UK domestic holidays are experiencing a resurgence as travellers increasingly opt for staycations amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising fuel prices, according to travel companies. Major domestic holiday providers have reported notable increases in bookings within the country, while Britain's tourism board acknowledges a sustained interest in UK breaks, though similar to last year's levels.
Rising Demand for Domestic Breaks
Airbnb has observed a surge in searches for UK stays during the May bank holidays, with a year-on-year increase of over 15 per cent, indicating growing interest in domestic travel for long weekends. Haven, a leading UK holiday parks provider, also reported double-digit growth over Easter, with bookings up 10 per cent compared to the previous year.
Butlins, the seaside resort chain, has linked the rise in staycation demand directly to the Middle East conflict. The company experienced increased bookings across its three resorts during Easter and anticipates strong growth for May half term and summer school holidays, with mid-April bookings up over 20 per cent year-on-year.
CEO Insights on Staycation Growth
Jon Hendry Pickup, CEO of Butlins, stated: "It does feel that there’s been a significant growth in demand for staycations driven by the conflict." He added that the resorts operated at full capacity over Easter, with late demand soaring 68 per cent compared to the same period last year. "That suggests that guests were holding off booking for longer, perhaps hoping for a swift resolution, before ultimately deciding to stay in the UK," he explained.
Pickup noted that demand for upcoming off-peak breaks has risen nearly 40 per cent year-on-year. "It’s not just families who are now choosing staycations over international travel," he said. "Bookings for our ‘Big Weekenders’ – adults-only breaks with live music and entertainment – were up 20 per cent relative to last year."
VisitBritain Data Shows Stable Staycation Intent
However, a recent survey by tourism board VisitBritain indicates that staycation intentions have not dramatically increased. The April data reveals that 78 per cent of UK adults plan to take a domestic overnight trip in the next 12 months, closely matching April 2025 levels of 77 per cent and February's 78 per cent. This represents a three per cent recovery from a dip in March (75 per cent).
Among respondents, 46 per cent cited global conflicts or warzones overseas as a reason to holiday at home, up four per cent since March. Yet, the primary motivator for choosing a UK holiday was cost savings. The domestic holiday figure of 78 per cent remains significantly higher than the 60 per cent of surveyed individuals who intend to travel abroad in the next year, a five per cent decline from April 2025 and below pre-Iran war levels, suggesting the conflict has dampened overseas travel appetite.
Barriers to Domestic Travel
While staycation numbers are stable, several barriers could hinder domestic breaks in the next six months. Rising fuel prices have become a growing concern, listed as the third biggest obstacle to taking an overnight UK trip, with a 15 per cent increase in concern compared to the previous month. Other deterrents include the rising cost of living, UK weather, and personal finances.
