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Original poster

Summer feels totally different this year?

133 replies

madeinmanc · 11/07/2023 08:49

I'm not just saying this because the weather's just turned dreary but summer feels really different to me this year, especially in my location. I live by the sea in a holiday resort and I'm sure there was much more of a buzz and holiday vibe the past few years, and it seems strangely absent this year.

I do various outdoor activities and they were all busy last year, sometimes it was even hard to book on some things. The swimming pool was booked out and people were out for walks. I remember going for walks and seeing groups of people out walking, these days I can often not pass another person.

Could it be that people aren't holidaying in the UK anymore, i.e. no more "staycationing"? 🤔Economic worries? But some of the things I'm thinking of are free activities.

Has anyone else noticed this, especially if they live somewhere where people go for UK holidays? It honestly feels so different to me.

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/07/2023 09:41

It's probably just the weather. Although we aren't doing the usual long weekend at the seaside this year because everywhere was significantly more expensive than previous years and I just thought "nope". It's the same with salmon in the supermarket and facials from the salon I used to go to - I could afford the higher prices but on my budget there is a point where I just won't pay it because I really don't mind going without that thing.

Abra1t · 11/07/2023 09:42

I wonder if all the sewerage discharge stories are putting people off British beaches too.

gogomoto · 11/07/2023 09:46

It's pretty buzzing here in warm days - Friday was glorious and all the pubs and restaurants were packed with tourists, residents and boat owners

TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/07/2023 09:46

Abra1t · 11/07/2023 09:42

I wonder if all the sewerage discharge stories are putting people off British beaches too.

I hadn't heard about that, but it's certainly putting me off now Shock

Original poster
madeinmanc · 11/07/2023 09:46

@TheYearOfSmallThings If everyone thinks the same about not having the long weekend that will make a difference on a larger scale, though. Perhaps many people just thought "no", too?

OP posts:
Irequireausername · 11/07/2023 09:50

Oh come on, the UK is a rip off for everything. It used to be that you vacationed in the UK because it was cheap. Now it costs more than going abroad. Activities and food are priced too high too.

Might as well go abroad and have a nice pool, beach, sea. Fun cheaper activities etc.

Taketurn · 11/07/2023 09:52

Irequireausername · 11/07/2023 09:50

Oh come on, the UK is a rip off for everything. It used to be that you vacationed in the UK because it was cheap. Now it costs more than going abroad. Activities and food are priced too high too.

Might as well go abroad and have a nice pool, beach, sea. Fun cheaper activities etc.

I agree.

Thegreatbigbarrieroflondon · 11/07/2023 09:58

@Irequireausername

Yep I’m a family of 5 and in August it was costing us around 2k for a week in Cornwall/Devon self catering. I paid 2.4K yesterday for the same week in Spain full board. Cornwall definitely has a different vibe in the pissing rain.

Colliewobblerr23 · 11/07/2023 10:06

I'm in Cornwall and it's been freezing cold dark and gloomy. With very few hot sunny days like last year.

Its felt very "different" this summer too.

Everyone I know is off to Egypt or Turkey. But nobody is bothering with camping in the UK (probably the weather!) Or London City Breaks which is usually quite popular. Beach days seem fewer than last year too.

Everything just feels more subdued!

MissDollyMix · 11/07/2023 10:07

Thegreatbigbarrieroflondon · 11/07/2023 09:58

@Irequireausername

Yep I’m a family of 5 and in August it was costing us around 2k for a week in Cornwall/Devon self catering. I paid 2.4K yesterday for the same week in Spain full board. Cornwall definitely has a different vibe in the pissing rain.

Yup. Could have written this myself. We were planning on going to Cornwall this summer but once I’d priced up the cost of nice, dog-friendly accommodation, plus all the food shopping/meals out, plus the cost of diesel to get there it was better value to go to Spain. So we did. It was amazing. No regrets (and I say that as someone who usually loves a U.K. holiday)

Colliewobblerr23 · 11/07/2023 10:10

We went to a National Trust place at the weekend and usually they have a full carpark and overflow carpark in the Summer.

It was unbelievably quiet and the cost of parking for non members was ridiculous.

