Going barmy for British beaches this summer

British travellers are going barmy for the UK’s seaside destinations, according to leading hotel booking website Hotels.com. The site has seen searches for many of the country’s traditional seaside resorts more than double – showing that British travellers are eager to holiday at home this year.

The English Riviera is the most popular destination this year for British holidaymakers, with searches for towns such as Torquay and Newquay up more than 160% on this time last year. With their beautiful sandy beaches and fantastic surf, Devon and Cornwall are set to be a huge hit with British travellers this summer.

The lures of rock, fun on the pier and strolls along the promenade have also seen searches for traditional British seaside destinations like Blackpool (140%), Llandudno (130%) and Brighton (50%) rocket.

Jersey, offering the excitement of a British seaside resort with a Continental influence, is also a popular choice this summer with searches up 120% on this time last year.

Destination - Growth in searches
Torquay 165%
Newquay 160%
Blackpool 140%
Llandudno 130%
Jersey 120%
Bournemouth 80%
Brighton 50%
Plymouth 30%

Alison Couper, Director of Communications at Hotels.com, says: “It is great to see renewed interest in Britain’s traditional seaside resorts. With a hot summer forecast and UK hotel prices at a record low, there has never been a better time to holiday at home and enjoy everything the UK has to offer.”

* Figures based on searches during January – April 2009, compared to the same four month period last year.