The East Coast is a popular destinations for staycations

WITH the nation set to embrace staycations, the east coast has been named the fourth most popular UK destination to visit post-lockdown, a survey by leading caravan and motorhome home supplier Kimberley – The Caravan & Motorhome People has revealed.

With 20% of the vote, Wales – famous for its rugged coastline and mountainous national parks – topped the list of the UK places where caravan and motorhome owners plan on visiting once coronavirus restrictions are fully lifted on Monday, 19 July. The east coast, including Suffolk and Norfolk, took home 10% of the vote and sat alongside other popular destinations such as the south coast, Scotland and the north west.

More than 1,900 adults aged 35 and over were surveyed by YouGov as part of the research, which was commissioned by Kimberley and carried out in late June. It comes after a record number of leisure vehicles were sold across Europe in 2020 – rising 12% to around 235,000 units, according to the European Caravan Federation.

Chris Lowe, director at Kimberley, said: “When restrictions relaxed last summer, there was a huge rise in demand for passport-free holidays and once all lockdown measured are fully removed, it’s expected that British people will once again opt to remain on home turf.

“From the iconic Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands to the White Cliffs of Dover and Lake Windermere in the Lake District to the Welsh views of Snowdonia, it’s no secret that people have been enjoying so many of Britain’s beauty spots and discovering a new-found appreciation for what is on our shores.

“Competition is fierce, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see any of locations take the top spot. Being the furthest east you can go in the UK, Suffolk is the first place in the country to see the sunrise, so it’s no surprise that the east coast – which is also home to the famous man-made Norfolk Broads and quaint, historic, pink-washed cottages – featured on our list.”

The south coast – including Brighton, Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall – came second in the list, with 19% of caravan and motorhome owners pining to visit once restrictions are eased. Scotland closely followed, taking 17% of the vote and the north west placed fifth (7%). Of those surveyed, 8% of people said they had no plans to travel, with 4% being unsure about where to visit.

Chris said: “Sales of caravans and motorhomes have also surged due to this increase in staycations, with holidaymakers relishing the flexibility that leisure vehicles have to offer. With lockdown restrictions easing but foreign travel uncertain, more people are looking at the domestic holiday market and leisure vehicles allow them to conveniently take a break.”

Kimberley – which was set up in 1981 – has branches in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire; Darlington, County Durham; and is preparing to open its third site in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in late summer 2021.

As well as supplying new and pre-used leisure vehicles, Kimberley offers a variety of exclusive caravans and motorhomes that leading manufacturers Compass, Coachman and Swift have tailored to its own specification – including the addition of multiple unique features and upgrades.

For more information on Kimberley, please visit www.kimberleycaravans.co.uk