Changing perceptions of the Great British holiday

When you say the words “UK family holidays” it is quite likely you will instantly think of a cheap and cheerful caravan park close to the beach. Well it’s about time we changed that perception! The truth is that there’s an array of stunning locations in the UK, which are ideal for families or individuals looking for a luxury getaway, without having to travel half way around the world to find it. More and more people are choosing to take their well deserved holidays in the UK and it comes as no surprise when you actually consider what’s on offer. Since the global recession began in December 2007, the UK domestic tourism sector has shown great resolve and even healthy signs of growth. Recent figures released by Visit England further validate these trends – there were 8.8 million domestic overnight trips in GB in March 2015, up +27% from March 2014 when there were 7 millions trips, with an average trip length of 2.95 nights. The growth in domestic tourism visits and the stagnation in overseas trips has resulted in a great demand for high quality accommodation, facilities and resorts right here on our doorstep in the UK. Numerous holiday park operators have identified this desire but there is one in particular that has duly delivered and fulfilled the requirements of this consumer demand. Meeting demand with a passion for excellence Darwin Escapes are investing tens of millions of pounds to create luxury resorts and retreats in the UK that are raising the bar in the UK holiday industry, and in turn, rivalling the offering of 5 star hotels. Whether it’s a rural lodge escape with a hot tub in the peaceful countryside of Somerset or an intimate break for two in a quirky beach hut on the coast of North Devon, the Darwin Escapes portfolio has something for everyone. Darwin Escapes are setting new standards for the UK holiday park industry by creating brand new resorts in stunning locations which provide holiday makers and holiday home owners with accommodation and facilities to rival 5 star hotels. One example of such is the recently developed, and award-winning, Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa in Somerset which opened its doors for the first time in 2013. The resort offers hand-picked lodge accommodation which boast high quality features such as free standing baths, 40″ HD flat screen TVs with Apple TV services, sunken outdoor hot tubs and even a bespoke VIP check in and concierge service throughout your stay. Their keen eye for detail continues into the central facilities building that includes a spa, The Levels restaurant which serves a diverse menu that harnesses the potential of locally-sourced produce, a farm shop and a tropically heated indoor swimming pool. The future of domestic tourism in the UK If recent figures released by Visit England are anything to go by the future is extremely bright, domestic holiday trips in England for the first quarter 2015 increased by +12% compared to the first quarter 2014, to 6.6 million. This is the highest volume of holiday trips recorded for the January to March period since the survey began in 2006. These figures, presented by the National Tourist Board, are very encouraging and one could argue that they are a reflection of the plethora of high quality accommodation, service and locations which are now available in the UK. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Darwin Escapes.