Whether intending to travel far afield or stay closer to home, now is the time of year many think of packing their bags and escaping it all.
Our images below show the charm of traditional British seaside resorts, alongside some historical sights. One photograph shows Edwardian bathers tentatively venturing into the ocean, while Caernarfon Castle in Wales is depicted in an amusing illustration by Nathaniel N Thomas.
The National Archives holds a large range of travel posters promoting destinations from across the UK, several of which are shown below. Cartoons by artists such as Tom Browne show the chaos that can ensue along the way.
Exotic destinations such as Hawaii and the pyramids of Eygpt also sit side by side with a leaflet for Croydon Airways, which boasts a daily service to European cities.
View more seaside images.
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Empire Marketing Board, 1927-1933 poster 'Gibraltar', by artist Charles Pears
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/co956-688-empire-marketing-board-1927-1933-poster-gibraltar-artist-charles-pears.jpgCatalogue reference: CO 956/688
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Ventnor, Isle of Wight, 1889
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-396-(54)-ventnor-isle-of-wight-1889.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/396 (54)
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Magical Margate, 1907
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-259pt1-(33)-magical-margate-1907.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/259 pt1 (33)
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'Advance', Charles Hay Austin, 1902
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-458-advance-charles-hay-austin-1902.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/458
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Welsh lady and tourist with Caernarfon Castle behind, Nathaniel N Thomas, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-209-(320)-welsh-lady-and-tourist-with-carnarven-castle-behind-nathaniel-n-thomas-1903.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/209 (320)
-welsh-lady-and-tourist-with-carnarven-castle-behind-nathaniel-n-thomas-1903.jpg)
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'When mother travels', Tom Browne, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-209-(362e)-when-mother-travels-tom-browne-1903.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/209 (362e)
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North of Scotland Railway, Cruden Bay, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-204-(449)-north-of-scotland-railway-cruden-bay-1903.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/204 (449)
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Winsome Winnie, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-205-(22)-winsome-winnie-1903.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/205 (22)
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'Come and see London airport, Northolt airport'
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/inf13-233-(3)-come-and-see-london-airport-northolt-airport.jpgCatalogue reference: INF 13/233 (3)
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'Crilly' Airways, Croydon, April 1936
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/rail243-249-(1)-crilly-airways-croydon-april-1936.jpgCatalogue reference: RAIL 243/249 (1)
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Sphinx and pyramids, Cairo photograph, W Meakin, 1907
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/copy1-514-(54)-sphinx-and-pyramids-cairo-photograph-w-meakin-1907.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/514 (54)
-sphinx-and-pyramids-cairo-photograph-w-meakin-1907.jpg)
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Drawing of Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/holidays-and-travel/mfq1-566-drawing-of-kealakekua-bay-hawaii.jpgCatalogue reference: MFQ 1/566
This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.
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-when-mother-travels-tom-browne-1903.jpg)
-north-of-scotland-railway-cruden-bay-1903.jpg)
-winsome-winnie-1903.jpg)
-come-and-see-london-airport-northolt-airport.jpg)
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