HAVEN ON EARTH
I visit Haven holiday parks every year with my family… here are some secret areas guests don’t know about
And the four new Wetherspoons coming to Haven this year
I LOVE taking my kids to a UK holiday park - and even if you go every year, there are little known areas you can still find.
With a family in tow, heading to a UK holiday park is often easier than jetting off somewhere glam - but it's still possible to find those tucked-away places that feel like a well-kept secret, even when you're surrounded by caravans.
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I've visited Haven sites all over the UK and always look out for the unexpected to make my staycay feel a little bit more spontaneous.
Whether it's some hidden heritage, a flume with a view or a deserted beach on your doorstep, finding your special spot away from the holiday hustle and bustle is easier than you'd think.
Because a lot of these parks have been around for decades, they've often been built around much-loved local attractions that sometimes aren't even marked on the map.
So it pays to keep your eyes open while you're walking around site.
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My absolute favourite find was when I took my boys to stay at Haven Orchards near Clacton in Essex.
We took a wander around the site and stumbled across an incredible aviation museum housed inside a round coastal defence.
I had never even heard of Martello Towers before and had no idea this one was on the edge of the caravan park, as it was simply marked museum on the map, with no further explanation about what was there.
These thick-walled defences could house around 20 men and were built in the 19th century.
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Nowadays this tower is home to the East Essex Aviation Museum, so if you're a fan of all things flying, this is a great spot to check out.
It's run by volunteers and only opens a couple of times a week during the summer, so you need to plan around the opening hours if you're keen on checking out the World War II memorabilia.
I tried Man United star Harry Maguire’s holiday to Presthaven
I think most of us will agree that climbing the stairs to the flumes on holiday while shivering in your swimsuit is generally not going to be the highlight of your break.
But I was blown away when we visited Haven Seashore in Norfolk, as the flume tower is topped with an enormous picture window looking out over the sand dunes to the sea beyond.
It made a change to be able to enjoy such lovely scenery while standing in a queue waiting for a water slide.
At nearby Haven Wild Duck, we discovered a lovely forest walk that was tucked away on the edge of site.
While everyone else was at the pools, enjoying activities or watching a show, we had the woods to ourselves to explore.
It felt like we were a million miles away from the crowds of the caravan park, without even leaving the site.
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Haven to get four new Wetherspoons pubs
The holiday park signed an agreement with the famous pubs last year, opening its first at a Haven park in Filey.
And following its success, four more are to open across the UK holiday parks.
Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire, Devon Cliffs, Kent Coast and Haggerston Castle in Northumberland will be the four parks to welcome the new Wetherspoons pubs.
Set to open in March, the four Spoons are expected to cost around £6.7million.
The names and official opening dates are yet to be confirmed.
If you love animals, you should check out Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre, which is just over the road from Haven Golden Sands in Lincolnshire.
This special spot has been caring for injured and orphaned sea creatures for decades and visitors are a vital part of keeping it going.
And it's not just Haven holiday parks that have hidden charms.
Whenever I visit Butlin's Skegness, I head to pay homage to one of the original chalets from the 1930s, which has been preserved on site for posterity.
Gazing in at the rustic inside of these basic beach huts, it's fascinating to think how far UK staycays have come in a century.
And I loved seeing the hexagonal Victorian Penfold postbox near the entrance of Vauxhall Holiday Park near Great Yarmouth.
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Ultimately you can find these understated spots that no-one else seems to notice wherever you go, whether you're on historic city streets or having family fun at a holiday park.
It's about keeping your eyes open and not following the crowd.
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