The National Federation of Permanent Holiday Camps was formed in the early 1930s as a trade organisation for the growing number of camps throughout Britain, Ireland and the Channel Isles. Only full board camps, or those which offered a full board option, were admitted. In the 1970s the organisation changed its name to the National Association of Holiday Centres. The number of camps fluctuated as different sites came and went. Some were closed whilst others were transformed into self catering caravan/chalet parks which excluded them from future membership. Some survived for several decades whilst others only lasted a year or two. They also ranged in size from anything between 75 and 11,000 campers. All the big companies were joined by a number of smaller operators and private family concerns. It's interesting to note that Butlins then attracted more people than all the other camps combined.
We had the idea of trying to compile a list of all the old camps but it soon became obvious that this was a major task way beyond our very limited time and resources. So we thought of narrowing it down to just show those camps which were still around in the 1960s and 70s - and even this was fraught with all kinds of complications and mysteries! We also followed the N.F.P.H.C. guidelines and only listed those camps which had full board facilities during that era. Where known we've also tried to discover which of them are still open today. Bear in mind that many of these camps have since changed dramatically and some have been converted into caravan parks without any trace of their past history.
So below is an incomplete (and maybe inaccurate) list showing most of the camps which were around in that era. We haven't included self catering camps or caravan parks and we accept no responsibility for any errors. We welcome additional information or corrections.
We've also added some image links to adverts from the 1960s - click on the camp name to access the image (where available).
County | Camp | Aerial Photo | Information | Current Status |
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Avon | Sand Bay (Pontins) Nr Weston super Mare |
Bought by Pontins in 1947 | Sold 1999 but still open | |
Berkshire |
California-in-England
Nr Wokingham |
80 acres. Inland camp situated in a forest | Closed. Some features still remain | |
Cornwall |
Kenegie Holiday Hotel
Gulval, Penzance |
15 acre hotel/chalet park | Still open | |
Cornwall |
Duporth Holiday Resort
St Austell Bay |
Opened 1934 and set in 40 acres. | Closed at the end of the 2006 season | |
Cornwall |
Perran Sands Holiday Centre
Perranporth |
Still open | ||
Cornwall |
Pleasure Haven Holiday Camp
Newquay |
Opened 1963 with capacity of 200 | ||
Devon | Barton Hall (Pontins) Kingskerswell, Torquay |
48 acres. Bought by Pontins in late-50s. Sold 1999 | Still open. Now a children's holiday activity centre | |
Devon |
Buckleigh Place Country Club
Westward Ho! |
Small camp with a capacity of just 75. Acquired by Pontins in 1947 and sold in 1963. It remained as a holiday centre until 1972 when it was sold to property developers. |
Converted into a housing estate. | |
Devon |
Devon Coast Country Club (Ladbrokes)
Paignton |
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Devon | Dolphin (Pontins) Brixham |
Suffered major fire in 1991 | Being developed for housing | |
Devon |
NALGO Holiday Centre
Croyde Bay |
Opened 1931 | Still open. Now owned by UNISON | |
Devon |
Paignton Holiday Camp
Kings Ash Cross |
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Devon | St Marys Bay (Pontins) Brixham |
Now known as Riviera Bay & ran by Park Holidays. | ||
Devon | South Devon (Pontins) Kings Ash Hill, Paignton |
Bought by Pontins 1957 | ||
