A new study has been welcomed by Stonham Barns Park
A new study – undertaken by Thermos (published in March) and welcomed by Stonham Barns Park – has looked at the thoughts of people considering holiday options for this year.
The study reported that – out of a group of 1000 holiday makers polled – 52% would choose to stay close to home while 48% would choose to go abroad during 2024, and one in three said they had a staycation at some point last year. When asked about preferred destinations for a UK getaway, 11% said they kept theirs secret from wider acquaintances as they feared them becoming too touristy.
The East of England – including Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire – was the top staycation destination in a line-up of 10 regions. The best things about a staycation in the UK included saving travelling time, supporting local businesses, exploring, being kinder to the environment, saving money, language advantage, less stressful, no restrictions on luggage, familiar food and being able to take pets along.
Another survey from Sheffield Hallam University and Liverpool John Moores University revealed how camping in the great outdoors is good for your mental health and wellbeing. The study from last year – commissioned by The Camping and Caravanning Club – was also welcomed by the directors of Stonham Barns Park who are gearing up for the main summer season.
At Stonham Barns Park you can stay in the The Aspal Campsite which hosts touring caravans, motorhomes, tents and even tipis – and offers the ultimate luxury camping experience in the form of glamping which is becoming increasingly popular. Campsite pitches are available with or without electrical hook ups, all set in a parkland location with a children’s play area and easy access to all the facilities at Stonham Barns Park. Dogs are welcome too.
Another option for holidaying at Stonham Barn Park, is a luxury static holiday home or lodge, with beautiful views over the Suffolk countryside and stunning fishing lakes. Visitors can simply stay and play or try and buy. Next to the Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex coast, Stonham Barns Park is a go-to destination venue for families from the East of England and from all over the UK.
Keith Forward, Director at family owned Stonham Barns Park, says: ‘We have many people who come to Stonham Barns Park for a short break and then become regulars or lodge owners because of the benefits of being outdoors and surrounded by nature.’
‘UK breaks have become particularly important in recent years as a method of destressing for the whole family. It is important to have somewhere to go to where you can relax on arrival and we think that Suffolk always offers something unique to those who want to camp, glamp or relax in a luxury lodge.’
‘Camping in all its forms puts us outside more – and gives us a temporary break from technology – and so it can only be good for us. We live with so many challenges in life that anything that helps people to feel better about themselves and each other is vitally important. Short and long breaks in the UK are maintaining their position in terms of volume of bookings as people enjoy the sense of adventure and relaxation that comes with holidaying at home.’
Static and lodge sales can follow domestic holidays because some of the people who book short breaks sometimes then explore holiday home ownership options.
Over the past two years, more people have purchased a holiday home in the UK to save the uncertainty of travelling abroad and the increased cost of foreign travel – and some have even purchased a holiday bolthole near to family to combine a break away with a chance to see family members, who might not have space to accommodate family members for visits.
Nick Church, Lodge Sales Manager based at Stonham Barns Park, talks about the variety of state-of-the-art static caravans and lodges that you can invest in to make the most of a ‘family and friends’ holiday. ‘You can use the holiday homes for up to 11 months of the year you simply need a main residential address to buy – the season runs from February to December every year. The lodges and static caravans are now beautifully modern holiday homes. They have evolved to residential level luxury and so are attracting a new set of buyers who want to optimise their mini breaks during the year.’
A holiday home in the static section of Stonham Barns Park holiday park can be purchased for anything from £15,000 to £70,000. These are typically 2-bedroomed caravans that sleep up to 6 people. Those who buy and rent out to family and friends can often expect to pay for their investment in around 3-4 years. Lodge sales can range from £70,000 to £250,000 and come with lake or golf locations, a 6-metre strip of land, and are usually enhanced with decking, a BBQ and a hot tub.
Master bedrooms with showers and open plan kitchen and living areas make the accommodation feel like a home from home. An outdoor lifestyle including Al Fresco dining are major drivers for a UK holiday home purchase.
New leisure facilities have been added to Stonham Barns Park to enhance the visitor experience including a new sports bar and clubhouse, new children’s play facilities and new adventure footgolf. The venue also includes fishing lakes, an owl sanctuary and birds of play centre, a nine-hole golf course, adventure golf, footgolf, golf simulators, theatre, and around 45 village shops, a café and restaurant and a garden centre.
For more information about holiday homes at Stonham Barns Park please contact Nick Church on 0800 048 5326 or email: [email protected]
Stonham Barns Park is a bustling family complex offering holiday accommodation, attractions and activities based in the heart of Suffolk, UK.
Visit www.stonhambarns.co.uk for further information.