Published: Tuesday 10th Aug 2021
Written by: The Original Cottages Team
We’ve been exploring the science behind the holiday feeling. Whilst we already offer our guests incredible experiences at our properties across England and Wales, we were eager to find what creates the best ‘holiday feeling’ and how you can find it here in the UK.
The experiment
Following a blind selection process, our participants were provided with a range of un-named UK and foreign destination images and were asked to select those that provided the strongest ‘holiday feeling’
The results
Despite the expected bias towards holidays abroad, over half of Brits (54%) selected a UK destination, with 56% admitting they were surprised to find out it wasn’t overseas
What we discovered
Whilst almost three quarters (72%) of Brits may have believed that the ‘holiday feeling’ could only be achieved abroad, our behavioural science experiment revealed that UK holiday destinations were the most desirable option for 77% tested
To help our guests discover the best of what the UK has to offer, we’ve collated our top 10 ‘holiday feel’ places and activities across England and Wales to inspire your next UK staycation:
Perranporth Beach, Cornwall
The Watering Hole
1From sunrise to sundown, at the UK’s only bar on the beach you can enjoy a cool drink whilst you sunbathe in the day or sip a cool beer as you watch the Cornish sun set.
Perranporth Holiday Cottages >
Woolacombe, Devon
Barricane Beach Café
2For an alternative to fish and chips, the Barricane Beach Café serves up delicious Sri Lankan street food. After an afternoon of surfing, why not tempt your tastebuds with one of their famous Sri Lankan curries.
Woolacombe Holiday Cottages >
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Barafundle Bay
3Golden dunes, beautiful flora and fauna and crystal-clear waters. This hidden gem in Wales has been voted as one of the best beaches in Britain and is often compared to the idyllic beaches of the Caribbean.
Pembrokeshire Holiday Cottages >
Sussex
Vineyard tours
4You don’t need to travel abroad to sample the delights of the best wine around. The local vineyards Ridgeview, Wiston and Bolney offer visitors the chance to try their delicious local wines as well as tour their spectacular vineyards.
Sussex Holiday Cottages >
Hawkeshead & Windermere, Lake District
The Little Ice Cream Shop
5Find yourself spoilt for choice with a wide selection of homemade ice cream at The Little Ice Cream shop. With over 40 delicious flavours of gelato on offer you’ll have trouble deciding which one to go for after a day exploring the lakes.
Lake District Holiday Cottages >
Yorkshire
Whale spotting tour
6Set sail for deep waters as you head out on an adventure to spot the local animals that call Yorkshire home. Keep your eyes peeled for Minke whales and dolphins off the coast of Whitby.
Yorkshire Holiday Cottages >
North Wales
Portmeirion
7Escape to a small piece of Italy, but in Wales. Portmeirion is a beautiful Italian-eqsue hidden village in Wales. With stunning architecture and commanding views across the River Dwyryd you may think you are looking out across Lake Como.
Holiday Cottages near Portmeirion >
Suffolk
Africa Alive
8Get up close with the wild side of Suffolk. From Lions to rhino’s the park has 100 acres of beautiful grounds for you to explore the wonderful wildlife and animals of Africa.
Suffolk Holiday Cottages >
Folkestone, Kent
Sea Kayaking
9For those looking for adventure, or maybe inspired by the Olympics, a sea kayaking adventure off the coast of Kent is not only a great way to get the heart pumping, but to also view the spectacular coastline.
Coastal Cottages in Kent >
Amble, Northumberland
The Fish Shack
10Dine alfresco on the catch of the day with spectacular views of Amble Harbour. This rustic eatery was built using the old ‘Sea Quest’ boat and offers a range of seasonal specials in a tranquil location.
Amble Holiday Cottages >
Behavioural Study Experiment conducted by One Poll of 1,000 nat rep UK adults, July 2021. July 2021 Consumer study conducted by One Poll of 2,000 nat rep UK adults, July 2021