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New photos show Butlin’s Minehead in the 1960s – including a visit from Princess Margaret

BUTLIN'S has been a long-time favourite for British holidaymakers, with the resorts dating back to the 1930s.

And new images have revealed their heyday at the Minehead resort back in the 1960s, which include a visit from Princess Margaret.

New images of Butlin's Minehead have revealed its heydey when it opened in 1962
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New images of Butlin's Minehead have revealed its heydey when it opened in 1962Credit: Somerset Live / BPM Media

The resort is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, having opened in June 1962.

The images, revealed by , show owner Billy Butlin paying a visit to the parks he had created, of which there were already seven in the UK.

The new £2million resort included indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as a fairground, amusement arcade and boating lake.

This was alongside restaurants, bars and shops, as well as a laundrette and hairdressing salon.

Daily entertainment was provided by the iconic redcoat attendants.

In 1964, a miniature railway was added, followed by a monorail in 1967 - which was visited by Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon.

Here are some of the best pictures showing the park soon after it opened.

Princess Margaret visiting the park with her husband Lord Snowdon in 1967
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Princess Margaret visiting the park with her husband Lord Snowdon in 1967Credit: Somerset Live / BPM Media
The princess visited the park to go on the new monorail
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The princess visited the park to go on the new monorailCredit: Somerset Live / BPM Media
Guests enjoyed the resort's new swimming pools
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Guests enjoyed the resort's new swimming poolsCredit: Somerset Live / BPM Media
Billy Butlin visited his £2m new resort in 1962
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Billy Butlin visited his £2m new resort in 1962Credit: Somerset Live / BPM Media
The Minehead resort was a big hit with all ages
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The Minehead resort was a big hit with all agesCredit: Somerset Live / BPM Media
Ken Strange winning the amateur diving competition at Butlin's Minehead
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Ken Strange winning the amateur diving competition at Butlin's MineheadCredit: Somerset Live / BPM Media
Billy Butlin chatting with some of the kids
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Billy Butlin chatting with some of the kidsCredit: Somerset Live / BPM Media
The park is celebrating it's 60th anniversary
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The park is celebrating it's 60th anniversaryCredit: Somerset Live / BPM Media

Other pictures show young couples, families and older tourists visiting the park.

Butlin's opened its first park in 1936 at Skegness, which remains open today. Eight more resorts followed, including one in the Bahamas.

However, many have closed over the years and been taken over by other brands such as Haven, with just three remaining - Skegness, Minehead and Bognor Regis.

Butlin's is looking for one family of 'Funbassadors' and it will even pay you to visit the resorts.

The family will bag three all-expenses-paid holidays to Butlin's resorts across the country, as well as get paid £1,000.

For those of you who aren't lucky enough to be chosen, holidays are still available for just £69.

That means a family of four can bag a staycation for as little as £17.25pp.

Here is what you can expect from a holiday to Butlin's.

Inside Stacey Solomon's Butlins holiday with Joe Swash and sons
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