When you think of the Great British holiday, one of the first places that might spring to mind is Butlins. This family holiday resort is packed with things to do and is a great choice for people of all ages. While you might think it’s only aimed at kids, Butlins even hosts plenty of adult weekends, especially in the off peak parts of the year.
With three resorts in Minehead, Skegness and Bognor Regis, British holidaymakers might wonder which is the best Butlins to go to?
Each of the Butlins resorts has something special to offer and wherever you go, you’re sure to have a great time. However, let’s break it down and take a look at which is the very best option.
Which Butlins Has The Best Location?
I am a huge fan of the Minehead Butlins resort. Largely because the beach here is stunning and offers some gorgeous views. However, location is very much dependent on where you are in the country. If you want to avoid long travel times, then it’s best to consider which Butlins is closest.
If you are living in London then your nearest Butlins resort would be Bognor Regis. However, for people coming from Wales or the south west then you’d be better off heading to Minehead.
For those in Manchester, Liverpool and over the other side of the country in the East, Skegness is going to be the most accessible resort.
For those that live in the Midlands, you’re fortunate enough to be able to travel to any of the Butlins resorts without much difference in travel time.
Are All Butlins Resorts Close To The Beach?
As I mentioned, the Minehead resort sits alongside the coast but this isn’t the only Butlins that benefits from a beachside location.
All three of the resorts are right on the coast so if you’re looking for a seaside holiday, you’re in luck.
The beach at Skegness is vast and sandy so is great for long days out. However, you should note that the beach at Bognor Regis is a shingle beach which isn’t to everyone’s liking.
Which Butlins Resort Is The Best Value For Money?
Nobody wants to pay over the odds for their summer holiday. One thing I have noticed about Butlins is that you can get an excellent deal if you try and book at the right time. For example, one year I paid just short of £1500 for a four night break in a silver apartment. That included breakfast and an evening meal. In this instance, I had booked the break around 12 months before we were travelling.
Fast forward to the following year when I decided to book just a couple of weeks in advance. For the exact same holiday, minus the breakfast and evening meal, Butlins only asked for just under £600. There was a sale on at the time so it’s always something that’s worth looking out for.
How Much Is Butlins In The School Holidays Compared To Term Time?
The cost of any holiday skyrockets during school holidays as there is a much greater demand. So, if you want to go to Butlins in the six weeks then you’ll need to be prepared to part with a little more money.
For a seven night self catering break for four people, these are the rough costs for each of the resorts.
Minehead - £1094
Skegness - £1325
Bognor Regis - £1079
If you want to add a dining plan to this and have your breakfast and evening meals included, then you can expect to pay the following for a summer holiday break.
Minehead - £1348
Skegness - £1388
Bognor Regis - £1421
However, for families that are able to travel outside of the school holidays, there is the potential to save a lot of money. For the same self catering holiday in each of the resorts at the beginning of July, you could pay as a little as:
Minehead - £733
Skegness - £658
Bognor Regis - £520
If you’re going to add the Butlins dining plan to these breaks, then the cost will rise a little but it’s still as cheap as:
Minehead - £806
Skegness - £955
Bognor Regis £884
As you can see, the difference between the resorts is quite something. That said, if you choose the resort based solely on the cost of the holiday, you may still end up spending more on travel so it’s wise to sum up the cost of everything before making a decision.
Which Butlins Resort Has The Most To Do?
If you visit any of the Butlins resorts, you will find that there is plenty to see and do. This certainly isn’t a place where you’re going to find yourself bored. In fact, if you’re only going for the Friday to Monday option, you may find that you simply don’t have enough time to fit everything in.
You will find that, for the most part, the facilities and entertainment at all three of the resorts are very similar. At the centre of each resort, you will find the Skyline Pavilion which is a covered area filled with bars, restaurants, soft play, amusement arcades and many other things.
Outdoors, there is a small funfair, go karts, zorbing, mini golf, a splash zone, several kids play areas and many other things. The great thing about Butlins is that almost all of the activities are included in the price of your break so you won’t have to fork out for extras. That said, there are a couple of things that come with additional fees such as the circus, climbing wall and high rope courses as well as the go karts. However, the cost of these aren’t extortionate and you generally won’t pay more than a fiver for most things.
There are a selection of activities running throughout the day that are also part of your break. These include things like football classes, archery, crafts and many more.
If you haven’t chosen the dining option then you’ll be able to eat at one of the several restaurants on site. There’s a great choice including Burger King, traditional pubs, sports bars and plenty more so, if you don’t want to venture outside of the resort, you really don’t have to.
What About Swimming?
One of the things that most kids get excited about when they’re on holiday is swimming. All of the Butlins resorts have a Splash Waterworld which is filled with slides, rides, a lazy river, wave pool and much more.
But which one is the best? Well, if you’re looking for the biggest Butlins swimming pool then you’ll want to head to Skegness. However, the one if Bognor Regis is the newest and has a much larger number of slides and rides.
Conclusion
If you want to have a staycation this year then there are lots of places in the UK to choose from. However, for families, Butlins is an amazing choice as, for the most part, you pay a fixed sum and this covers everything from accommodation and food to a whole host of activities.
With three Butlins sites to choose from, you’ll want to find the best Butlins for you and your family. Each of the resorts has a lot of offers so it’s worth considering which is closest to you as you start making your decision.
In terms of cost, Bognor Regis appears to be the most affordable but this can change as you start adding dining plans and depending on the time of year.
