Wish you were here
The picture postcard has been a tradition as British as fish and chips ever since Royal Mail gave them their seal of approval in 1894. As the British staycation is officially here to stay, so too, the public predicts, is the classic postcard.
Despite millions being sent on a yearly basis, our research sees the postcard voted the most likely item or pastime to see a revival in popularity in years to come, alongside the likes of fountain pens, calligraphy and love letters.
6 in 10 people would like to see more postcards being sent and received, and 7 in 10 Brits would prefer to receive a postcard from a holidaying friend or family member over a social media message.
When asked why this is the case, respondents overwhelmingly said that it makes them feel special and cited their sentimental appeal.
The best modern beauty spots in Great Britain to send a postcard from include the beautiful St. Ives and Lake Windermere, alongside many recently modernised seaside towns and holiday destinations such as Whitstable and Margate:
Top 20 modern great British perfect postcard hotspots:
- St. Ives, Cornwall
- Lake Windermere, Cumbria
- Jurassic Coast, South Coast
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Isles of Scilly
- Margate, Kent
- The Needles, Isle of Wight
- Mousehole, Cornwall
- Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye
- Tenby, Wales
- Whitstable, Kent
- Portree, Isle of Skye
- Clovelly, Devon
- Weymouth, Dorset
- Ventnor, Isle of Wight
- Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Coniston Water, Cumbria
- Llandudno, Wales
- Bath, Somerset
Some other fascinating facts unearthed by our research include:
- Attributes of the perfect modern picture postcard include: A picture that’s difficult or impossible to capture on a smart phone; a thoughtful, informative message from the sender; and a card that looks good on the receiver’s fridge or mantelpiece
- More than half (54%) of respondents also said that sending, receiving and displaying postcards in their home was one of the things that reminded them most of summer
- Over half of people who send postcards do so on an occasion other than their summer holiday, including mini breaks (32%), as thank you notes (12%), at Christmas (12%), and when they move house (10%)
- Over 60% of people keep the postcards they receive on display, and the same amount claim to have kept at least one of the postcards they’ve received forever
- Respondents from Worcester (71%), Southampton (69%), Sheffield (65%), York (64%) and Oxford (63%) would most like to see the postcard make a revival.
In celebration of the past, present and future of the British picture postcard, we have partnered with book and manuscripts expert Clive Farahar, who often features on the Antiques Roadshow, to compile a guide to this most treasured tradition, which can be viewed here www.royalmail.com/postcards.
Clive Farahar commented: ‘It is satisfying to see that the picture postcard still plays such an important role in the modern holiday, and these curiously British keepsakes provide people with the perfect opportunity to create their own personal piece of history in a fun and thoughtful way.
‘They are also a fantastic collector’s item - the vast majority still cost very little second hand and have an undeniable universal appeal; be it a rare view of the seafront before a Pier burnt down, a city centre before large-scale traffic or a heart-wrenching silk postcard from the trenches of the First World War to their sweetheart at home.’
Head of campaigns Mark Street, said: ‘Whilst hot dog legs and seafront selfies are a fantastic way to showcase your holiday to friends, nothing shows someone that you truly wish they were there than a postcard with a thoughtful, funny and informative message. Think of it this way – you’ll never be able to keep a social media post in the attic.’
