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Sykes Holiday Cottages 2025 Staycation Index

by Steph Boal / News

The wait is over! Sykes Holiday Cottages is back with its much-anticipated Staycation Index for 2025, your exclusive window into the UK staycation scene.

Our report provides a comprehensive overview of the current staycation landscape, the most popular UK destinations for 2025 and the latest travel trends, as well as who is booking UK holidays and why they are booking them.

Read on or download our report to reveal it all…

Download The Full Report Here

What’s in the report?

Sykes Staycation Index Download Link

Welcome to the Sykes Staycation Index for 2025

"We’re expecting another strong year for UK holidays, with nearly two-thirds of Brits planning a staycation in 2025 and over a third enjoying a holiday here as their main break.

This continued demand is a clear sign that the appeal of holidaying closer to home is here to stay. With travellers taking more frequent breaks and spending more – an average of £1,292 on their main UK getaway – the staycation sector continues to provide a valuable boost to local economies and communities right across the country.

Now in its seventh year, the Sykes Staycation Index shines a light on the evolving habits and motivations shaping domestic travel – from an apparent Gen Z UK travel boom to a rise in solo staycations and a focus on food while away.

Brits are seeking more meaningful escapes and fresh adventures, all without needing a passport."
James Shaw Headshot
James Shaw
Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director Agency Division

Staycations at a Glance

Umbrella on a beach icon

63% of Brits will take a UK Break this year

34% of them are planning to make it their main holiday in 2025

There is a shift to later planning

Average lead times between booking and travel have decreased by 8% YoY (105 days in 2025 vs 114 in 2024)

Solo staycationing is on the rise

In 2024, solo break bookings grew by 28%

Holiday spending is on the rise

Brits are expected to spend £1,292 on their main UK break in 2025, this is up from £1,070 in 2024

AI Sparkle Icon

AI holiday searches are on the rise

Between March and May 2025, ChatGPT accounted for 7% of all referral traffic to the Sykes website

Where are Brits Going on Holiday?

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where the most popular destinations in the UK are, then this section has you covered!

Based on 2025 bookings, we’ve pulled together a list of the 10 most popular regions, as well as the 10 most popular locations.

The 10 Most Popular Regions in 2025 so far:

  1. Cumbria
  2. Cornwall
  3. North Yorkshire
  4. Devon
  5. Gwynedd
  6. Northumberland
  7. Dorset
  8. Anglesey
  9. Derbyshire
  10. Conwy
Map Inforgraphic Showing the 10 most popular regions in the UK

The 10 Most Popular Locations in 2025 so far:

  1. Whitby, North Yorkshire
  2. Windermere, Lake District
  3. Ambleside, Lake District
  4. Keswick, Lake District
  5. Lyme Regis, Dorset
  6. Weymouth, Dorset
  7. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
  8. Bowness, Lake District
  9. Dartmouth, Devon
  10. Llandudno, Conwy

Trending Destinations

We’ve also had our eye on some of the most popular, up-and-coming locations in the UK!

Looking at our booking data, we’ve identified the locations with the biggest year-on-year booking growth. So if you’re looking for the destinations to watch, you’ve come to the right place.

Brixham in Devon
No. 1 Brixham, Devon
No. 2 Teignmouth, Devon
No. 2 Teignmouth, Devon
No. 3 Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
No. 3 Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
Ariel view of the beach in Paignton, Devon
No. 4 Newborough, Anglesey
No 5. Paignton, Devon
No 5. Paignton, Devon
No. 6 Porthmadog, Gwynedd
No. 6 Porthmadog, Gwynedd
View across Warkworth Castle
No. 7 Warkworth, Northumberland
No. 8 Bideford, Devon
No. 8 Bideford, Devon
No. 9 Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
No. 9 Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
No. 10 Morecambe, Lancashire
No. 10 Morecambe, Lancashire

What is driving Domestic Travel?

We’ve looked at the main drivers influencing holiday decisions, and the reasons why people are looking closer to home for a getaway.

We found that pet-friendly, hot tubs, sea view, swimming pool and proximity to a beach, were the most searched for property features on our website. We also found the following:

The top three reasons for choosing a staycation over a foreign trip:

  1. Holidays closer to home are easier – 43%
  2. It’s less stressful – 35%
  3. It’s cheaper – 35%

The top three activities Brits most want to do on staycation:

  1. Go on countryside walks
  2. Go on coastal walks
  3. Explore local attractions

The five most popular types of UK break:

  1. City break – 49%
  2. Lakes and mountains – 41%
  3. Beachfront holiday home – 40%
  4. Cottage-style holiday home – 40%
  5. Countryside B&B – 32%

Travel Trends in 2025

1. The Rise of ‘Tastecations’

We’re a nation of food lovers and we’ve uncovered that our palates are increasingly driving our travel decisions. A third of Brits say they’ve holidayed in a particular location to either try a local delicacy or visit a certain restaurant.

