Holidays at home pricier than on hot continent

The perfect balance between environmentally friendly travel and affordability has yet to be struck, the National Consumer Council (NCC) has warned, as it finds that responsible holidays in the UK still cost Britons more than many are prepared to pay.

Just four per cent of people currently holiday in the UK, in spite of a vibrant public dialogue about cutting the impact of travel on the climate.

Lower-cost rail fares, cheaper accommodation and improved-quality leisure facilities at UK destinations could help make stay-at-home holidays more attractive, the NCC argues.

At present, travelling to Barcelona from London, then staying there for a week in mid-August, works out cheaper than making a comparable trip to Blackpool, the NCC revealed, with relative costs of £518 against £554.

Meanwhile, seven in ten people said they had chosen not to take a train across the UK countryside because of high rail fares.

Last week, a survey from Mother & Baby magazine found that parents overwhelmingly felt British hotel stays were overpriced, increasing the relative attractions of overseas travel – quite apart from better weather.