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British families started going on holiday to the seaside around the middle of the 19^th century. The __ (invent) of the railways made this possible. The first holiday makers      (be) quite rich and went for their health and education. The seaside was a place to cure people of illness. And doctors recommended bathing in the sea and drinking sea water. At that time ordinary working people had very little time off work.       , in 1871 the government introduced four “Bank Holidays”, that is national holidays. This allowed people      (have) a day or two out now and then,      gave them a taste for leisure and seaside. At first, they went on a day trip, taking advantage     special trip tickets on the railways. By the 1880s,       (rise) incomes meant that many ordinary workers and their families could have holiday at the seaside. Welfare was reduced and cheap hotels  (build) for them. Holiday makers enjoy    (sit) on the beach, bathing in the sea and eating ice cream. Cheap entertainment was on offer and holiday makers went to have fun. Today    English seaside remains popular with more than 18 million holidays taken there each year.