Family Beach Day
“Oh I do like to be beside the seaside…” or do we? Many British kids are missing out on the simple, yet pleasant things in life, as the majority of children have never visited a beach.
Building sandcastles, fishing for crabs, enjoying ice cream near the waves, are just a few of the activities that children are missing out on.
First Great Western has revealed that one in ten children under the age of 14 in the UK have never been to a British beach.
Cornwall is a popular spot for Brits to visit, however, 65% of the UK’s Generation Z – those born after the millennium – have never been. A further 68% have never been to play in the sand in Devon. Both of which hold beaches such as Watergate Bay, Porthcressa in the Isle of Scilly and Dawlish in Devon.
Children are not experiencing the best traits of the beach as 36% of children in the UK have never made a sandcastle.
Finding shells on the beach and listening for the sound of the sea is an exciting experience, however, 43% have never done this. 38% have never eaten an ice cream on a British beach with 12% of parents admitting they have simply 'forgotten about the good things we can do in this country.’
It seems that times have changed, with 68% of parents revealing they really enjoyed visiting a UK beach when they were children, along with almost half saying they enjoyed visiting castles in the UK, and over a third enjoyed going on camping holidays.
It is not only the British seaside which children are missing out on, as British kids aren’t visiting other popular attractions in Britain. 80% of British children have not been to Stonehenge, 85% have never been to the Roman Baths in Bath, 73% have never visited the Tower of London and 54% haven’t been to a farm.
The good old British weather also plays a big part in decision-making, with 45% of parents choosing to take kids abroad because of the poor UK weather. 26% of parents also believe that overseas holidays are cheaper.
First Great Western is pledging to help British families to discover something new in 2014, providing a guide to the hidden gems of the UK via its Facebook app, The Inside Track on www.facebook.com/FirstGreatWestern.
Working with locals across the UK – including celebrities such as Gemma Cairney from London, Caroline Quentin from Devon, Daisy and Pearl Lowe from Somerset, Rick Stein from Cornwall and Alex James from The Cotswolds, as well as capturing recommendations from travellers – the application offers real insight into the must-do experiences and must-see places of the UK.
Actress Caroline Quentin said: “I’ve always loved travelling to UK landmarks and landscapes with my family. We’re so lucky to live in Devon where there’s a wealth of stunning natural beauty. My children have been lucky enough to grow up by the English seaside and experience all the great things I did, and loved, as kid in the great outdoors.”
Philip Edgerton, Head of Marketing at First Great Western said: “A lot of individuals and families may not even know about the plentiful beaches, landscapes and landmarks the UK has to offer. With so many of these in the south west, First Great Western really wants to help allow you to visit great places and get more children enjoying the British seaside this summer holiday.”
The Inside Track (which is also accessible on mobile devices) features content from members of the public and will regularly be updated with new insights and recommendations.
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