Families are ditching ‘far flung’ holidays for breaks closer to home

With the six-week school holidays fast approaching, there’s still plenty of time to book a family-friendly holiday this summer. This year, more and more parents are choosing to skip the stress of busy airports, long flights, and overtired kids — making the Great British holiday park the perfect, hassle-free alternative.

According to Booking.com, a significant number of Brits are turning to staycations, with a clear move towards domestic travel and shorter journeys. This shift is driven by a renewed appreciation for the UK’s hidden gems. A seaside caravan break offers a nostalgic nod to simpler times, combining fresh air, family fun and most importantly, stress-free holidays.

Haven offers 38 holiday parks in scenic locations across the UK, all equipped with swimming pools, activities, eateries and more. These kinds of holidays are ideal for kids because they offer a safe, fun-filled environment with a wide range of age-appropriate activities. With prices starting from as little as £139 for last minute short stay and £415 for a week at Golden Sands in Lincolnshire, they represent excellent value for money too. 

Children can enjoy swimming pools with slides, adventure playgrounds, soft play areas and organised sports like football and mini golf. There are also kids’ clubs, character shows and nature-based activities like bug hunts and den building, all supervised by trained staff.

Some parks let families take part paid activies like the Jump or the NERF Training Camp and various other sessions. Families can also enjoy Ranger activities, sports sessions like Activitots and Activikids and an ongoing program of free evening entertainment.

With secure settings, beach access at many locations and plenty of opportunities to make new friends, Haven provides an easy, enjoyable holiday for both kids and parents.

Families who are more interested in leaving the organised fun behind and just exploring the local area, Haven Hideaways offer a simple accomodation only option, located close to some of the UK’s most inconic coastlines.

If Haven isn’t quite right, Parkdean Resorts also offers nostalgic getaways across its 66 venues with swimming facilities, dining options and traditional coastal pastimes. Center Parcs is another popular choice, offering woodland retreats brimming with various activities, a little bit more upscale, costs can skyrocket when the kids are off school. 

For families who would rather a stay in a more permanant holiday home, Sykes Cottages has a huge range of cottages to choose from across the UK. 

Families who have already experience all the fun of a haven holiday have left thousands of reviews on TripAdvisor. One guest who stayed at the Kent Coast Park said: “Fantastic week. There is entertainment all day long at the park, especially good for younger children. The activities available on park were fantastic. The kids did not once moan about being bored because it was impossible to be bored.”

Another who stayed at the Great Yarmouth park added: “We have just returned from a wonderful week at Hopton. We stayed in a Signature Sea View caravan, which had amazing views, we even got to see seals, which our children loved. Brilliant access to the beach. The beach is a reason we returned, very family friendly and safe.“

A third who visited the Primrose Valley Holiday Park is already planning another visit, saying: “The experiences for kids are brilliant my children did nearly every activity and we had the best week I cannot wait to go back.”

Not every visitor was quite so impressed. A family who stayed at the the Devon Cliff park said: “We found there wasn’t much suitable for the 2-4 age group which was a shame. We found the evening entertainment “tots disco” fun but very loud considering the target age group.”

Overall, many guests had a great time. Another left a five-star review saying: “I grew up being a Haven Kid (Tiger Club is forever in my heart) and now I want my daughter to experience the haven magic. And that she did! Our holiday was filled with joy, excitement and happiness. I don’t think we can visit any other haven as I don’t think any could live up to the expectations of Seashore!”