20th July 2008 - by Lindsay Chapman
Celebrating 100 Years Of The British Holiday Camp!
Imagine choosing between a guest house with a set of strict
rules - and a landlady ready to enforce them, or a holiday camp
with tents and daily chores to complete. Doesn’t sound like
much of a choice, yet these were the accommodation options for
those holidaying in Great Britain’s seaside resorts in the
1900s.
Given these were the only options, the ‘freedom’ offered by the
holiday camp was instantly appealing and holidaymakers were
welcomed at the UK’s first holiday camp in 1906 at
Caistor-on-Sea, Norfolk. By today’s standards the camp was
incredibly basic and certainly had no luxury accommodation on
offer! Yet it paved the way for a holiday genre that has been
thriving for more than 100 years.
Holiday camps continued to make steady progression and 1924 saw
the arrival of a holiday camp in Hopton-on-Sea which boasted
brick chalets, running water and electric lights - some of the
ultimate facilities. However, global events were to have a
serious impact on holidays with two World Wars, and the take
over of holiday camps to be used as military bases in the
Second World War.
Holiday camps really came into their own with a glorious golden
era during the 1950s and 60s after the end of WWII. People
hadn’t been on holiday for many years and many children had
never seen the sea. Life had been incredibly hard and the
public were in need of fun and entertainment. The holiday camp
could provide all this and more. With swimming pools on site,
entertainment in the evenings, competitions including
‘Glamorous Granny’ and ‘Knobbly Knees’ plus plentiful food the
camps offered all the right ingredients for an fun and
affordable family holiday.
While the offer of cheap sea and sun holidays drew many people
to destinations such as Spain in the 1970s, UK holiday resorts
such as Great Yarmouth have seen a resurgence of visitors in
recent years. As the cost of living continues to soar and with
the need to consider ‘greener’ ways to travel, a Great British
seaside holiday - with glorious beaches, strolls along the pier
and ice cream - is an attractive proposition.
And where better to stay than a holiday village? A far cry from
their 20th Century counterparts, Great Yarmouth is home to some
of the UK’s best including some with 5-star ratings. With the
promise of modern accommodation, a huge range of indoor and
outside entertainment for children and adults and onsite
eateries, it’s the ideal choice for families.
Great Yarmouth has invested more than £25 million in
redeveloping the seafront, creating a stunning new promenade
area for visitors to stroll along, and a beautifully lit
pedestrianised walkway linking the seafront to the town centre.
The town’s rich maritime heritage is evident all around, with a
heritage quarter rich in history to explore. The many holiday
parks and villages along this part of the coastline expect a
bumper year in 2008.
Article Source: http://www.bb-articles.com
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