Summary (by AI): My winter visit to Skegness exceeded my low expectations, leaving me humbled by the massive scale of its caravan parks and eager to return in the summer for the full seaside experience.
Blog: I’d never been to Skegness before. When I was structuring my "ABC tour," I knew I had to include it. I’d settled on the idea of the traditional "bucket and spade" holiday—a slightly tenuous link, perhaps, but it gave me the perfect excuse to make my way over there.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting too much. It was the middle of February, after all, and the British seaside in winter didn't disappoint on that front; it was a cold, blustery day. I’ll admit—and I’m very sorry, Skegness—that I expected it to feel even more run-down than it actually did. But as I walked around, even with the amusement arcades closed and the little roller coasters and fish and chip shops shut up for the season, it didn’t feel too bad. I could sense that on a beautiful, sunny day in the height of summer, with those long stretches of golden sand, it would be a great place to be.
I decided I had to go and see Butlin’s. It is, after all, the spiritual home of the British seaside holiday. It turns out Butlin’s is a little further north than the main town centre, but what really caught me off guard wasn't the resort itself—it was the caravans.
I knew Skegness had a lot of caravans. I knew the "caravan park" was a big thing there. But oh my god, I genuinely still cannot believe the scale of it. There were thousands upon thousands of them. Now, I’m not being snooty here—I love a caravan holiday—but I just couldn’t get over how it felt like a mini-city.
At one point, it felt so vast that I actually stopped the car and pulled up Google Maps. I switched it over to satellite mode and suddenly realized I was sitting in a literal sea of caravans. I can’t quite get my head around what it must be like in the summer when every single one of those is full. The town’s population must not just double or treble, but increase eightfold. It was amazing to see.
I’d like to think people have fantastic holidays there. Seeing it made me feel very humbled. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to go on holidays like that, but also to have been able to go on more "expensive" or expansive trips elsewhere. It’s not lost on me that for many people, a holiday in Skegness is the only option. And as I said, I'm not being snooty—if you hit it right with the right people and the right weather, those holidays are fantastic.
I did try to round off the trip by getting some fish and chips, but since it was the off-season, almost everything was closed. The few places that remained open looked a tad sad, so I decided against it, which was a bit of a shame. But next time I go back—and I will go back—I’m definitely getting myself some "Skeggy" fish and chips.
The Map: