skip to main content
Arrival & Departure Become a member to get the discounts
Where do you want to go? City, region or hotel
1 / 1
Rooms & Guests
1
1
0
Contact Us if you need to book 9 or more rooms
Type Your Code
Promo Code
Modify Reservation
My reservations
NOTE: Only flexible rate bookings made online via VillageHotels.com directly can be modified or cancelled online. For all other bookings please see our FAQs

Find the perfect space for your event

You can book rooms for meetings online with our quick and easy booking tool - you'll find live availability and instant prices

Search Hotel Venue

Book a table at the pun & grill

Heading down to Village for live sport? Secure your front row seats for the best view of our huge TV screens. Reserve your spot now at one of our 33 locations by using the drop down menu below.

Search Hotel Restaurant
Selected check in date is 14th May 2025.
Please select a hotel
News
FAMILY STAYCATIONS IN 2024: TAKE A SCREEN BREAK?

The school summer holidays are on the horizon – once the British weather gets the reminder to get moving with the sunshine, of course. But when the clouds lift and the sun shines out, there’s so much to see and do for the whole family.

From theme parks to days at the beach or discovering some of the UK’s natural wonders, a wholesome family holiday is just what you need to make the most of your summer breaks. But with younger generations being so fond of modern technology, is the classic British summer holiday at risk?

To find out, we ran a survey, delving into the state of family breaks in the UK. So join us as we explore the changing face of holidays here in the UK – and, of course, if you’re looking for some of the best summer breaks in the UK, then Village Hotels are here to help with a classic weekend break away.

What do UK family breaks look like in 2024?

Our survey revealed that the UK’s top motivations for booking a family holiday were very wholesome – over half of survey respondents said that the motivation for a family holiday was to spend quality time together.

Of course, given how busy our daily lives are, it’s understandable that the next biggest reasons for getting away from it all were to relax and unwind (44%) and to take a break from day-to-day-life (41%). No matter where you go, having your family with you is important – 36% were looking to create lasting memories, while just 31% considered visiting attractions the most important part of a family holiday.

It probably also won’t come as a huge surprise that given the cost of living crisis that’s been rumbling on for a few years, many families are opting for cost-free activities like visiting beaches (54%) or walking (48%) over more expensive options.

Of the more costly options, a visit to a zoo or safari park was the favourite, with 37% choosing to take a walk on the wild side, just edging out shopping (36%) and theme parks (35%).

How does technology affect the modern family break?

When it comes to enjoying quality family time together, it can be made difficult by the prevalence of technology in our everyday lives. It’s hard to make precious memories while your teenager is scrolling through TikTok and grandma is busy doing a crossword on her tablet!

There’s so much to see here in the UK, and a family holiday is a great way to see the best that the country has to offer – so perhaps it’s not surprising that one in five families (18%) are considering introducing technology restrictions on their next family holiday. In fact, half (49%) of UK parents already have rules in place regarding how long their child uses technology on their family break.

Just 17% say their child has unlimited access to tech on their family break - but that still means that over one in 10 (12%) British children are spending more than 7 hours on technology per day on their family break.

When we asked our survey respondents, one in four said that the biggest negative of having so many screens around on holiday was the feeling that their child isn’t paying attention to the world around them (26%). But even for parents, there’s a feeling that technology is a tether to the stresses of everyday life: 22% said that it stops them from fully switching off from the day-to-day, while 18% said it affects their sleep and disrupts their family bonding time.

However, even if you do end up looking at your phone while you’re on holiday, it’s not all bad! On a family break, technology can keep things ticking along and running smoothly. Almost half of families surveyed (45%) said it keeps them occupied while travelling or waiting (though is it just us that sort of misses the are-we-nearly-there-yet hours filled with endless games of I Spy or 20 Questions?).

And, of course, there’s the huge benefit of having a camera right in your pocket at all times: a third of the people we asked (28%) says it allows them to record family memories so you can look back with fondness at your daft family holiday snaps.

So while there are certainly ups and downs to having technology coming along on your jollies, our survey has shown that the average time children spend on technology on holiday is 2 hours 26 minutes per day - which still leaves plenty of time for sightseeing, without a screen in sight.

Tourist attractions to make you forget your phone

And speaking of sightseeing… Here are a few of our absolute favourite tourist attractions across the UK that the whole family will love. Just the thing to make the whole family forget about emails/Instagram notifications/Snap streak/TikTok trending/Twitch streams… at least, for a little while.

Alpacas, gin, and Jane Austen

Conveniently located if you’re staying at our Basingstoke hotel, please the history nerds and book buffs in your family by walking in the footsteps of classic author Jane Austen, born in Basingstoke. Then, drop the kids off at Pennybridge Farm, where they can meet, groom and walk alpacas, while the adults take in a sophisticated gin tasting tour at the Bombay Sapphire distillery.

Legoland legends

One of the UK’s best and most beloved attractions, this magical block-based experience caters to children and adults alike. Located in Windsor, Berkshire, our Bracknell hotel is perfectly located for a family-friendly day out. Enjoy tons of fun with interactive rides, live shows, and attractions like the exhilarating Dragon roller coaster, or discover the immersive Miniland with intricate Lego models of famous landmarks.

Anchors aweigh

For a nautical-themed day of fun, Portsmouth is a must-see. Explore iconic ships like HMS Victory and the skeletal remains of Henry VIII’s favourite ship, the Mary Rose. Then go frolic with the fishes at Blue Reef Aquarium, and head to the top of Spinnaker Tower for stunning panoramic views from 170 metres up! And if you’re running out of energy after all of that… then why not cap off your day by watching the sunset on Southsea beach with some fish and chips, before heading back to our Portsmouth hotel?

 

Feeling inspired to book a family getaway, and get away from screens for a bit to make some new memories? Whether you need a quick getaway or a UK mini-break this summer, we've got Summer This & Summer That covered with a variety of packages to choose from, all including breakfast and holiday spends for food in our Pub & Grill!

Tags
Related Articles
News
Village Green & Community
09 Apr 2025
NEW PARTNERSHIP: HOSPITALITY ACTION

We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Hospitality Action for 2025. Read more. 

News
01 Apr 2025
VILLAGE COMPLETES THE FIRST PHASE OF £82M REFURBISHMENT AND INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

Ambitious growth plans see more than 750 bedrooms refurbished, upgraded Health & Wellness facilities, major hotel extensions and a new hotel in Reading.  

News
06 Jan 2025
VILLAGE HOTEL CLUB ACQUIRES SITE IN READING TO KICK START 2025

Reading, January 2025: Village Hotel Club, the 33-strong hotel and leisure club operator, is delighted to announce the acquisition of the former Crowne Plaza site at Caversham Bridge, Reading.