Devon | Seaton (Warners) Seaton |
Opened in the 1930s | Site purchased by Tesco and camp closed in January 2009 | |
Devon |
Torbay Chalet Hotel
Marldon Rd, Paignton |
17 acres. Bought by Pontins late 60/early 70s. Sold again around 1995 | Still open | |
Devon |
Westward Ho! Holiday Camp
Nr Bideford |
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Dorset |
Chesil Beach Holiday Camp
Wyke Regis |
Still open | ||
Dorset | Osmington Bay (Pontins) Nr Weymouth |
Pre-war camp. Bought by Pontins in 1947. Sold 1999 | Still open. Now a children's holiday activity centre | |
Dorset | Riviera (Pontins) Bowleaze Cove |
Bought by Pontins late-50s | Sold 1999 but still open | |
Essex | Clacton (Butlin's)
Clacton on Sea |
Opened 1938 Click here to view our section on Butlin's Clacton |
Closed 1983 and since demolished | |
Essex | Dovercourt Bay (Warners) Dovercourt |
Pre-war camp located near the beach. | Closed and demolished | |
Hants | Coronation (Warners) Hayling Island |
Renamed Lakeside in the mid-80s. | Still owned & operated by Warners | |
Hants | Northney (Warners) Hayling Island |
First Warners camp. Opened 1931 | Closed and demolished | |
Hants | Sinah Warren (Warners) Hayling Island |
Acquired by Warners in the early 60s | Still owned & operated by Warners | |
Hants | Southleigh (Warners) Hayling Island |
Closed and demolished in the early 80s. | ||
Hants |
Sunshine (Fresh Fields)
Hayling Island |
Sold to Warners in 1980s but sold again in mid 90s. | Still open but now called Mill Rythe | |
Isle of Wight |
Bembridge Chalet Hotel
Bembridge |
20 acres. Acquired by Warners late 60s/early 70s | Still owned & operated by Warners | |
Isle of Wight |
Atherfield Bay
Chale, Ventnor |
Privately owned. 50 acres | Still open | |
Isle of Wight |
Brambles Chine
Freshwater |
Still open | ||
Isle of Wight |
Brighstone Holiday Camp
(Campers Ltd) Brighstone |
First camp on Isle of Wight. Opened 1932 | Still open | |
Isle of Wight |
Gurnard Pines Holiday Camp
Nr Cowes |
55 acres | Still open | |
Isle of Wight | Little Canada (Pontins) Wootton Creek |
36 acres. Bought by Pontins late 1950s | Still open. Now a children's holiday activity centre | |
Isle of Wight |
Norton Chalet Hotel
Yarmouth |
20 acres. Acquired by Warners late 60s/early 70s | Now named Norton Grange and still owned by Warners | |
Isle of Wight | Puckpool (Warners) Ryde |
Merged with adjoining St Clare camp late 80s & renamed Harcourt Sands. | Sold by Warners and subsequently closed in September 2006 | |
Isle of Wight | St Clare (Warners) Ryde |
Merged with adjoining Puckpool camp late 80s & renamed Harcourt Sands. | Sold by Warners and subsequently closed in September 2006 | |
Isle of Wight |
Savoy Country Club
Yarmouth |
16 acres. Upmarket reputation | Still open. Now owned by New Horizon Holidays | |
Isle of Wight |
Totland Chalet Hotel
Freshwater |
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Isle of Wight |
Whitecliff Bay
Bembridge |
Chalet hotel. 7 acres | Still open | |
Isle of Wight | Woodside (Warners) Wootton |
30 acres. Opened 1963 | Closed 1980s. Most buildings remain but derelict | |
Isle of Wight | Yarmouth (Warners) Yarmouth |
20 acres. Renamed Norton Grange mid-80s. | Still owned & operated by Warners | |
Kent |
Beach Holiday Centre
Dymchurch |
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Kent |
Kingsdown Holiday Camp
(Campers Ltd) Nr Walmer |
18 acres | Still open | |
Kent |
Leysdown Holiday Camp
Isle of Sheppey |
12 acres | ||
Kent |
Littlestone
(Maddiesons) New Romney |
Opened 1930s | Still open under new ownership | |
Kent | Minster Holiday Camp (Warners) Isle of Sheppey |
Bought by Warners in the late 50s | Sold 1983. Still open, now known as Irwin Park | |
Kent |
