Holidays in the UK

Brits love the great outdoors

Sykes Cottages statistics show that Britain's countryside is its most important natural asset for holidaymakers, ranking as the single favourite type of holiday for 53% of customers. The traditional seaside break remains strong too, with 31% ranking beach holidays as their favourite – in fact, beach holidays were number one among people who had not yet booked a break, perhaps indicating that these holidays tend to be more spontaneous.

Cycling and spas popular with all ages

Broken down by age group, the results show that 30 to 49-year-olds are the most likely to want holidays with activities for the kids, the younger generation of adults is the most likely to appreciate nightlife, while those aged 50+ prefer the more relaxed pursuits of golf and fishing. Meanwhile, cycling and spa breaks have reasonably strong appeal across all but the youngest age groups.

Most popular activity by Age Group on a UK Break

Most book multiple UK breaks

Sykes Cottages data also reveals that the majority of holidaymakers book more than one UK break per year: 34% book two, 22% book three and 20% book four or more. This opens up clear opportunities for holiday home owners to secure repeat business from satisfied customers – particularly if they can tailor their service to the needs and preferences of a target age group.

Everyone expects accommodation that is as good, if not better than their own homes while still retaining excellent value for money.

Clive Sykes, Chairman

Yorkshire is top of the counties

When it comes to the most popular counties for staycations, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Cornwall, Devon and Northumberland make up the list of most-visited. This lines up with the most popular types of holidays, as all of these counties are known for their spectacular national parks or their superb beaches.

To summarise…

Taken together, these statistics suggest that relaxation in beautiful natural surroundings is high on the priority list for the majority of consumers: something Britain's selection of holiday homes is well-equipped to offer. By paying attention to who's staying where and how they spend their time, cottage owners can tailor their offering and reap the rewards of satisfied customers who return year after year.