritage; and delightful countryside retreats for when you need to relax and unwind. Who could ask for more?
Talking of coastline, Cornwall (13%), Wales (10%) and Devon (7%) topped the table as the three favourite holiday destinations from respondents’ childhoods. We think it’s safe to hazard a guess that the golden sandy beaches and breathtaking scenery these areas offer played a large part in people retaining such fond memories of them.
‘Are we there yet?’
The length of the car journey to the holiday destination remained a vivid memory for more than half of those surveyed. Those hours spent in the back of the car, bored and squashed by the family’s holiday luggage, clearly had a lasting impact! Add to this the excitement of the forthcoming holiday – or the prospect of heading home after a wonderful time away – and you’d be forgiven for feeling like these journeys lasted FOREVER.
When asked what they remembered most from the trip, 43% said it was the games they played to while away the time, with honourable mentions for fights with siblings and car sickness. Did your family have a favourite car game? Did you like to wave or pull silly faces at kids in other cars to try and make them laugh?
After all this reminiscing, you might like to know how holiday tastes have changed down the years.
We do like to be beside the seaside
What did people remember doing once they’d arrived at their holiday location? Given there are so many fabulous coastal regions to visit in the UK, it’s not surprising that the activities had a distinctly seaside slant.
We’re talking about collecting shells (73%), building sandcastles and swimming in the sea (71%). Rock pooling was also front and centre for 55% of people. Nearly half of those surveyed also recalled enjoying that good ol’ seaside tradition of the donkey ride. Spending time in amusement arcades featured highly in 54% of people’s memories, whether it was of pocket money rapidly disappearing into the slot machines or gleeful attempts to grab that elusive cuddly toy.
Time for a game
“I spy with my little eye, something beginning with…”: these words still ring in the ears of 67% of survey respondents reflecting on the games they played while on holiday. Hours of fun – or, let’s face it, frustration - could be had trying to guess what someone had their ‘little eye’ on!
When the weather wasn’t great, card games and board games were the preferred holiday past-time, with snakes and ladders and Monopoly firm favourites; 49% and 36% respectively of those surveyed recalled playing these on holiday. Ah, Monopoly – everyone has a favourite piece, and the thrill of passing Go and collecting £200 never gets old! Be careful not to end up in jail, though.
For a further dose of games-based nostalgia, check out this deep dive on traditional games and activities. You might see something that comes in handy next time you’re on holiday with the kids or grandkids.
Food, glorious food
Without a doubt, the food you have on holiday stays in your mind long after you return home. Concentrate hard enough and you’ll be able to taste those amazing fish and chips or recall the moment that seagull swooped down and stole your brother’s ice cream.
These two seaside staples, along with rock, were the edible items that reminded people the most of their childhood holidays. They also fondly recalled packing a picnic and heading out to explore the local area.
If you are keen to sample some spectacular coastal cuisine while on holiday, our UK seafood guide might help when choosing your next destination.
Create new holiday memories this year
If our survey results have taken you on a trip down memory lane, why not take the first step towards creating new holiday memories with your loved ones by clicking on the button below to check out our range of UK self-catering holidays?
UK cottages
*Data from Google Trends analysing the word ‘staycation’.
**Data collected between March and April 2022 from a sample of 3,000 people in the UK.