Minster Beach Holiday Camp
Isle of Sheppey |
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Kent |
St Margarets
(Maddiesons) Nr Dover |
Opened 1963 | Still open under new ownership | |
Lancs | Blackpool (Pontins) Lytham St Annes |
40 acres.Formerly named Squires Gate. Bought by Pontins in 1961 | Still owned & operated by Pontins | |
Lancs | Middleton Tower (Pontins) Nr Morecambe |
60 acres with capacity of 3000. Opened 1939 & bought by Pontins c1964 | Closed 1993 but most buildings remain semi derelict | |
Lancs |
Morecambe Bay Holiday Camp
Heysham Towers |
15 acres. Capacity for 500 people | ||
Lincs |
Skegness (Butlin's)
Skegness |
Opened 1936. Capacity for 8,000 people Click here to view our section on Butlin's Skegness |
Still owned and operated by Butlin's | |
Norfolk |
Caister Holiday Park
(Ladbrokes) Caister |
Full & self catering Click here to view a selection of Caister Holiday Camp Postcards |
Possibly now owned by Haven ?? | |
Norfolk |
The Constitutional
Hopton |
Capacity 700 people | ||
Norfolk |
Gorleston Super Holiday Camp
Gorleston |
Capacity 400 people Click here to view a 1948 brochure from Gorleston Click here to see a website dedicated to the Gorleston Super Holiday Camp |
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Norfolk |
Golden Sands Holiday Camp
Hopton |
Opened around 1933. Privately owned | Possibly closed around 1985?? | |
Norfolk |
Hemsby Holiday Camp
(Maddiesons) Hemsby |
Opened 1930s & purchased by Pontins in the 1970's | Closed in January 2009 | |
Norfolk | Hopton Holiday Camp Hopton |
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Norfolk |
Moodys Holiday Camp
Hopton |
Capacity 225 people | ||
Norfolk |
Mundesley Holiday Centre
(Campers Ltd) Mundesley |
30 acres. Capacity for 400 people | Still open. Now owned by New Horizon Holidays | |
Norfolk |
Potters Holiday Camp
Hopton |
Opened on this site 1930. Privately owned | Still open | |
Norfolk |
Seacroft
Hemsby |
30 acres. Opened 1920 bought by Pontins 1970s | Sold by Pontins but still open. Now owned by New Horizon Holidays | |
Somerset |
Minehead (Butlin's)
Minehead |
Opened 1962. 160 acres. Capacity for 10,000 guests Click here to view our section on Butlin's Minehead |
Still owned & operated by Butlin's | |
Somerset |
St Audries Bay
West Quantoxhead |
100 acres | Still open | |
Suffolk | Corton Beach (Warners) Corton |
30 acres | Still owned & operated by Warners | |
Suffolk |
Denes Holiday Camp
Kessingland Beach |
Still open | ||
Suffolk |
Gunton Hall
Nr Lowestoft |
Acquired by Warners in the 1980s | Still owned & operated by Warners | |
Suffolk |
Kessingland Holiday Camp
(Catchpoles) Kessingland |
Opened 1929 | ||
Suffolk | Pakefield (Pontins) Nr Lowestoft |
Bought by Pontins late-50s | Still owned & operated by Pontins | |
Suffolk | Rogerson Hall Corton |
Opened 1938 | Still open but now a caravan park | |
Sussex |
Bognor Regis (Butlin's) Upper Bognor Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1JJ |
Opened 1960. Known as Southcoast World from 1987 to 1998. Click here to view our section on Butlin's Bognor Regis |
Still owned & operated by Butlin's | |
Sussex | Bracklesham Bay (Pontin's) East Bracklesham Drive, Bracklesham Bay, Nr. Chichester |
Opened 1947. Sold in the 1980s | Closed 1985. Now a Housing Estate. | |
Sussex |
Bracklesham Bay (Gibsons)
Bracklesham Bay, Nr. Chichester. PO20 8JE |
Suffered massive fire, probably in the early 70's. Renamed South Downs Holiday Centre. Sold to Pontin's in 1984 by Godfrey Davis (who had gone into Leisure Industry in 1972), became South Downs Chalet Hotel. | Still open as South Downs Holiday Village, owned by Richardson's (formerly New Horizon), catering only for the over 50s. | |
