With the New Year upon us, many are looking to the future and dreaming of a sunny summer holiday; whilst others are already planning theirs. But if you’re still in the daydream phase; what are you dreaming of? A beachfront hotel in the Mediterranean? A villa on the Italian Riviera? Perhaps a once in a life time ticket to Thailand? Whatever’s on your summer holiday wish list, I’m here to tell you that you’ve got it wrong; very wrong actually.

That’s because the only destination you should be considering for your summer holiday is the UK. With its ancient history, stunning coastline and overall bucolic loveliness, the UK has seen a spike in tourism over the past few years, and here’s why:

 

• It’s HOT: You heard me! For the past few years, British summers have sweltered to dizzying degrees, pushing the mercury far higher than many of the Med’s warmest hotspots.
• It’s Cheap(ish): With the financial crisis bringing chaos to Europe, the UK is now proving to be one of the cheapest summer holiday destinations for cash-strapped families. Opt for a self-catering holiday cottage from Sykes Cottages to really save the pennies!
• There’s so much to see and do: Don’t get me wrong, the Mediterranean’s lovely and all, but unless all you plan to do is lounge on the beach, there’s not a lot going on. Choose a holiday in the UK however, and you’ll find distractions and attractions around every corner.

 

There you go then- the UK is without doubt the best destination for a summer’s holiday! But if for some reason you’re still in need of convincing, I’ve provided yet more reasons why Britain is best below.

 

The Beaches

From the golden coves of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, to the windswept bays of Moray in Scotland, the UK is awash with supreme shores that are crying out for your beach towel. For families, choose a self-catering holiday cottage by the sea in Norfolk to wallow in the tranquil, safe waters off the East Anglia coast. Alternatively, if you favour hitting the surf rather than the sand, there’s no better place than Devon’s Croyde Bay. This wonderful, breaker-battered beach offers a plethora of surf shops and surf schools as well as an olde-worlde village brimming with characterful pubs and eateries; the perfect base for an action-packed holiday!

 

The Daytrips

Tired of lounging under the sun? The beauty of holidaying in the UK means there’s plenty to do when the kids get bored and you’ve finished the last pages of your beach literature. Britain boasts some truly remarkable places of interest, including romantic ruins, age-old cities and evocative thickets of primeval woodland, so be sure to make the most of it whilst you’re there. For holidays in Southern England, must see attractions include the Eden Project, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle; whilst up North, culture abounds with places like the city of York, Hadrian’s Wall and Whitby Abbey.

 

The Food

Once typified by fish, chips and candy floss, the façade of seaside culture in Britain has seen a dramatic shift in recent years. Head to the coast on your cottage holiday this summer and you’re more likely to find a Michelin-starred eatery than an outdated greasy spoon; and it doesn’t stop there. Tobacco-stained taverns have been replaced with top notch gastro-pubs; speciality food shops dealing in local produce have sprang up almost everywhere; and fish and chips shops sell only the finest seafood- all we can say is, who needs Italian?

 

So there you have it, three unequivocal reasons why Britain should be your destination of choice for a 2014 summer holiday. If you’re reaching for a travel brochure, think again; all you need to do is visit the Sykes Cottages website and choose your favourite UK holiday cottage- you know it makes sense!