Where did people go for their holidays in the 1950s?

Question

How did they get there?

What did they do there?

Answer 1

Most UK folk in the 1950s took their summer holiday at the seaside resorts. I lived in the seaside resort of Hastings in the 1950s and the place was packed - hardly space to walk on the beach, never mind actually get into the water.

In addition to the seaside resorts, many Britons went to such as Butlin's Holiday Camps. This sort of holiday was well organised. You can see what this sort of holiday was like if you can get hold of a few episodes of a BBC TV series from the 1970s/80s called 'Hi de HI' - life in a holiday camp based upon the 1950s experience.

Holidays abroad were only really possible for the middle classes and the rich. In the 1950s the rich went by train from Victoria station in London on the famous Golden Arrow Express - a magnificent Merchant Navy Class Steam Locomotive of the Southern Railway Company. [Headquarters of Southern Railways are at Victoria Station]. This train raced to Dover. The rich passengers got onto the ferry and in France boarded the fabulous French Train known as the Blue Train. This then raced to the Cote de Azure -south of France.

Middle class folk tended to take their holidays abroad as tourists with such as Thomas Cook.

The working classes went to such as Blackpool where even today there is entertainment of the sort enjoyed by the working class. Lots of kiss me quick hats, fish-n-chips, beer, dancing etc.

Here in London where I live, about 85% of us just take our holidays in London. Is there anywhere else?

Answer 2

I lived in S London and we were fortunate as my dad had a car. We always went on holiday to S Devon where we stayed with a couple just outside Newton Abbot who did B&B, although they were more family friends as we went there so often.
I remember leaving home at 3am for the long drive to the S West as these were the days before motorways and it was an 8 hour drive through all the towns on the way. Driving through the deserted streets of London was magic. We always got stuck in the traffic on the Exeter bypass.

We would go to a different seaside town every day, or else go for a drive across Dartmoor. We would eat fish and chips huddled in the Ford Prefect, watching the rain lashing across the prom.
Even today, I love a seaside holiday.

Answer 3

The package holiday was only affordable to the better off and so the traditional British seaside holiday was the norm for the working classes.

Relatively few people had their own cars in those days and relied on a then extensive rail network system to get them to and from holiday destinations. Otherwise the coach took the strain and was the most popular mode of transport at that time.

The holiday camp came into it's own in the 1950's with Sir Billy Butlin introducing more and more camps to the traditonal holiday destinations such as Skegness (very popular with those living in the East of England)

On the West Coast of Scotland 'Doon the watter' Rothesay was popular destination for those living in the Strathclyde area and the ever popular Waverley Paddle Steamship provided a great attraction with trips on her not only along the Clyde coast but also further afield (She is still in commission today and was on her some 7 years ago) .

The holiday camp at Morecombe bay was also very popular as was Blackppol which saw a great influx of holiday makers from the Manchester area when the cotton mills closed down for a fortnights holiday every July and whole families descended on the town.

For those living in the South of England the great attraction was seaside resorts spreading from Margate down to Devon and Cornwall. Though Devon and cornawall tended to cater more for the idle rich or those firunate enough to own a car as transport infrastructure was very sparse to say the least but this is where the railway connections to the West Coast came into it's own.

Ferries to and from to places like the Isle of Man and the Isle of White played a big vital roles as modes of transport as aeroplane travel was in it's infancy in relation to holidays.

Those people living in Wales were fortunate enough to be surrounded by beautiful coast lines and beaches, so holidays were ready made so to speak. However Bultins and Pontins holiday camps were established at places like pontypool and Rill, and many travelled from the industrial North to enjoy the 'Ozone'.

I trust this information.. which is drawn from my own memories of the 50's is comprehensive enough . However if you require further information you may find this website helpful

www. thelighthouseforeducation.co.uk/

Answer 4

When I was a youngster growing up in the 1950's in Lancashire we went to Torquay and to Bournemouth. A couple of time we went to Wales and on all occasions we travelled by train.
Some people used to tour by coach as that was becoming popular then.

Answer 5

They all just went to the seaside eg: blackpool, brighton, southend, bognor regis.....

Alot of the butlin type holiday camps were the most popular, they had loads of english summer time activities organised like dances, sports day races, donkey rides!!! Not to mention the 'fun fairs' on the piers!
People were easily pleased back then!

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Firstly I must say, It depended on how rich you were, as to where you choose for your holidays..............As for us... life in those days was so simple, and you didn't expect much .........Simply going on holiday once a year was the most important thing......Lots of people couldn't afford to go on holiday......... My dad loaded the motor bike and side car with an old canvas army tent, and all the gear needed......Primus stove...bedding...clothes..etc Then we would pile in..........My eldest brother on the back of the bike...My next brother in the back of the side car.........And I would sit on my moms lap........A hell of a load.........We always went to the south coast from our home in Birmingham ......to......Brixham, Torquay &Paignton to Waterside Camp........It was fantastic........It was an open field next the sea with basic wash house and toilets.........For swimming in the sea...we used an old inner tube....My elder brother in fact made his own wet suit, from a pair of long johns, and painted them with a rubber paint.....You couldn't buy them then.........And of course we went crabbing with hand lines.....I will never forget these memories.........

Answer 8

Butlins was just starting up , guest houses at the sea side usually got their by bus or train.

Answer 9

One place i believe was Cuba, before we went to war with them. My mom use to tell me stories of her parents vacationing there. I think they gambled and enjoyed the beautiful beaces.