The topic explained
GLOSSARY frivolous – behaving in a silly way rather than doing serious or sensible things heyday – the time when something was most popular, successful, or powerful
Why is the British seaside so British?
Today, I’m sharing some really interesting information about the traditional British seaside holiday. Everyone I know has deeply embedded memories about going to the seaside as a child, building sandcastles with buckets and spades under (as we probably mistakenly recall) cloudless skies. I’d never really thought about it as a very British tradition before, but apparently it’s quintessentially British! So, check this out!
How kings made the seaside fashionable
It began with a king who was told to take the sea air.
Royal connections
Post-war years: when the Brits let their hair down
From kings to ordinary families: the seaside's best years.
The heyday
Cheap flights, then the staycation
And then the holiday habit changed.
Decline and rejuvenation
True, false or not given?
1 Read the blog and decide if statements 1–5 are true (T) or false (F), or if the information is not given (NG).
1 □ The first UK seaside town to become a resort was Weymouth.
2 □ Recently, members of the royal family have preferred east coast seaside destinations.
3 □ British men used to protect their heads with unusual coverings.
4 □ In the 19th century, people were concerned about sunburn.
5 □ Package holidays are the most popular type of holiday for foreign visitors.
Match the highlighted words with their meanings
2 Match the highlighted words from the text with their definitions.
1 A holiday spent in your own country
2 When something is given a new life
3 Travelling around the world
4 Very typically
5 Strict manners
6 Got in a bad condition
7 Relax and enjoy
8 Good for you
The podcast: who is it for, and Chloe's stories
3 CS1.1 Listen to a podcast about the British seaside and answer the questions.
1 Who might find this programme useful?
2 What personal examples does Chloe give when talking about the different traditions?
Fact files from the podcast: fill the gaps
4 CS1.1 Listen again and complete the fact files with 1–3 words in each gap.
First fact file: Pleasure piers.
Pleasure piers
The first ones were built in the 1 ___ century.
The purpose was to transfer people from the 2 ___ to the shore.
The longest is Southend-On-Sea at 3 ___ km.
The oldest is at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, over 4 ___ years old.
Next fact file: Deckchairs.
Deckchairs
Invented in 5 ___ by John Moore.
First used by passengers on the decks of 6 ___ .
Traditional colour of beach deckchairs was 7 ___ and white stripes.
Next fact file: Seaside rock.
Seaside rock
First sold in 8 ___ in 1887.
Skill can take 9 ___ years to perfect.
Next fact file: Fish and chips.
Fish and chips
The first fish and chip shop in the UK opened in 10 ___ .
Fish and chips were traditionally wrapped in 11 ___ .
Packaging had to change due to 12 ___ regulations.
