7 Things The Victorians Loved To See Beside The Sea

Seaside resorts are an iconic part of the British coastline and are embedded into British culture. Much of what we know and love about the seaside we owe to the Victorians as they were the ones who first developed the coast's sleepy fishing villages into holiday hot spots. During the 1800s, Britain€™s industrial revolution was in full swing with factories and industry transforming the towns and cities into busy manufacturing centres. Laws entitling workers to time off work and the introduction of the bank holiday in 1871 meant that people began to find it easier to take some leisure time and go on holiday. The industrial revolution also led to the invention of the railways and the introduction of the return passenger ticket which made getting to the seaside easy and relatively cheap.

The seaside was a world away from the smog and overcrowding of Victorian cities, which made them the ideal place to escape to and relax. Doctors promoted the health benefits of the coasts clean air and recommended the drinking of sea water as a cure for gout. People soon saw the business opportunity created by people's desire to be entertained while at the coast and the seaside resort was born. Here we have a collection of 7 things that the Victorians loved about the seaside, their history and some less well known facts about each one.