UK Holidays 2020
Discussion
Visit Britain estimate losses of billions from reduced domestic tourism
Current lockdown timetable implies that from July 4th we may be able to take a holiday in the UK.
However this is not guaranteed and logically some types of holidays may be more risky than others (e.g. staying in a hotel vs a self catering cottage). Also many tourist attractions in this country will struggle to open with self distancing restrictions.
I'm still planning to go to Devon in August, but a friend has already cancelled his family's Cornwall holiday as he says the restrictions on activities will mean it's not worth it.
With this is mind what is the mood out there towards taking a UK holiday this year?
Current lockdown timetable implies that from July 4th we may be able to take a holiday in the UK.
However this is not guaranteed and logically some types of holidays may be more risky than others (e.g. staying in a hotel vs a self catering cottage). Also many tourist attractions in this country will struggle to open with self distancing restrictions.
I'm still planning to go to Devon in August, but a friend has already cancelled his family's Cornwall holiday as he says the restrictions on activities will mean it's not worth it.
With this is mind what is the mood out there towards taking a UK holiday this year?
I think if all lockdown was lifted locals will have, for quite a long time, a change in mood from passive tolerance to active disdain for mass visitors.
The typical sparsely populated beauty spots will probably become a bit more intolerant and I can't say I'd blame them.
I don't think a nice week break to somewhere like the Isle of Whithorn or some other remote place would be all that welcoming and pleasant for some time...
The typical sparsely populated beauty spots will probably become a bit more intolerant and I can't say I'd blame them.
I don't think a nice week break to somewhere like the Isle of Whithorn or some other remote place would be all that welcoming and pleasant for some time...
We hail from North Wales and visit there every couple of months. If we do ‘holiday’ this year, assuming that we are permitted, we will visit for a week at most.
We are quite fortunate that COVID hasn’t hit us financially; both WFH. Based on that we’ve decided to spend the time paying off the credit card and saving.
I do wonder if there are others like us who have written off any chance/desire to go on holiday this year and are improving their financial position instead. Ditto shopping other than for essentials.
We are quite fortunate that COVID hasn’t hit us financially; both WFH. Based on that we’ve decided to spend the time paying off the credit card and saving.
I do wonder if there are others like us who have written off any chance/desire to go on holiday this year and are improving their financial position instead. Ditto shopping other than for essentials.
We had a cottage in the Lake District booked for July. We’ve cancelled it - we don’t need things to be open while we’re there as we were just planning on lots of walks, but everything points to the locals being unwelcoming at best.
Instead, we’re staying at home and taking local day trips. We live on the edge of the South Downs and it has made us wonder why we were prepared to travel a few hundred miles and spend a lot of money on renting a cottage. I’m not getting carried away and saying we will never go the Lakes again, but I think the number of UK holidays we take will reduce in the future not increase.
Instead, we’re staying at home and taking local day trips. We live on the edge of the South Downs and it has made us wonder why we were prepared to travel a few hundred miles and spend a lot of money on renting a cottage. I’m not getting carried away and saying we will never go the Lakes again, but I think the number of UK holidays we take will reduce in the future not increase.
I want to do a mini "post lockdown roadtrip". Was thinking of driving from home across to Bridgwater, then dropping down to the north coast of Devon and going anti clockwise around into Cornwall, then along the South Coast of Devon. I wonder how many times I will be lynched by angry locals 
Clearly I'm not thinking of going tomorrow, I'm very much playing it by ear. Plus the first two weeks after hospitality stuff opens will be bedlam....
Clearly I'm not thinking of going tomorrow, I'm very much playing it by ear. Plus the first two weeks after hospitality stuff opens will be bedlam....
Interesting responses so far, thanks.
I think it's very telling (but not surprising) that people are more wary of the reception that they may receive in these areas than the risk that places might not be open.
If these regions want any tourist industry at all in future they'll need to be a lot more welcoming. I suspect the fear and suspicion of the virus will linger far longer than the real risk.
I think it's very telling (but not surprising) that people are more wary of the reception that they may receive in these areas than the risk that places might not be open.
If these regions want any tourist industry at all in future they'll need to be a lot more welcoming. I suspect the fear and suspicion of the virus will linger far longer than the real risk.
Come down to Dorset. You will be made most welcome. Apart from a few noisy teachers and public service workers who seem to think they would have still have a job if there were no holidaymakers we all recognise the many advantages the tourism industry brings. Doing your bit to help kickstart the UK economy rather than taking your money abroad is also most welcome. We will repay the favour by travelling to your cities and attractions in the Autumn after the rush has died down here. 
