OUR TIMELINE<|}p>

Skegness opened on 11 April 1936 and within a year had doubled in size. It was officially opened by Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. Two years later Billy Butlin chose Clacton-on-Sea for his second camp.<|}p>

1930S

To help with the war efforts, Billy&rsquo;s existing camps were given over to the government. Clacton became an army camp and Skegness became HMS Royal Arthur. Billy was asked to finish his new resort at Filey so it could be used by the military, along with Ayr and Pwllheli, both of which he bought back at the end of the war.<|}p>

1940S

Indoor heated pools designed to be used &lsquo;whatever the weather&rsquo; opened at Ayr, Clacton, Pwllheli and Skegness. And after holidaying in the Caribbean, Billy sees a gap in the market and opens Butlin&#39;s Bahamas.<|}p>

1950S

Scanning back over 80 years, take a look at how our history unfolds and explore how Billy Butlin started his career as a travelling showman, progressed into holiday camps and grew his business into the iconic brand that it is today.<|}p>

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Our brand-new &pound;15M indoor activity centre, Butlin&rsquo;s PLAYXPERIENCE opened on the 7 October in Bognor Regis, and is the first of its kind situated on any holiday resort in the UK.<|}p>

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The state-of-the-art attraction covers a whopping 50,000sqft across two floors, and is equipped with nine exciting activities* on offer, including: TechPutt, Escape Rooms, VR-cade, Glow Pong, Shuffleboard, Laser Tag, Batting Cage, Neo Games and Digi Darts, alongside a caf&eacute; and bar.<|}p>

PLAYXPERIENCE - OCTOBER 2024 - BOGNOR REGIS

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A further three resorts opened, at Bognor Regis (1960), Minehead (1962) and Barry Island (1966). The 1960s also saw the famous monorails brought to Skegness and Minehead, and other new innovations being opened on the camps including chairlifts, a pool with underwater viewing windows and revolving bars.

1960S

As people fell in love with holidaying abroad, the specialness of the British seaside became lost and the idea of ‘holiday camps’ faded. The Butlin family sold the business to the Rank Organisation.

1970S

A very sad start to the year for Butlin's as Billy passes away. His funeral procession was lined with Redcoats. In 1986, new Water Worlds are built at the remaining resorts and in 1989 our Redcoats receive a new uniform designed by Zandra Rhodes.

1980S

Redcoats play a very important part in our history and continue to do so on every break at our resorts today.

REDCOATS

It started in 1938 and to this day our fundraising efforts continue to support the brilliant GOSH Children's Charity.

GREAT ORMOND STREET

Located next to some of Britain's loveliest beaches, discover our three seaside resorts and what makes them special.

OUR RESORTS TODAY

The new owners tried to reverse the downturn by building new accommodation and entertainment venues but sadly Mosney, Filey, Clacton and Barry Island all had to be sold, and Ayr and Pwllheli were transferred to Haven. 1999 saw the magnificent and renowned Skyline Pavilions built across all three resorts to cater for the unpredictable great British weather.

1990S

The new millennium saw Butlin's bought by Bourne Leisure Holdings. In 2003, our beloved Billy Bear character made his debut, and a year later The Spa in Skegness opened. 2005 saw the very exciting completion of our first on-resort hotel, The Shoreline at Bognor Regis, and after its success our second hotel the Ocean Hotel, was built in 2009.

2000S

Bognor Regis welcomed its third hotel, The Wave Hotel in 2012, and a new swimming complex was built at Skegness in 2013. In 2015 the gorgeous take on our iconic chalets, the West Lakes chalet village in Minehead was built, as well as our new Seaside Apartments in Skegness.

2010S

In 2019, we opened an Art Deco-inspired swimming pool at our Bognor Regis resort. With capacity for nearly 1,000 guests, this &pound;40M investment features 478 metres-worth of slides.<|}p>

Splash Waterworld Pool – 2019 – Bognor Regis

To ensure our guests could enjoy more shows than ever before in a Covid-safe way, we built huge, all-weather entertainment venues called Studio 36 at each resort.<|}p>

Studio 36 – 2021 – All resorts

April 2023 saw the launch of SKYPARK, the UK&rsquo;s most exciting playground, in Skegness. The &pound;2.5M investment includes sensory elements and wheelchair-accessible equipment. Our second SKYPARK opened in July 2024 in Minehead.<|}p>

SKYPARK - SKEGNESS (2023) & MINEHEAD (2024)

Find out more about our history and how it's unfolded for over the last 80+ years, with founder Billy Butlin at the head of it.

Our Timeline | About Us | Butlin's

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If you or a member of your party have disability requirements that are a necessity for you to be able to take a break and enjoy a happy holiday at Butlin&#39;s, please give us a call on&nbsp;<a href="tel:0330 100 9732">0330 100 9732</a>&nbsp;and one of advisers can listen to your individual needs and help you plan your holiday.

