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>

More about our breaks

More about Butlin's

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.

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

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Swift Family Retreat 2018

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90s Reloaded - Skegness 20/06/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

Soul - Bognor Regis 19/09/25 | Butlin's Big Weekenders

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

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

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

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