Growth of the Railway

Stagecoaches took people between major towns.

Improvements in road-building made travel more comfortable and much quicker.

In the 18th Century, the rich loved to visit seaside towns. They thought "taking to the waters" had healing powers. These towns then boasted coffee houses, shops and lodging houses.

Later on the century, bathing in the sea was thought to have medical benefits. As a result, resorts such as Brighton and Eastbourne flourished.

The railway flourished in the 1840s, and it made travel faster and more accesible.

This meant more could travel to the seaside for holidays and day trips.

It also lead to a rapid growth of towns.

London to Edinburgh in 1836 by Coach: 43 hours

London to Edinburgh in 1850 by Train: 12 hours

Census in 1911...

55% visiting seaside resorts on day trips

20% taking longer holidays recquiring accommodation

The holiday industry involved 1.25% of the working population