We had to stay in lodgings the other week in a small Herefordshire village. We often rent the room out when the wife is working at the hospital there, saves the 2 hour drive home and is fairly cheap. Angry local started screaming and shouting that we were spreading Covid, hospitals can’t cope if we fall ill etc, not enough staff for outsiders to add to the burden... her face was a picture when the wife calmly responded that she’s a nurse helping out at the local hospital 
But going by that experience, I can see the oddballs in the small villages in the touristy areas being even more aggressive than usual.
But going by that experience, I can see the oddballs in the small villages in the touristy areas being even more aggressive than usual.
Hope you haven’t listened to radio 2 this afternoon.
They had some member of the public quoted as saying, all holidays should be banned indefinitely and they should be the last freedom to be returned. Anyone thinking of going on a holiday was disgusting (all his words).
I can only imagine his idea of utopia would be Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge.
They had some member of the public quoted as saying, all holidays should be banned indefinitely and they should be the last freedom to be returned. Anyone thinking of going on a holiday was disgusting (all his words).
I can only imagine his idea of utopia would be Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge.
Mrs Molehusband lives for her holidays and gets a great deal of pleasure from searching, planning and booking them. So she's been beside herself during the last two months.
However I've succumbed to tying up £2K in Cornish cottage booking commencing 17th of July, so fingers crossed.
She's looking for the next one now.
However I've succumbed to tying up £2K in Cornish cottage booking commencing 17th of July, so fingers crossed.
She's looking for the next one now.
InfoRetrieval said:
Visit Britain estimate losses of billions from reduced domestic tourism
...but a friend has already cancelled his family's Cornwall holiday as he says the restrictions on activities will mean it's not worth it.
I had a very nice house on the beach booked in early July, which I have cancelled. It was really quite expensive and not worth it without the full range of options being open....but a friend has already cancelled his family's Cornwall holiday as he says the restrictions on activities will mean it's not worth it.
I'll do something next year and stay local this year.
RegMolehusband said:
Mrs Molehusband lives for her holidays and gets a great deal of pleasure from searching, planning and booking them. So she's been beside herself during the last two months.
However I've succumbed to tying up £2K in Cornish cottage booking commencing 17th of July, so fingers crossed.
She's looking for the next one now.
Hope that is for a month!However I've succumbed to tying up £2K in Cornish cottage booking commencing 17th of July, so fingers crossed.
She's looking for the next one now.
Stay in Bed Instead said:
RegMolehusband said:
Mrs Molehusband lives for her holidays and gets a great deal of pleasure from searching, planning and booking them. So she's been beside herself during the last two months.
However I've succumbed to tying up £2K in Cornish cottage booking commencing 17th of July, so fingers crossed.
She's looking for the next one now.
Hope that is for a month!However I've succumbed to tying up £2K in Cornish cottage booking commencing 17th of July, so fingers crossed.
She's looking for the next one now.
Got a week booked in August in a cottage in the middle of nowhere in the Northern Lake District, very much intending to still go if allowed. Not intending to have anything to do with the locals. Owners of the cottage have been in touch saying they are intending to open in july and have taken the break to redecorate and install a hot tub!
Only have to go near a town to get food, even if nowhere is open there then I'd rather be sitting having BBQs drinking beer looking at stunning scenery from the garden there than stuck at home.
Only have to go near a town to get food, even if nowhere is open there then I'd rather be sitting having BBQs drinking beer looking at stunning scenery from the garden there than stuck at home.
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 4th June 16:05
InfoRetrieval said:
Interesting responses so far, thanks.
I think it's very telling (but not surprising) that people are more wary of the reception that they may receive in these areas than the risk that places might not be open.
If these regions want any tourist industry at all in future they'll need to be a lot more welcoming. I suspect the fear and suspicion of the virus will linger far longer than the real risk.
From my experience there are 2 different sides to this.I think it's very telling (but not surprising) that people are more wary of the reception that they may receive in these areas than the risk that places might not be open.
If these regions want any tourist industry at all in future they'll need to be a lot more welcoming. I suspect the fear and suspicion of the virus will linger far longer than the real risk.
Some, not all, general public locals are not welcoming at all to any outsiders. A recent news report had an interview with one woman in North Yorkshire who clearly stated 'We don't want THEM coming here, they will bring the virus with them'
However,
When I had cause to go to North Yorkshire recently the businesses that were open were very welcoming indeed an quite cheery.
I had forgotten to take a hayfever tablet that morning so I went in to Boots to pick some up. Recieved a friendly hello and good by when I entered and left again.
The fish shop was the same too, and the woman selling plants on the market stall next to where i sat and ate them showed her jealousy toward me eating them with a bit of a joke.
So yeah, Some locals could be a bit awkward, but those relying on your money are a different matter.
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