The ’50s British Beach Life Through Fascinating Photos

The great British seaside holiday came into its heyday in the postwar years, the 1950s and 1960s. In this period, it was unusual for families to holiday abroad, most stayed in the UK. Those lucky enough to have relatives living by the coast might holiday with them, some would rent a flat or house, some would stay in a guest house or hotel.

On the beach, whatever the weather, you would find families sheltering behind windbreaks. Whilst the adults would relax in deckchairs, rented for the day or half day, the children would play ball, dig sandcastles, go rock pooling and paddle in the sea. Some families rented beach huts by the day or week; these were great places to shelter from the rain and for changing into and out of swimming costumes.

The bikini was invented in 1946 and by the 1950s was very popular with women. Men wore boxer-style swimming shorts, whilst children often wore hand-knitted swimming costumes and trunks.

These fascinating vintage photos were found by vintage ladies that show what the beach life of the U.K. looked like in the 1950s.