Weak pound leads to more holidays in the UK

Britons are taking more holidays in the UK as the pound continues to fall against the euro. More holidaymakers from mainland Europe are also enjoying UK breaks as a result of the economic situation.

British holidaymakers are increasingly opting to stay at home in the UK instead of travelling to the eurozone . The falling value of the pound means that European destinations are no longer proving cost effective.

Some travellers have received fewer than €100 for £100 at some airport bureaux de changes, according to The Daily Mail. Two years ago the same money would have been worth €145.

The pound's poor performance has led to people thinking twice before booking their holiday overseas, experts claim. Sian Brenchly, a spokesman for VisitBritain said: "We have found that the economic situation is making people take another look at holidays at home .

"We have still got the bucket and spade aspect but we have expanded to be so much more, with the regeneration of seaside areas and cities that can rival overseas destinations."

It is not just Britons who are enjoying UK holidays. Quenton Fyfe of AboutBritain.com explained that the weak pound is helping to attract more European visitors: "It is better value for people from the eurozone than it has been, so it is bound to make us a more attractive holiday destination," he said.

Meanwhile, more Europeans are reported to be enjoying shopping in the UK and taking advantage of the exchange rate. "The strength of the euro has made a huge difference," said Beverley Aspinall of London store Fortnum & Mason.

"More than 70 per cent of the customers in our restaurants were Europeans," she said of a recent weekend's trading.

Roles are also being reversed as an increasing number of Americans come to the UK for Christmas shopping , rather than Britons heading to the US for bargains. At Selfridges on London's Oxford Street spending by US visitors is up 50 to 60 per cent on last year.

This story was brought to you by holiday lettings .co.uk, the UK's No.1 holiday home website.

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