We’ve analysed the numbers of restaurants in the UK through the Office of National Statistics, TripAdvisor data around the quality and concentration of eateries, as well as our own consumer research. Using this information, we’ve pulled together a list of the best foodie towns in the UK.

The Best Foodie Towns in the UK

  1. St Ives, Cornwall
  2. Padstow, Cornwall
  3. Falmouth, Cornwall
  4. Brixham, Devon
  5. Blackpool, Lancashire
  6. Bournemouth, Dorset
  7. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
  8. Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
  9. Lyme Regis, Dorset
  10. Weymouth, Dorset

2. Micro-tripping

Our deep dive into our booking data found that almost half (48%) of all 2025 bookings to date have been short breaks, (6 days or less), up from 41% in 2023.

This is a trend we’ve been noticing for the past couple of years, so we put together a list of the best short breaks in the UK, based on consumer research.

The Top 5 Reasons why Brits Prefer More Frequent, Shorter Breaks

  1. To experience more locations
  2. Easier to fit into busy schedules
  3. To enjoy more regular escapism
  4. Less need for extensive planning
  5. More cost-effective

3. Solo Staycationing

We’ve also seen an increase in Brits travelling alone. In 2024, solo break bookings increased by 28%. 

1 in 3 Brits (29%) also said that they are more likely to take a solo break now than five years ago.

The Top 3 Locations for Solo Staycations in 2025

  1. Whitby
  2. Keswick
  3. Ambleside

4. ‘Culturalcations’: Exploring the UK’s History and Heritage

It turns out that us Brits want to learn more about the history of UK, as more than a quarter (26%) have booked a UK trip specifically to visit a historic site or cultural attraction.

1 in 4 Brits also say that when it comes to culture, they most looked forward to exploring historical sites, while nearly 1 in 5 are most excited about visiting museums or galleries (19%).

The Top 10 Cultural or Historic Sites Brits Most Want to Visit in 2025

  1. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
  2. The Jurassic Coast, Dorset and East Devon
  3. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
  4. The Roman Baths, Bath
  5. The Tower of London, London
  6. Portmeirion Village, Wales
  7. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
  8. Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
  9. British Museum, London
  10. Stonehenge, Wiltshire

Pop Culture and Travel

As in previous years, our research uncovered that people are still inspired to travel by what they have seen on screen.

15% of Brits are inspired by locations spotted on TV shows and in films when it comes to choosing a staycation destination.

The Top 10 Locations Inspired by TV and Films

  1. Bath (Bridgerton)
  2. Cornwall (Beyond Paradise)
  3. Lake District (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy)
  4. Scottish Highlands (The Traitors)
  5. Edinburgh (One Day)
  6. Oxfordshire (Saltburn)
  7. Norfolk (Wicked)
  8. North East England (Vera)
  9. Great Manchester (Fool Me Once)
  10. Gloucestershire and Somerset (Rivals)
Bridge in Bath
Bridgerton in Bath
Boats in Polperro Harbour
Beyond Paradise in Cornwall
View across the Lake District
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in the Lake District
View of the Scottish Highlands
The Traitors in the Scottish Highlands
View of Edinburgh Castle
One Day in Edinburgh
House in Oxfordshire
Saltburn in Oxfordshire
Image of colourful huts on a Norfolk beach
Wicked in Norfolk
Vera in the North East of England
Vera in the North East of England
Bridge in Manchester
Fool Me Once in Manchester
View of a river running through the English countryside
Rivals in Gloucestershire and Somerset

Social Media’s Influence on Travel

Social media remains a strong influence on Brits’ travel decisions. 1 in 10 say they’re heavily influenced by social media channels such as TikTok and Instagram when picking a holiday location.

Top 5 Staycation Activities Most Inspired by Social Media

  1. Restaurant choices
  2. Walking routes
  3. National Parks
  4. Historical sites
  5. Museum trips

Has this overview of our 2025 Staycation Index got you interested to learn more? Then be sure to download the full report! You can also check out last year’s report, to see how things have changed. 

Sykes Staycation Index Download Link

Sykes Staycation Index Methodology

Sykes’ bookings data for 22,500 properties in 2025 was used to provide a snapshot of the staycation market, while comparisons with equivalent YTD and full-year figures from 2019 to 2024 were used to identify market trends.

Supporting consumer research of 2,000 UK adults was carried out by OnePoll in April 2025.

by Steph Boal / News

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