WHETHER you're attracted by the Yorkshire Dales, the golden sands of Norfolk, city lights or the magnificent splendour of Snowdonia, it's well worth exploring a bit of Great Britain.

And it doesn't matter if you want a lively activity holiday or a complete rest away from it all there is sure to be somewhere in Britain that will meet all your holiday requirements.

A great deal has been said about the future of British seaside holidays, and how resorts must diversify and develop in order to compete with foreign sunspots.

But in the last few years holidaymakers have been taking a much more positive look at the myriad of places to go and the many different sights to see in this country.

Every holidaymaker likes good food at a sensible price and that is what UK hotels can offer that can compete with their overseas counterparts.

It seems that people over the age of 55 are particularly keen on British holidays. And it's easy to see the many benefits, like not having to bother with foreign currency, passports and air tickets, and avoiding possible frustrating delays at airports.

For fine food, spectacular scenery and a warm welcome thousands of annual visitors to the English Lakes think it cannot be bettered abroad.

The English Lakes hotels have responded to meet the changing needs of holiday makers by offering weekend breaks and special short-stay packages, as well as longer action-packed activity holidays.

And you can combine booking your accommodation with arranging your favourite pastime like walking, fishing, horse riding, sailing, water-skiing, diving or golf.

Coach tours are another great way to see the countryside, visit places of historical interest or stop over in fascinating shopping centres for all your holiday souvenirs.

A coach tour can be really relaxing, because everything is arranged and pre-booked, leaving you completely free to enjoy yourself.

But enthusiasm for the sun sometimes encourages people to holiday abroad rather than at home, and these days some families are more familiar with the Leaning Tower of Pisa than the Tower of London, or they have visited Notre Dame but not St Paul's Cathedral.

A couple of days in the capital, though, could soon redress the balance. And the city sights in London are always extremely popular with youngsters.

Britain has so much to offer the holidaymaker, from the sleepy fishing villages on the West Coast of Scotland to the dramatic coastline and quaint harbours of Cornwall.

You may want a large hotel with lots of amenities or you may prefer to opt for the freedom of self-catering.

But of all the many styles of British holiday, self-catering is said to have improved most over the years.

Quite rightly, we as customers have become much more demanding, so it is now difficult to let even a caravan without proper cooking facilities, and some of the basic luxuries we all expect, such as television and refrigerator.

There's also more vetting of holiday properties by agencies, and the English Tourist Board.

Traditional houses in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon or idyllic cottages in the Cotswolds offer the opportunity to experience living like the locals. And holidays giving a glimpse of life down on the farm have also become very popular.

You can even cruise without leaving the British Isles, either up and down Britain's fascinating network of historic waterways on a narrow boat or around the Scottish Isles in a rather larger vessel with perhaps a few more home comforts.

For families on a budget, it is worth remembering that although donkey rides might cost more than when you were young, the seaside is still packed with a huge amount of free entertainment and fun for the children.

Sea, sun, sand, exploring rock pools, evening strolls along the promenade and the chance to relax together away from it all are what holidays are all about.

So try to make sure you don't miss out - it's the best way to get recharged before the winter! And it's all right here in Britain!