Seaside holidays in the 50s, 60s & 70s

In the 60s and 70s the British seaside holiday was under threat from the promise of guaranteed sunshine in Spain. People found new ways to enjoy a holiday by the sea, such as camping and caravanning. They frequented holiday camps in larger numbers than before the War and the holiday traffic jam became part of the experience of a holiday in the UK.



Holiday camps

The Monorail at Butlins, Minehead, 1960s

The golden age of the holiday camp was the 50s & 60s.

Seaside hotels

70s style lounge bar

Standards at seaside hotels had to improve in the 60s to compete with holidays abroad.

Seaside hotels

Camping & caravanning

Sprite 400, 1961

Camping and caravanning boomed in the 60s & 70s.

Roads to the coast

The M4, as seen from and Austin 1100

The only way to go on holiday was by car in the 60s. Traffic jams were all part of the experience!


Read more: Roads to the coast



More on the 50s, 60s and 70s

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