I expect the NT will have a shock soon and complain of falling income. Events that used to be free for NT members are now charged on top of membership!

Pregnancychatter · 11/07/2023 10:13

MissDollyMix · 11/07/2023 10:07

Yup. Could have written this myself. We were planning on going to Cornwall this summer but once I’d priced up the cost of nice, dog-friendly accommodation, plus all the food shopping/meals out, plus the cost of diesel to get there it was better value to go to Spain. So we did. It was amazing. No regrets (and I say that as someone who usually loves a U.K. holiday)

Show quote history

I love a good UK holiday too. It's a shame that the British holiday industry didn't pull out all the stops and price itself more reasonably to change people's holiday habits long-term. The industry has shot itself in the foot for short term gain imo.

Original poster
madeinmanc · 11/07/2023 10:15

Apart from the financial aspects. I'm just wondering if there was a buzz about getting back into things post-pandemic that's now dissipated? 🤔

OP posts:
UrsulaIsMyQueen · 11/07/2023 10:17

Holiday accommodation in the U.K. is so expensive nowadays I think a lot of people have decided it’s not worth the money. We’d rather stay at home and do lots of nice days/meals out than pay £800 for 5 days in a caravan.

Twinsmummy1812 · 11/07/2023 10:17

I feel like the summer hasn’t got started properly yet too. We built a summerhouse type of thing over lockdown and have lived in it for months over the last few summers but the weather has been all over the place and we haven’t used it anywhere near as much.

Catspyjamas17 · 11/07/2023 10:17

I'm really enjoying the weather, low to high 20s, some days of sun, some days of rain- particularly as we have a hosepipe ban and watering my garden is an absolute arseache with a watering can.

Wishitsnows · 11/07/2023 10:21

It’s cheaper to go abroad and the holiday let’s took the piss in previous years so I wouldn’t want to use them now

Original poster
madeinmanc · 11/07/2023 10:26

Lots of people started living off the income from holidays lets over the past few years, I wonder how they will manage if bookings are down?

OP posts:
UrsulaIsMyQueen · 11/07/2023 10:29

madeinmanc · 11/07/2023 10:26

Lots of people started living off the income from holidays lets over the past few years, I wonder how they will manage if bookings are down?

If they want to fill their accommodation, they’ll have to lower their prices.

sadladybird · 11/07/2023 10:33

I actually agree with this. Not necessarily UK holidays but we had a couple of events in our area recently which would usually be extremely busy and people would come from all over to visit, and they just weren't that busy and didn't have the same atmosphere they normally would.

I also live really near a busy touristy city which doesn't have the same buzz at the moment for some reason. I think it's a combination of the weather not being great and the cost of everything. Lots of people I know seem to be going abroad too.

bostonchamps · 11/07/2023 10:41

There was a post in here a few weeks full of people complaining about people holidaying in the villages and costal towns.

What exactly would you like us city folk to do? Put up with an extortionate two weeks being treated like lepers in Cornwall, or fly to Spain for an AI two weeks where the locals are friendly and appreciate us choosing their businesses to spend our money in?

arghtriffid · 11/07/2023 10:43

Are we in for a stormy summer?

brittanyfairies · 11/07/2023 10:45

@TonTonMacoute where in Brittany are you? I live and work in a port town and it's absolutely heaving, we were laughing about only hearing English voices the other day. The local beaches were quite busy too on Friday afternoon. Saying that, it's dreary here today so I won't be going anywhere near the beach.

matthancocksboxers · 11/07/2023 10:47

I live in a market town with a moors railway and a castle and it's really quiet here too. It's brilliant. I can get into the shops and there aren't crowds of people dawdling along the footpaths. Roads are a complete nightmare when it's hot and the tourists are out. Of course we haven't hit summer hols yet and the weather is a bit off at the moment. Not as hot as it was this time last year for sure.

StefanosHill · 11/07/2023 10:49

Thegreatbigbarrieroflondon · 11/07/2023 09:58

@Irequireausername

Yep I’m a family of 5 and in August it was costing us around 2k for a week in Cornwall/Devon self catering. I paid 2.4K yesterday for the same week in Spain full board. Cornwall definitely has a different vibe in the pissing rain.

True.