Post Offices perfectly placed in UK staycation hot spots to offer holiday makers services & more

With the UK experiencing one of the hottest summers for years (with many seeing their warmest and driest June on record[1]), plenty of destinations across the UK are set to be tourist hot spots this summer.

From the hustle and bustle of the Big Smoke, to the more remote rolling fields of the countryside, the one thing holiday makers can be certain of - wherever they are in the UK - is that they’ll never be far from a Post Office, with 11,500 branches to visit across the country. And many have much more to offer than meets the eye – from every day banking services, including cash withdrawals, for those holiday souvenirs, to some renowned specialities and unexpected offerings!

Here’s a rundown of the top ten staycation hotspots[2] – and some of the hidden gem Post Offices to discover there:

• 1.Cornwall: Cornwall is famous for cream teas, so where more perfect to visit than St Mawgans village tea room and Post Office? There are homemade scones, fresh jam and cream on offer, and while you’re relaxing in the picturesque gardens, why not write a post card and send back to family and friends back home? They’ll wish they were there!
• 2.Scotland: Visiting the Highlands and islands of Scotland? Try visiting Cairngorms National Park, where there’s a Post Office with some royal connections. The branch based in the Craithie visitor centre is just a stone’s throw away from the Royal Family’s Balmoral Estate – so why not pick up some handy guides and perhaps pocket a few stamps with the ‘Queen’s head’ design to commemorate your visit? Travelling further afield? Isle Ornsay Post Office is in an idyllic location on the Isle of Skye - with rolling fields as a backdrop, this branch isn’t to be missed, with a wonderful café offering tasty treats.

• 3.London: Almost a third (31 per cent) of those questioned by Post Office Travel Insurance in 2016 said they were planning a city break in the UK and London is clearly the most popular choice. London also boasts five of the 10 most visited cultural landmarks in Europe. The Tower of London and Big Ben headed a list of the 20 most visited heritage attractions by respondents, along with Buckingham Palace (5th), the Houses of Parliament (6th) and St Paul’s Cathedral (10th). Amongst all of these famous landmarks are an array of our branches, including Mayfair where you may want to pop in and check your bank balance is healthy before hitting the exclusive shops.

• 4.Yorkshire: If you happen to be staying in or around Yorkshire, you may find yourself wandering the Moors in search of a cash point before heading to the local pub to sample the local delicacies. Why not let the Post Office come to you? We have a number of mobile post offices that visit rural and remote locations – our Scarborough mobile van is driven by the friendly Gill Mitchell, who will be able to give you some great tips about places to visit.

• 5.Devon: Ashburton Post Office includes a local library inside, so for those bookworms who love a good read on holiday, why not check out a book to take with you on those afternoon picnics - and you can even pay that bill you may have forgotten about in all the chaos of packing for your holiday!

• 6.Wales: Caldey Island Post office can only by accessed by passenger boat – but it is well worth the trip. Located in a 12^th century monastery, and including a museum, this branch offers the chance to explore some history in a beautiful tranquil location. The present name of Caldey is of Norse origin, meaning either ‘Island of the Spring’ (kelda/ey), implying that Viking sailors may have used the island as a source of fresh water, or - as held by some scholars - the less appealing ‘Cold Island’ (kaldr/ey) – although in this sunny weather, that’s hard to imagine! The branch is also close to the popular Tenby beach in Wales, so you can enjoy a paddle afterwards if you’re feeling brave.

• 7.Lake District: After a souvenir of the Lake District pounds? Just off Lake Windermere is Bowness-on-Windermere Post Office which is one of 14 exchange points across the Lake District.

• 8.Dorset: Dorset is home to wonderful golden beaches, Jurassic coastline and the beautiful Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. Boscombe East Post Office is not far from these attractions, with fresh sandwiches and slushies to keep the kids hydrated and cool. In addition, nearby Hengistbury Post Office sells buckets, spades and inflatables (including blow-up lobsters and stringrays!) - all the supplies needed for a family day at the beach.

• 9.Norfolk: Bergh Apton Post Office, aside from providing Post Office services, also has a beautiful garden centre and restaurant, serving fresh home grown produce. If you need a souvenir to take home to the kids after a romantic break away in the countryside, Sheringham Post Office and toy shop is full of cuddly goodies to keep them entertained.

• 10. Blackpool: Looking for a stick of rock or a colourful Blackpool tower memento? North shore Post Office is just off the pier in Blackpool and open until 10pm even on a Sunday. Need to top up your mobile phone too to text some pictures of the family braving the rollercoasters at Blackpool Pleasure Beach? Then you can do that in the branch too.

Other Post Offices worth a visit include Larkhill in Wilthsire, which is based in a cattery, so you drop off your furry friend for a holiday of their own before embarking on yours. Even more convenient might be Harlaston Post Office in Tamworth, Staffordshire, which is based inside a bed and breakfast – you won’t even have to get out of your dressing gown to top up on stamps or send a parcel home. And Bamford Post Office in Lancashire could be the perfect place for enjoying a pint, a coffee or getting some cash out – The Anglers Rest includes a pub, café and Post Office all in one place.

Of course, many will still be travelling further afield this summer – and if travel money has fallen off your to do list, don’t panic! Post Offices are on hand at airports across the country, including Heathrow Terminal 3, Manchester Terminal 1 and Birmingham Airport, for any last minute holiday spending money needs. Or you could pick up a multi-currency Travel Money Card and top it up with a choice of 13 currencies, ready for hitting the restaurants and shops abroad.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• The 2016 Post Office Travel Insurance Domestic Holidays Report[3] found that almost four-in-five (79 per cent) of people who were planning a holiday would be staying in the UK, with some of the top staycation hot spots including Cornwall, Scotland, Wales and London.

Top 10 UK holiday hot spots:

20 Most Popular Landmark Attractions:

With more than 11,500 branches, the Post Office network is the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.

97% of Post Office branches are run with retail partners on an agency or franchise basis.

• The Post Office provides services central to peoples’ everyday lives; 99.7% of the population lives within 3 miles of a Post Office.
• We offer the UK’s largest fee free cash withdrawal network through our 11,500 branches and an additional 2,500 cash machines and 99 per cent of UK bank customers can access their accounts at the Post Office.
• We sell 170 different products and services spanning financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards; Government services; telephony; foreign currency; travel insurance and mail services.
• Post Offices branches remain highly valued and trusted, and are the focal point of many communities. For more information; visit www.postoffice.co.uk and to find out about a Post Office business opportunities; visit www.runapostoffice.co.uk

Issued by:

Post Office Press Office

1^ST Floor Finsbury Dials

20 Finsbury Street

LONDON, EC2Y 9AQ

Tel: 020 7012 3456 (24 hours),

Email: pressoffice@postoffice.co.uk

www.postoffice.co.uk

@Postofficenews

[1]The Met Office - https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/2018/june-end-of-month-stats

[2] Populus research for Post Office Travel Insurance (20-22 May 2016) among 2,072 UK adults aged 18 and over. Of these, 1642 were planning to take a holiday in 2016 and 79 per cent (1,296 people) said they would take that holiday in the UK.

[3] Populus research for Post Office Travel Insurance (20-22 May 2016) among 2,072 UK adults aged 18 and over. Of these, 1642 were planning to take a holiday in 2016 and 79 per cent (1,296 people) said they would take that holiday in the UK.