Many people are expected to stay at home again this year as UK holidays grow ever more popular. Fears of a double dip recession, as well as exceptionally bad foreign currency rates mean normal, hard-working families are opting to explore the United Kingdom, rather than splash out on a trip overseas.

If you are planning on having a “staycation” this year in the UK, check out our favourite short breaks in the UK.

1) Cornwall
The county located in the far south west of England offers 140 beaches. The dramatic Cornish coastline is what really attracts the large number of visitors it gets every single year. A popular Cornish attraction is the fantastic Eden Project; a huge indoor wildlife exhibition based in three eye-catching biomes.

2) Wales
Famed for its caravan parks, Wales has something for everyone. Affordable beach resorts such as Rhyl or Prestatyn can help with sticking to a budget, while the slightly more scenic west Wales coastline is a great setting for lovers of the more relaxing break. For shops, restaurants and bars, Cardiff is a must, while the mountainous Snowdonia offers a paradise to walkers and explorers.

3) Dorset
Situated on the south coast on England, Dorset is in a great location for getting out and exploring the surrounding areas. The large town of Bournemouth offers a mix of shopping and restaurants with a glorious seven-mile sandy beach, which is extremely popular in the summertime! Other attractions include Monkey World which is bound to be a hit with the younger crowd.

4) Scotland
Scotland offers some of the most dramatic landscape in the whole of the UK. Whether you are looking to stay in a hotel, B&B, or fancy staying in one of the many caravan sites available, there’s no doubt that Scotland has plenty to keep the UK holidaymaker occupied. For example, the country is the home of golf and a number of courses are available for keen players, or for beginners to try their luck.

5) Norfolk
On the east coast on England, Norfolk has miles of sandy beaches, interesting low-lying countryside, as well as urban areas such as Great Yarmouth and the historic Norwich. The Norfolk Broads is one of the most important nature reserves in the UK, and is the home for many of the country’s wild birds.

The six week summer holidays can seem like a long time for kids and adults alike. Ensuring the little ones are entertained when taken on holiday is something that many parents worry about.

Of course the activities that your children will want to do will mainly depend on their age, but also on their attention threshold. Luckily, many of the caravan holidays on offer in the UK now provide fantastic entertainment all day long, meaning that the children are never bored.

The following tips are designed to help you have a relaxing family break:

1)    Do your research. Use the internet or read travel brochures about the area to find out what’s on offer. Make a plan of action of what you will do each day, and spread the best activities through the week to give the children something to look forward to.

2)    Take their favourite toys and games. Board games are fantastic for travelling with and can be played by the whole family. If you have teenagers, it’s unlikely they will want to go for more than a few hours without their beloved Playstation or Xbox. Thankfully, many caravan parks now come with electricity and televisions built into them as standard, so putting them in front of this for a few hours is bound to keep the peace.

3)    Prepare for your car journeys. Planning your route to take regular breaks can help on longer trips, while making sure your kids are fed in advance, on the way, or bringing snacks to eat in the car is likely will stop the grumbles and keep them awake. To keep them occupied, try games like I Spy, or it may be worth investing in a back seat DVD player system.

4)    Kids Clubs. Many of the UK’s caravan sites offer a range of kids clubs, that aim to keep your children amused for hours, whatever their age. With groups for toddlers, kids and teenagers, your child is bound to make new friends and learn new skills in classes such as dancing and climbing for the younger ones, to sports and DJ classes for the teens.

5)    Make sure all get plenty of sleep. A holiday is bound to bring up debates of having a later bed time. Although it is fair to let the kids go to bed slightly later than normal, ensuring that all have a good night’s rest is the best way to kick-start the next day feeling happy and refreshed.