Not every British industry suffered equally during the recession, and in the case of the domestic tourism industry, the number of Brits choosing to holiday in their own country rose significantly, leading to more media attention for seaside resorts and more profits to invest in developing these destinations further.
Many of Britain's seaside resort towns can be great destinations for holidays or weekend breaks, whether you're after a romantic escape from the city or a family break with your loved ones. A growing number of these resorts are now being rediscovered by new generations of British sun-seekers, following a steady decline in interest that came with the boom in cheap flights abroad from the 1970s onwards, as holidays in Britain are no longer viewed as just a way of saving money.
Part of the reason for this return to popularity has been the great summer weather, and nostalgia has also been credited as people from the baby boomer generation seek out their childhood haunts. Thanks to England's extensive coastline, seaside resorts can be found all around the edge of the country, from Blackpool, Scarborough and Whitby in the north to Bournemouth, Brighton and Margate in the south.
The average summer temperatures in north-east and north-west seaside resorts hover around 20 degrees Celsius, and many people are drawn to well-known holiday spots like Blackpool to connect with the idea of a traditional British seaside holiday. Commercialism may lie at the heart of many of Blackpool's most popular attractions, such as the Pleasure Beach theme park, but visitors can still enjoy long walks along the beach and old-style amusements on the piers, to revisit their childhoods.
Brighton is another of Britain's top coastal destinations, thanks in no small part to the relatively short travel time from London that has made it popular for centuries. It is famously associated with King George IV, who established many of the popular tourist sights still standing today during his reign as Prince Regent, including the Royal Pavilion. Drawing around 80 million visitors each year, most of them British, Brighton also hosts the UK's second biggest arts festival and is renowned for its nightlife, making Brighton hotels popular choices all year round.
Not that you have to restrict your British seaside breaks to England though, when Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are also home to numerous excellent coastal destinations - from Ireland's Causeway Coast to the natural beauty of Scotland's Shetland Islands, particularly Lerwick.
Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.