Compared to its continental counterparts, the humble British holiday park has had something of a bad rap.
Notions of junk food, banks of slot machines, and mobile homes packed together have put some off a park stay.
But things have taken an upturn in recent years, with park owners investing in landscaping, leisure and spa facilities, and the next generation of luxury lodges.
This summer alone, our family of four has stayed in a huge lodge with a hot tub, visited a seaside site with an exciting programme of children's activities and lovely outdoor lido, and soaked up the sun on the deck of a lodge that was hands down nicer than our home.
Our Willerby Platinum Lodge at Park Holiday's Broadland Sands near Lowestoft had a walk in dressing room and en suite in the master bedroom, and a vast double-width open plan kitchen and living room with breakfast island, flat screen TV, and comfy sofas.
The deck had a view of a church tower, and facilities on site included evening entertainment, a spotlessly clean indoor pool with flume, sports pitch, tennis court, adventure golf, and outdoor play area where kids can go made while the adults relax with a drink.
Not only that, but our nearest shoreline was Gorleston-on-Sea, the main location for Danny Boyle's movie Yesterday, and named best UK beach in Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.
The wide stretch of golden sand has plenty of parking, cute beach huts, and old fashioned ice cream from the van. You could see why it's notched up so many positive reviews.
We were in Suffolk for a late summer family wedding at a rural flint church, not far from the pretty thatched village of Somerleyton. We needed an ironing board and iron to smarten up our outfits - no problem there was one in our lodge, alongside plenty of space to get changed, and a fully fitted kitchen to cook for family the night before.
The day was a huge success including a horse and trap ride to a knees up in a village hall. We stayed on a few days to explore this area of the southern Broads: a network of villages, woodland and waterways where there are plenty of watersports, and picturesque pubs like The Bell at St Olaves.
Watch the pleasure boats glide past on the River Waveney while enjoying fish and chips, or a few miles away on the banks of the River Yare is Reedham with its pub and unusual chain ferry. Further afield is the pretty town of Beccles where you can canoe or paddle board on the Waveney or swim in the riverside Lido.
And nearby Bungay is another thriving town full of independent shops where the Waveney forms a wide meandering loop that's great for kayaking, and wild swimming at Outney Meadow.
Further downstream, community pub The Locks Inn at Geldeston Locks is well worth a visit. You can only reach this popular riverside spot by boat, canoe or a bumpy lane and a short walk, but there's a cold cider and hot lunch waiting for you.
The beauty of holiday parks is you can explore the whole of the UK.
Park Holidays has more than 50 destinations from Cornwall to Scotland, most in stunning coastal locations. They are handily grouped under 'active and fun' with plenty of family activities, and and 'relax and explore' which are quieter and smaller.
There's also a wide range of accommodation from apartments and cottages to glamping pods chalets and Luxury Lodges and plenty of half term offers.
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