Eating ice cream every day, spending all day in the pool and playing hide and seek with family are the top three things’ children in London would do if they were in charge of family holidays, according to new research.
The findings from Sykes Holiday Cottages reveal that over four in five (81%) of kids in the capital want to take control of holiday planning, with their motivations including “getting to do the activities they want” and “feeling like a grown-up”.
Now the staycation specialist is making that happen, launching a nationwide search for two children to be its resident ‘Directors of Fun’. Designed to put children at the heart of holiday planning, the playful job ad specifies entrants must be spontaneous, have a big imagination and bring enthusiasm to every day.
Winners will plan a week of family activities – from scavenger hunts and movie nights to eating plenty of ice cream – then enjoy their itinerary on a free family break this summer at a holiday park available to book with Sykes worth up to £1,500. The winners will also be given £500 of spending money for their getaway.
Beyond the ice cream and pool time, children’s top five activities include riding bikes or scooters everywhere and going on a treasure hunt.
93% of London children said they’d choose to stay at a holiday park, describing them as “fun, exciting and an opportunity to meet other children”. A further quarter (23%) said holiday parks feel like “a home from home,” with swimming pools, adventure playgrounds and arcade games making them ideal.
While one month is the preferred holiday length, 10% said they wished they could be on holiday forever, with three ice creams being the optimal daily amount.
James Shaw, Chief Commercial Officer at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “Holiday parks have become a popular choice for UK breaks, offering families the chance to switch off, reconnect and enjoy shared experiences all in one place. To tap into this, we want to bring children back into the heart of holiday planning, with this competition recognising that kids have clear ideas about what makes a great break – and often, it’s as much about being together as the activities themselves.
“At Sykes, we have some of the best holiday parks in the UK, with each offering enough variety to keep everyone entertained, from swimming pools to adventure playgrounds, plus the freedom for children to meet other kids and explore safely. We’re looking forward to seeing what our two new recruits plan for their week’s away.”
The competition comes as Sykes has grown its holiday park portfolio by over 50% in the past year, now featuring more than 200 sites as it champions the best in the sector.
Aspiring Directors of Fun can apply by submitting a description of their perfect holiday itinerary via the Sykes website, with applications open from now until 30th April 2026. The competition prize will include seven days stay, as well as spending money, at a holiday park available to book with Sykes.
To enter Sykes’ Director of Fun competition, visit: www.sykescottages.co.uk/blog/holiday-parks-uk
Competition T&Cs can be found here, with entries open from now until the 30th April.
Top 10 activities kids from London would do on holiday if they were in charge:
Eat ice cream everyday
Spend all day in the pool
Play hide and seek with my family
Ride bikes or scooters everywhere
Have a giant water fight
Eat dessert before dinner
Stay up late playing board games every night
Go on a treasure hunt
Dress up in fancy dress for dinner
Have a midnight feast