Just been on your hols? Just about to go? We need you top holidaying-in-Britain tips

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We're looking for your tip-toppest tips on having a brilliant family holiday in sunny old Blighty.

So, what to take, what to expect, what type of holiday (cottage, tent, hotel, holiday camp) bad-weather tactics, peculiar British delights - and why it's better than lugging the entire contents of your house onto a charter flight halfway across the globe. Etc etc...

Your contribution may be published in a round up of Great British holiday tips, sponsored by Butlins.

Thank you!

We crashed our car on the way to the campsite at the weekend, put an end to our camping trip.
The positive is we stayed in a lovely B&B, didn't have to do any cooking and still had time on the beach!

HAving returned froma wet week in Cornwall, my tip will be go abroad next time.

Invest in good raincoats.

Find out where the nearest cinema/ soft play/ leisure centre is.

Pack for all weathers, even on a sunny day have cagoules in your beach bag.

Fish and chips on a rainy, windy beachfront still taste lovely (whilst wearing aforementioned cagoules).

Join the National Trust, not only for days out to attractions but lots of beaches have car parks that are costly if not a member.

Don't travel to/from your destination on a Friday.

Print off lots of brochures and leaflets for local activities to take with you.

Programme your sat nav with postcodes for local garages, supermarkets, leisure centres, attractions in advance.

Get waterproof trousers for all your children.

invest in some shortie wetsuits for the children - they are often cheap on ebay - and will prove invaluable throughout the year for UK beaches and river paddling/minnow fishing etc.
Accept that the weather may not be beautiful , don't fight it, man...just be prepared for everything

Self catering is the dog's bits for children - all the comforts of home, you can please yourself,you won;'t get stressed about the little darlings waking too early and you can still not cook much (most places havea comprehensive list of takeaways, pubs, cafes etc - or Google before you go)
Many supermarkets will deliver to holiday cottages too!

Camping is best kept for weekends, not your family fortnight in Scarborough

I speak as one who has never taken the children abroad.

We have had some ace holidays in this country.

oh yes, if you are going to/from |Cornwall, do NOT travel on a friday or Sat if you can avoid it...changeover day means huge traffic jams.

I would say LONG wetsuits, the sea in Cornwall was freezing , I coudnt go in in my shortie but the kids were fine in theor long suits.

self catering cottages - you can spread out all your gear for a week (or better a fortnight) and come back and crash whenever you feel like it.

West coast Scotland - anywhere along that stretch - fantastic empty beeches - best time to go it May/June - it really doesn't seem to rain much then.

We went to Islay this year - it was wonderful. Plus the fun of ferry trips too if you go to the islands - kids love it.

Well we have just come back from Butlins.

Ds was in heaven.

Stay somewhere there is a spa for mummy so she feels that it is all worth it.

If staying at a self catering place take your best small knife, a decent chopping board and a good frying pan or preferably a wok. They always put cheap and nasty cooking stuff in these places no matter how much they charge, which is then woefully abused by all letters. Take this basic kit and at least cooking is less of a chore.

Cheap surf shoes for your kids - DS(3.4) much happier rockpooling, crossing shingle etc, when wearing them.

we have just returned from a caravan in sunny wales

DCs just love it in a caravan and we still play on the beach as long as its not raining. they love the entertainment (so do i) and they were addicted to the 2p machines

harden yourself by taking cold baths through the winter (and insist dcs do the same) and then you will be able to enjoy beach holidays as far north as the Scottish islands throughout the summer .

(thus benefiting from acres of lovely clean sand to yourself instead of some horrible crowded beach on the south coast in August)

If you have young children and are planning on doing a lot of driving, on no account take any cds of 'children's music' with you because it will have driven you insane by the end of the trip. Take your own favourite music and they will have to lump learn to love it.

If it is sunny make it your cheap day at the beach - dont think you will do the beach the next day as it is guaranteed to pee down.

if you have a crawling baby who puts everything in his mouth, you will need to find a shingly beach with big enough pebbles so they are too big to fit. Start at one end of Chesil Beach and walk along until the stones are the right size.

if you can't see the point of beach holidays, consider this: there is nothing on a beach a toddler can break.

Audio books
Harry Potter - read by Stephen Fry
The BBC version of the Hobbit
Lemony Snickets - Read by Tim Curry

these have taken us without a murmur of complaint from anyone (aged 6-50) from Yorkshire to Wales, to Cornwall and back again.
Worth every penny.

beaches with streams onto them are extra good for toddlers because you can leave them to play with the stream/sand combo relatively unsupervised without danger of drowning.

sixtyfootdoll you, sir, are a wuss!
(we are Northern and the Cornish sea is gorgeusly mediterranean, compared to Scarborough last weekend. Which we still ventured into....though I now have frostbitten toes)

we are off to cornwall - will we rally not be able to get in sea - I only have swimming costumes for kids - ooops. I have left it a bit late!

Wear layers. And more layers.

Also wellies.