‘Where seagulls don’t land anymore’: Are British seaside resorts trending again?

Abstract

Traditional British seaside resorts are often described in terms of their slow decline since the advent of cheap package holidays to the Mediterranean in the 1960s. Whilst there is some truth to this, the story is not that simple. For many in Britain, especially working-class families, it wasn’t until the early 1980s that trips to the Med would become affordable and commonplace. Furthermore, burgeoning competition for tourists’ interest included rural destinations easily reached by car.

Holiday habits certainly changed quickly, yet British seaside resorts still attracted large numbers of visitors. For instance, Blackpool’s popularity remained largely unchecked until the 1980s. By the 1980s and 1990s, however, most traditional seaside resorts had started to struggle; losing many attractions and guest houses. Losses were particularly acute for medium-sized resorts that were neither small enough to be exclusive nor big enough to sustain major attractions.