Hotels, holiday parks, and seaside resorts across the UK have reported significant increases in bookings compared with last year, with travellers prioritising ease, safety, and spontaneity.
Raoul Fraser, founder of Lovat Parks, said: "People are booking as we get closer to the school holidays and more confident that we are going to have good weather in July. With everything that is going on in Iran, many people do not want to go anywhere east of southern Europe and a lot of money is coming into the UK market."
Summer bookings have been particularly strong in water-adjacent destinations, with riverside and lakeside properties seeing a 12% increase on 2025 figures. Coastal towns such as Whitby, Bridlington, and Newquay are also among the most popular choices for last-minute getaways, according to Matthew Price, chief executive of Awaze, which operates Cottages.com and Hoseasons. He said: "Breaks closer to home are really appealing. Holidaymakers are taking advantage of the warmer weather, booking spontaneous getaways where they can enjoy a dip and escape the heat."
The trend is reflected in online searches as well. Booking.com reported a 10% year-on-year increase in UK travellers searching for domestic summer trips, with Liverpool, Ingoldmells, London, and Keswick topping the list. Popularity of regional supermarkets is also rising as staycationers stock up locally; Waitrose predicts a 23% surge in sales at its Menai Bridge, Anglesey branch, with Truro, Bridport, and East Cowes also seeing significant increases.
Sinead O’Connor, travel analyst at Mintel, noted: "Although Europe also remains a popular choice, reports of queues at the border gives Britons pause for thought, with 39% of consumers saying that the introduction of the entry-exit system has put them off travelling in Europe."
The disruption stems from two main factors. Airlines have warned that jet fuel prices, inflated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, could force ticket increases, while the new EU entry-exit system (EES) has led to hours-long queues at major continental airports. ABTA found that 38% of potential holidaymakers have delayed their bookings this summer due to travel uncertainty, while a further 27% are reconsidering trips altogether.
The combination of economic caution and border delays has created the perfect conditions for a domestic holiday revival. Families, couples, and solo travellers alike are seeking destinations where they can relax and unwind without risking long delays or unexpected costs, making 2026 a record year for UK staycations.
Domestic travel specialists advise travellers to plan early but remain flexible with dates and locations to take advantage of availability and the warmest weather across the country.