Sussex | Broadreeds (Pontin's) Grafton Road, Selsey-on-Sea. |
Bought from Simmons' family by Pontin’s in 1962. | Seriously damaged by hurricane-force wind of October 1987. Sold 1988. Demolished and replaced with housing in the mid to late 90's. | |
Sussex |
New Beach Holiday Camp
Stoney Lane, Earnley-by-Sea, Chichester, PO20 7JP |
Opened 1925. Owned by Lyndhurst family until sold in 1974. | Now called Sussex Beach. No longer a holiday camp, but a park of leasehold holiday bungalows. | |
Sussex |
Riviera Lido Holiday Club
Nyetimber Lane, Pagham, Nr. Bognor Regis |
Was open by 1938. Operated by Ideal Holidays Ltd. Appears to have become Residential Outdoor School for evacuees for duration of war. Postcards indicate was still operating up to the 1980's. | Demolished and replaced with housing - Tabard Gate and surrounding roads. | |
Sussex |
St Leonards Bathing Pool Camp
Marina, St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Nr, Hastings, TN38 0AQ |
Opened 1960 as holiday camp. Built around large 1930's built seafront swimming pool. Later renamed Hastings Holiday Centre. | Closed and demolished in 1986. The last concrete seaside huts were demolished 2006. | |
Sussex |
Sussex Coast Country Club (Ladbrokes)
Middleton-on-sea |
Started as New City in 1922 on site of former Seaplane factory. Renamed Southdean (Hotel and Sports Club) by 1934. Became Sussex Coast Country Club by 1971. From private ownership was owned by Ladbrokes, later by Warner's. See www.ukholidaycamps.co.uk which features a lot of information on this camp. |
Was bought by Shearings who owned it for one season then closed it in 1995. Subsequently demolished and replaced with housing. | |
Yorkshire |
Colley's Cosy Camp
Scarborough |
Capacity 600 people | ||
Yorkshire |
Filey (Butlin's)
Filey |
Opened 1945. Capacity for 11,000 guests Click here to view our section on Butlin's Filey |
Closed 1983 and since demolished | |
Yorkshire |
NALGO Holiday Centre
Cayton Bay |
Opened 1930s. Sold 1976. Originally owned & operated by Dudley Wallis & known as Wallis' Camp, later owned by Ladbroke's before becoming Haven Warner, then Haven & finally Park Resorts. Click here to view a Cayton Bay Crazy Club Kid Certificate from 1988. |
Now owned & operated by Park Resorts. | |
Scotland |
Ayr (Butlin's)
Nr Ayr |
Opened 1946. 85 acres. Capacity for 5,000 guests Click here to view our section on Butlin's Ayr |
Still open. Now a Haven caravan park (since 1999), known as Craig Tara. | |
Wales |
Pwllheli (Butlin's)
Nr Pwllheli |
Opened 1947. 150 acres. Capacity for 8,000 guests Click here to view our section on Butlin's Pwllheli |
Still open. Now a Haven caravan park (since 1999), known as Hafan Y Mor. | |
Wales |
Barry Island (Butlin's)
Barry Island |
Opened 1966. 45 acres. Sold By Butlin's in 1986 Click here to view our section on Butlin's Barry Island |
Closed 1996 and now demolished | |
Wales |
Prestatyn Holiday Camp (Tower Beach)
Prestatyn |
Opened 1939. 41 acres. Acquired by Pontins in the 70s | Closed & demolished in the 80s. Land now used for housing | |
Isle of Man |
Howstrake Holiday Camp
Nr Douglas |
Pre-war camp | ||
Ireland |
Mosney (Butlin's)
Nr Dublin |
Opened 1948 but sold by Butlin's in 1982 Click here to view our section on Butlin's Mosney |
Still there but now in use as an asylum camp (since 2001) | |
Ireland |
Red Island Holiday Camp
Skerries |
Situated on an island | ||
Jersey | Plemont Bay (Pontins) St Quen |
Pre-war camp. Bought by Pontins in 1961 Click here to view a postcard showing Plemont Bay prior to Pontins' acquisition of the site |
Closed 2000 but still standing semi derelict | |
Jersey |
Portelet Bay
Portelet Bay |
First opened 1925. Bought by Pontins in 1994 | Closed 2000 but still standing semi derelict |