DISABILITY REQUIREMENTS

We have a wide range of options available for accessible accommodation today. If you&#39;re interested in discussing these please give us a call on&nbsp;<a href="tel:0330 100 9732">0330 100 9732</a>&nbsp;and one of advisers can listen to your individual needs and help you plan your holiday.

ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATION

We have a wide range of options available for accessible accommodation today. If you&#39;re interested in discussing these please give us a call on&nbsp;<a href="tel:0330 100 9732">0330 100 9732</a>&nbsp;and one of advisers can listen to your individual needs and help you plan your holiday.

Layout Prototypes

MF Robots | Big Weekenders Headline Artists

Back to the 2000s Y2K Scares Bognor Regis 03/10/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

The Spa | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Opening Party | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Bingo Bango | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Silent Disco | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Soul Stroll | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Closing Party | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay Time Warp Terror - Bognor Regis 10/10/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

90s Reloaded Fright Nights - Minehead 31/10/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Our Weekends  - Back to the 2000s Y2K Scares | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Caravan Ownership Benefits

New Premium Lodges at Skegness | Butlin's Conferences & Events

New Premium Lodges at Skegness | Discover Butlin's | Butlin's

New Premium Lodges at Skegness | Accommodation | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Singalong Quiz | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Delta Saffron 2020

Kids Can Visit Butlins for £1

Skegness Caravan Owners T's & C's

Birthday Parties and Nights Out at Bognor Regis

Willerby Linwood 2023

Delta Warmth 2014

Atlas Mirage 2021

Willerby Seasons 2022

Atlas Moonstone 2015

ABI New Horizon 2018

 Back to the 2000s Y2K Scares - Skegness 31/10/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

 Back to the 2000s Y2K Scares - Minehead 03/10/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s Thriller - Minehead 17/10/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Bootleg Ball - Minehead 10/10/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Soul - Bognor Regis 14/11/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Bootleg Ball - Skegness 30/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Bootleg Ball - Minehead 17/01/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Bootleg Ball - Minehead 16/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s - Minehead 30/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

We Love Ibiza - Minehead 26/09/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

90s Reloaded - Minehead 23/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

90s Reloaded - Minehead 20/03/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

We Love Ibiza - Skegness 20/03/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s - Skegness 21/11/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s - Skegness 23/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s - Skegness 25/04/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

2025 Showtime Term-Time Midweek Breaks | Butlin's

90s Reloaded - Bognor Regis 05/09/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

90s Reloaded - Minehead 19/09/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

90s Reloaded - Bognor Regis 20/03/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

90s Reloaded - Skegness 06/02/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Back To The 2000s - Skegness 06/06/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Back To The 2000s - Skegness 13/03/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Back To The 2000s - Skegness 09/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Back To The 2000s - Skegness 26/09/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Back To The 2000s - Minehead 06/02/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Back To The 2000s - Bognor Regis 21/11/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s - Bognor Regis 26/09/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s - Bognor Regis 27/02/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Ultimate 80s - Bognor Regis 16/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Bognor Regis 07/02/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Skegness 13/09/24 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Bognor Regis 27/06/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Skegness 28/02/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Skegness 26/06/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Skegness 27/02/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Minehead 10/01/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Replay - Bognor Regis 06/02/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

We Love Ibiza - Bognor Regis 09/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Back To The 2000s - Bognor Regis 27/03/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

PDC Darts Players Championship Finals - Minehead 21/11/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

We Love The 70s - Minehead 13/03/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Festival Of The 60s - Skegness 03/01/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

We Love The 70s - Bognor Regis 12/09/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Festival Of The 60s - Skegness 02/01/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

We Love The 70s - Skegness 06/03/26 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Festival Of The 60s - Minehead 03/01/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

We Love Ibiza - Bognor Regis 10/01/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Daytime Activities & Entertainment | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Holiday Protection | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Holiday Protection | Contact Us | Butlin's

Weekenders £99pp & Under | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Find December Breaks in the UK | Butlin's

Littlemagictrain™ | Butlin's

Jukebox Musicals | Butlin's

Atomic Kitten | Big Weekenders Headline Artists

Your Experience - Food And Drink | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Jay & Joss | Butlin's

Five | Big Weekenders Headline Artists

ABBA - Butlin's Production Show | Butlin's

Animals Vs Dinosaurs | Butlin's

Kimberly Wyatt | Big Weekenders Headline Artists

Arts & Crafts 5-8 Years | Butlin's

Food And Drink At Bognor Regis | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Butlin's Hosts the Best of Saturday Night TV in 2025

PDC Darts Players Championship Finals - Minehead 20/11/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

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ABOUT US

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1930S

1940S

1950S

1960S

1970S

1980S

1990S

2000S

2010S

SPLASH WATERWORLD POOL – 2019 – BOGNOR REGIS

STUDIO 36 – 2021 – ALL RESORTS

SKYPARK - SKEGNESS (2023) & MINEHEAD (2024)

PLAYXPERIENCE - OCTOBER 2024 - BOGNOR REGIS

More about Butlin's

REDCOATS

GREAT ORMOND STREET

OUR RESORTS TODAY

ABOUT US

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ABOUT US

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