what were the summer holidays like when you were a child ?

[Baconface7]

holiday every summer

@madroid And this too! Was I you?😀

All I remember is milling about on my own. I used to take my bike out to local villages. I don't remember meeting with friends at all and didn't have any holidays or day trips. My DC are hugely spoilt in comparison!

We used to have a seaside holiday in a little bungalow owned by the parents of one of my dad's workmates (so he got mates rates). Low key holidays, just us kids playing on the beach on our own all day and everyday, getting sunburnt, rainsoaked, windswept and everything in between, while our parents relaxed (well, dad did - mum still had to do shopping and cooking and cleaning and washing up, it was the 1960s!).

At home in the summer holidays, I would call at my friend's house down the road and we'd go out for long walks in the countryside together, or sometimes I'd go with my sister and her friend or sometimes all on my own. I used to ride my scooter around the housing estate (on the pavement) on my own. Children generally had a lot of freedom. Often my mum had no idea where I was or when I would be back home! But she trusted me to be "sensible" and not do anything dangerous (and most of the time, I didn't!).

At the time, it all seemed quite ordinary and humdrum. But looking back, it seems wonderful. I feel I was very privileged to have been a child in those times. We had so much freedom and autonomy from such a young age. Most children were out and about, unaccompanied by adults, from the age of 6 or 7.

Always a 2 week UK holiday in a seaside B&B.
Week staying with grandparents, at a different seaside place.
Otherwise, at home reading books - usually got through at least 3 books per week, just lying on my bed.

Absolutely identical but throw in lots of hanging around horses in their fields. Didn't own one but was totally obsessed. Idyllic childhood really.

Similar tv watching habits 😃

My db and I were pretty much left to entertain ourselves. We had a big old delapidated house and garden and we made up lots of imaginary games, stories, made costumes, made mud pies, went on adventures quite locally etc.

For two weeks out of six we went on walking holidays to Scotland, Northumberland and the Lake District, which were much emptier of tourists then.

We also went on one or two expeditions from home to the zoo or to a stately home. This always involved a picnic eaten in the car with boiled eggs and cold sausages and some salt and pepper wrapped up in a twist of greaseproof paper, cups of tea brewed on calor gas, and a slab of fruit cake and a bag of apples.

Almost idyllic

In the week morning playscheme. Afternoon at beach where we went on our own and met up with friends and parents that were free. It had a sea pool so always sea to play in.

Weekends and some weeks spent with my fisherman grandad on his holiday tripping boat collecting money, sleeping in their cottage with sound of the sea and when weather was bad doing crafts with nan.

Boring and lonely with too much eating and sitting around

Childhood summer holidays were mainly spent playing in the garden, sometimes seeing school friends and the very occasional family day out to the Lake District, a Nat Trust place or Southport Flower Show. We never went on a family holiday. Like several posters, my parents didn't see the need to be particularly child centred.
Our children often recall places we've been. Some of their happiest memories are staying with our friends in Anglesey on a blow up mattress and days on beaches building sandcastles with lots of laughter.
We eventually saved enough for a caravan on Anglesey and even though they're grown up they try to visit every summer.
Soozikinzii this was Benllech this afternoon. A bit crowded after the less nice weather yesterday. Hope the photo brings back lovely memories. * *