BLACKPOOL COMES OUT TOP IN BRIT KIDS HOLIDAY WISH-LIST

PLANNING a family holiday to Orlando or Costa del Sol? Don’t bother – your kids want to go to Blackpool instead, new national research has revealed.

Blackpool came out as the top choice for the perfect kids holiday – ahead of any other resort in the world – among 2,000 British children aged six – 17-years-old, according to the nationwide study* by #BlackpoolsBack.

The four most important elements for a successful family holiday, according to the nation’s children, are a real, sandy beach (59%), a seaside location (50%), a theme park (46%) and a water park (48%), the survey reveals.

Yet only one in 20 children (5%) cited the weather as important for a great holiday.

More than six out of 10 (64%) children believe it is crucial they visit a resort where they can speak English when they go on a family holiday.

And almost nine out of 10 kids (87%) say a real, sandy beach is absolutely essential to their perfect family getaway.

Travelling time is also key for kids. The majority of children (55%) say it should take no longer than four hours, door-to-door, to get from their UK home to their holiday resort.

They’d also rather not fly unless absolutely necessary. Some 73% said they’d like to go on a holiday that didn’t involving flying to their resort.

Almost seven out of 10 kids don’t want long walks or, worse still, car journeys to the nearest beach on their perfect getaway. Some 67% said getting to the beach should be no more than a brief 10-minute walk from their holiday accommodation.

The best bit of a holiday for youngsters is the beach (37%) and going to the attractions (29%). As long as its at the seaside – 86% say they prefer to be right beside the seaside for a perfect holiday.

Iain Hawkins, spokesman for the #BlackpoolsBack campaign, said: “Almost eight out of 10 children (78%) we polled said they want to come to the legendary and iconic northern seaside resort of Blackpool for a family holiday.

“What they want is a real, sandy beach and less than four hours travelling time – neither of which Orlando can offer – a great theme park and water park and without having to fly.

“We imagined the UK weather might be an issue – but it really wasn’t. Only one in 20 children see the weather as a barrier to having a great holiday.

“We ‘blind’ tested the holiday opinions of 2000 children aged 6 – 17 asking them to rate their perfect holiday based on a wishlist constructed from a number of factors including: a real sandy beach, theme park, travelling time, weather, location, attractions, swimming facilities, food, distance to the beach, language and method of travel. Blackpool, was the only one that managed to tick all the boxes. Even Orlando and the Costa del Sol couldn’t manage that.”

Visit Blackpool and Merlin Entertainments, the largest entertainments company in Europe, are driving the exciting and bold family-focused #BlackpoolsBack awareness campaign.

#BlackpoolsBack underlines the multi-million-pound investment and regeneration in the town and is a reminder that the resort is home to an unrivalled concentration of world-class family attractions. It also reminds parents of what the best of holidays looks like through the eyes of children – and what really makes it work for them.