Britons turn to mini-breaks

The traditional British summer holiday is being overtaken by the minibreak as our busy lives force us to reorganise our leisure time.

A study today reveals that the long hours we put in at the office, combined with home commitments, mean we are changing the way we take our holidays. Instead of a single summer holiday, people are taking several breaks throughout the year.

Work commitments also force many people to take short breaks because they cannot afford to be out of the office for long periods.

"Due to constant demands on leisure time, a holiday is often one of the few times that families get to spend quality time together, as well as being able to catch up with sleep and get away from the pressures of everyday life," said a spokeswoman for Mintel, which carried out the research.

Britons work the longest hours in Europe. One in six men works more than 60 hours a week.