More Brits taking UK holidays

The Caravan Club says advance bookings are 40% up on last year

With the recession kicking in, more people are choosing to stay at home for their summer holiday.

Figures show a fifth of those who went abroad in 2008 are choosing the UK instead this year.

The McBrides have chosen to stay at West Ayton Caravan Park in Scarborough.

Mum Susan says it's a much more affordable way to holiday: "It's a lot cheaper - you don't have your airport fees and insurance. You do save an awful lot of money."

The McBrides bought their caravan a few years ago. Step inside and the lounge is on your left, there's a small kitchen in the front and to the right is a bedroom with a small loo and shower room.

Mum and Dad sleep inside. Their two girls have a tent at the side.

Dad Steve says: "The kids sleep out in the annex in the awning. They love it."

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Bookings up

Caravan and camping holidays are growing fast in popularity.

The Caravan Club says this year's advance bookings are 40% higher than last summer. But at West Ayton Caravan Park things are even better.

Terry Bulman's the warden. He said: "The caravan bookings here have been up 80% in June and I can see it carrying on that way throughout the season."

Compared to staying in a hotel or apartment abroad, caravanning does work out fairly cheap.

The average cost of a pitch is around £22 a night in peak season and that includes gas, water and electricity.

But it's not just holidays where our habits are changing. A survey by BBC 5Live says 80% of young people are trying to spend less and 65% are actively saving money.

It means more people are choosing to shop in budget supermarkets to save cash.

On top of that people are ditching expensive nights out for evenings in front of the TV, which works out well for companies like Sky, which reported 80,000 new customers in the first quarter of the year.

But while holidays in the UK might end up saving you money, they don't come with a good weather guarantee and there are some downsides to caravans.

Ten-year-old Amy McBean told Newsbeat: "Sleeping is the best bit. Hitting my head off the cupboards is the worst."