As a family I have to admit we usually stay in the UK for our holiday. Occasionally we say it is for financial reasons, or because its just easier with a young child. But the truth is we all love it – nothing makes us happier than a day started over breakfast all together, packing up a quick picnic and then heading off to the middle of nowhere to spend the day meandering on the moors and splashing in a river. The boys really do just love to do the ‘boy’ thing (though I have a strong feeling the 2yr old Pink One is going to show us its not a ‘boy’ thing at all), and spend their days roaming the countryside and just exploring. We are normal modern parents, and our children rarely get the chance to just ‘go be’ – on holiday they find the independence and freedom extraordinarily liberating. It takes them a day or two to find their feet and understand that here there are no rules or timetables, but then it is an amazing thing to watch them open and relax and learn to enjoy each other. No squabbling over Xbox controls or Go-Go’s or SpongeBob vs Suite Life – all are banned. Instead harmony reigns as they work together to build an immense dam, construct a swing from an old bit of rope, create a fortified sandcastle (with working bridge, of course) or simply race each other to the top of a rocky outcrop.

Research published today suggests they are not alone: Forget expensive family holidays abroad or costly theme parks – British schoolchildren are happiest when visiting the seaside with their parents. The majority of children quizzed in the nationwide poll say the best bit about family holidays is being with mum and dad, while a similar number say traditional holiday destinations such as beaches are their favourite, the findings by Family & Friends Railcard reveal.

And according to the schoolkids, the best three things about holidaying in the UK are traditional British activities (named by 76% of those polled), British beaches (73%) and British food (53%).

The research by Family & Friends Railcard also reveals:
-        Around six out of ten children (59%) rate the British seaside as the place they most like to visit when on holiday with mum and  dad
-        Over seven out of ten (71%) say the most important factor when choosing a holiday destination is what they are going to DO rather than WHERE they are going
-        Over two thirds (67% ) say visiting new places with their family is one of the best things about a holiday, and
-        Three out of five (60%) rate spending time with mum and dad as among the best things about going on holiday…although not having to go school was top choice at 74%

Andrew Robertson, Head of Marketing for Family & Friends Railcard, comments: “We all seem to think that taking our children to lavish locations gives kids an invaluable ‘experience of a lifetime’ which they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. But our research shows that children are happy to holiday in the Britain – and one of their biggest wishes is simply to spend time with mum and dad.”

More than half of the children surveyed (53%) state that Britain is their preferred holiday destination but when asked where they had visited, 68% had never been to the Cotswolds, 54% had not visited the Lake District and 63% had not been to Edinburgh.

This is not surprising given that the research by Family & Friends Railcard reveals that the children’s parents’ knowledge of the UK is fairly dire. Of the British adults questioned, 29% had never visited Scotland and 21% had never visited Wales.  Almost half, 46%, had not been to the Cotswolds and 31% have never been to Blackpool.  Worryingly, 47% of British adults do not know where Hadrian’s Wall is showing a shocking lack of knowledge about our own country.

Despite this, the survey shows that this year, 57% of Brits intend to follow the much publicised trend and ‘staycation’ in the UK, mainly due to cost rather than any great love of our own country.  Hopefully staying in the UK will help boost knowledge of the UK both among our adults and children.

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Posted by Laura on 10 July 2009