More British families are taking their grandparents on holiday than ever before, according to new research. The trend, dubbed 'Gran-ual Leave', is reshaping how families travel together as they seek to maximise their time away.
Rise in Multi-Generational Holidays
A study conducted by Hilton shows that a quarter of grandparents say they are holidaying more with children and grandchildren than five years ago, with 69% doing so within the past year. On average, grandparents spend four hours a day entertaining their grandchildren on holiday, which equates to an additional 24 hours of child-free time for parents on a typical week-long trip.
Benefits for All Generations
The arrangement offers clear advantages for the whole family. Parents gain downtime to enjoy sightseeing, rest, or romantic moments, while children enjoy extra playtime and bonding with grandparents. For the older generation, it provides an opportunity to connect with family members they may not see every day. An overwhelming majority of grandparents say it deepens their bond with both their grandchildren (83%) and their adult children (73%). Meanwhile, 59% say it allows them to create special, treasured memories, and 34% feel it helps them feel young and alive, with similar percentages reporting improvements in physical (34%) and emotional well-being (33%).
Grandparents Embrace Fun and Flexibility
While most grandparents are happy to take on duties like date-night babysitting (66%) and leading games and activities (55%), nearly a quarter (23%) say they love being the rebellious grandparent while away. In fact, 70% of grandparents admit they are much more relaxed and fun with their grandchildren on holiday than they ever were with their own children, and 77% confess to bending the rules. The ways grandparents indulge include letting little ones stay up past bedtime (63%), saying 'yes' to extra treats (62%), playing more games (56%), and relaxing rules around mealtimes (41%).
Celebrity Endorsement
TV star Gyles Brandreth, who embraces the Gran-ual Leave trend with his seven grandchildren, said: 'For me, holidays together with my children and grandkids are all about maximising time and creating magical memories together - from the laughter over the breakfast buffet, to impromptu games around the hotel. And much to my own children's envy, I find myself relaxing the strict rules with the grandchildren, which I once held dear with them - saying 'yes' more to embrace the fun, freedom, and joy that us grandparents can bring.'
Familiar Trend
Multi-generational travel is already familiar to many. Hilton's 2026 Trends Report found that almost half (48%) of Brits went on trips with their grandparents as a child, while one in five children (20%) travel exclusively with their grandparent. John Rogers, senior vice president of brand management for EMEA, said: 'Family holidays create lasting memories, and our research shows that grandparents can help everyone get more from the trip - giving parents extra time to unwind and children more time to play and connect.'
Top 10 Ways Grandparents Indulge Grandchildren on Holiday
- Let them stay up past bedtime (63%)
- Say 'yes' to extra treats (62%)
- Take more photos/videos to capture memories (61%)
- Play more games (56%)
- Give them extra spending money (52%)
- Encourage them to try new experiences (47%)
- Join in activities they wouldn't normally do at home (47%)
- Let them spend longer in the pool (45%)
- Relax rules around mealtimes (41%)
- Let them make decisions (36%)
