Can I ask how everyone's holidays in UK tourist areas are going so far?

[ScrapThatThen]

Anyone away this week? How are you finding things? I guess not many families have gone yet.

DartmoorWilderness you'll be pleased to hear I'm excellent at reversing. Had a lot of practice

If everyone visiting avoids going into town, I assume shops will close. This is very difficult when it’s people’s livelihoods.

There are plenty of areas that are attractive and quieter all year round. Just fewer in the SW. Northumberland for starters.

We are going to North Wales at end of July. So 2 weeks time.

How does everyone feel about going into restaurants/cafés? Must admit I've got no desire to just yet. Will people mostly be getting takeaways?

@Ridiculousradish

I live in Cornwall, and it is much busier. Streets are bustling and there is nowhere to park. I really can't see how people can socially distance in our towns, it is just not practical. It's already not happening. The businesses are doing their best though to make things as safe as possible. A few pubs and restaurants are still not open as they're just too small to do so safely. I'm proud of our little town for all working together to make things welcoming and safe for everyone.

I work in hospitality, and we absolutely will not survive without tourists. We are looking forward to opening up again, but are understandably anxious.
During lockdown I've realised how much I value the peace and quite. I am seriously considering moving in a few years. Anyone know anywhere beautiful but quiet?

Northumberland. The downside is the weather though. The maximum temperature we have "enjoyed" in the last 7 days was 18 degrees

There are more people about in our tourist area, but the real problem is groups of young people enjoying the beach/having parties/lighting fires, and leaving behind huge amounts of rubbish. These are local people, not tourists.

you can tell the tourists because they wear full hiking gear to come in for a scone and a cuppa and a mooch round the shops (including walking poles, frequently!) The owner of our independent outdoor gear shop about 90 mins drive from the Lake District says he gets people coming in to buy full walking gear so they "look the part" in Lake District shops.

I am trying to get to work stuck behind vehicles travelling 15 mph in a 60 that's what I remember from Devon holidays many years ago - driving along a single vehicle width road with "fedges" each side and zero visibility, knowing that round every corner there may be a local driving at 60mph with no expectation that there may be other vehicles on the road.

@MereDintofPandiculation

I am trying to get to work stuck behind vehicles travelling 15 mph in a 60 that's what I remember from Devon holidays many years ago - driving along a single vehicle width road with "fedges" each side and zero visibility, knowing that round every corner there may be a local driving at 60mph with no expectation that there may be other vehicles on the road.

What a passive aggressive and ridiculous comment- obviously you don’t drive 60mph on a single track road with zero visibility

I’m talking about people driving 15mph on roads with clear visibility/sections of visibility with amble passing places, driving like holiday makers are the only people on the roads (stopping at junctions to consult maps and blocking the road!) and also point blank refusing to reverse into a passing place that is 6ft behind their car.

Also straddling the middle of the road and refusing to “hug” the bank as they don’t seem to know how wide their precious car is.

Not all holiday makers are like this (and some locals are just as bad) but there is a many-fold increase in these situations during the main holiday season

@Ginfordinner we are going to ashington

Glad you have found it ok !

@ILoveTotoro Have you been to Ashington before?

[quote Ginfordinner]@ILoveTotoro Have you been to Ashington before?[/quote]
Yeah we went a couple years ago we loved it

We're nearly there we just went past the angel of the north

Fine mining museum there!

Just got back from a quick trip to town, and it is really busy. Shops seem pretty quiet, but no one is socially distancing in the street. I am starting to freak out now about going back to work. We've been in such a bubble down here. Seeing so many people all of a sudden is a shock.

Enjoy your holiday @ILoveTotoro. I must admit that I thought Ashington was a rather unusual destination for a holiday.

We stayed in a hotel in Brighton last night and ate in the attached pub. It was their first day open. Lots of hand sanitiser but no social distancing from the waiters - but I don’t know how they can really? No masks either. It was a lovely meal and stay though. Brighton itself was quiet and lots of places were still closed. Amazing to have had a night away and eaten in a lovely pub though.

@DayB1day
Sounds like a certain little fishing port
🧐😳😧😣

@Ginfordinner

Enjoy your holiday *@ILoveTotoro*. I must admit that I thought Ashington was a rather unusual destination for a holiday.

Thank you ! Here now and I'm not actually sure it's in ashington I think we're just outside it.

We are at a holiday park right on the beach it's lovely

We looked around a local town today and I just feel so sorry for the shopkeepers. Shopping is just so difficult at the moment, I did manage to go into one shop and buy something but other shops were shooing people away due to numbers. People just weren’t sure where to put themselves and I think many people, including g ourselves, just gave up.

Newbiggin?

We're in Dorset this week and have found it surprisingly normal. Have had a couple of instances where we turned up somewhere to find it closed, but haven't had any problems finding cafes, etc to grab a bite.

Parking and general crowds much less of an issue than when we usually come to the area, although not so much that it feels deserted.

@Velvian

This littering thing; I keep seeing posts on SM of photos of litter around bins accompanied by outraged denouncements. That's not really littering though, it's the council not keeping up with easing lockdown.

I work for a council and manage street cleansing among other things, we are emptying bins at usual frequency or higher in some areas but have seen much more rubbish than usual, as well as things like a 40th birthday party happening in one of our parks, and everything, chairs, wine glasses, packaging, cool bags, just left on the ground when they all went home. There are definitely some people who have forgotten how to behave.

Also in St Ives on a holiday booked long ago. Everyone in the cafes / restaurants we have been to has been very friendly and it's all been well organized (tables distanced, temperature checks etc). Quite a few other tourists for sure but doesn't seem crazy busy. Lots of space to social distance at the beach. A bit trickier in town due to narrow streets but you could just avoid those streets if you wanted to. Very surprised by the lack of masks - where we live in South London people wear masks a lot (even outdoors) but I've seen very few people wear them here (the restaurant workers do though). We went to a farm shop in Exeter and we were the only people wearing masks.

The owner of our independent outdoor gear shop about 90 mins drive from the Lake District says he gets people coming in to buy full walking gear so they "look the part" in Lake District shops

I think he's feeding you a line.

I think he's feeding you a line don't be so sure! The visitors up here in Cumbria practically rustle, their kit is that new. Also some of the older ones press a crease into the walking trousers