UK children are familiar with Florida, but stumped by Brighton and Hove, it was revealed today.

All of the seven to 12-year-olds questioned knew Florida and Paris but more children had heard of Majorca than Brighton.

And only 43 per cent knew the Essex seaside town of Southend in a survey by Oxford Hotels & Inns.

Other English resorts fared poorly as well, with more children having heard of Sydney than Scarborough and Tenerife than Bournemouth.

Even Blackpool, which was best known, was only on a par, recognition-wise, with Majorca and no match for Florida and Paris.

Oxford Hotels managing director Mark Edwards said: "I was pretty shocked to learn how few of these kids recognise our UK holiday destinations."

Gran Canaria was better known than UK locations including Southend, St Ives, Skegness or the Isle of Skye.

Mr Edwards went on: "Of course there has been a trend towards foreign holidays, fuelled by budget deals and the rise of regional airports. But as our climate becomes milder with summers getting hotter and people grow more conscious of flying's environmental impact, it is the perfect time for families to discover Britain."