During the summer of 2020, COVID-19 travel restrictions meant that lots of foreign holidays had to be cancelled, causing a huge surge in people seeking UK holidays. Lots of new UK holiday makers flocked to book last minute getaways and mini breaks, affectionately nicknamed "staycations" (a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad).

Pre-COVID, many holiday makers overlooked UK holiday destinations such as Tattershall Lakes in favour of the Mediterranean, but new travel restrictions forced them to reconsider. 

Research suggests that many of these people will now become regular UK holiday makers, favouring low cost luxury holidays, with less time spent traveling and you can even bring your dog! Its been said that the Stay-cay is the new Vay-cay. 

British holidays are here for the long-haul.

New research has suggested that a whopping 83% of British holiday makers would preferred a UK staycation than travel abroad in 2020, with 68% citing fears of being stranded abroad and uncertainty around COVID-19. This trend is set to continue into 2021 and beyond.  Bringing a welcomed boost to the country’s hospitality sector which has been hit hard by COVID Tier restrictions since early November.

Commissioned by The Cumberland, the ‘Research Without Barriers’ found that a majority of travellers (68%) prioritised a British staycation due to fears of being stranded abroad. Just over half (55%) of those surveyed admit to having concerns about quarantine measures with 44% noting self-isolation at their destination as a major concern. Findings from the research also revealed that before COVID hit, Spain was the most popular foreign destination, with a third of Brits admitting to cancelling their summer holiday to the country and opting for a British holiday instead.

Meanwhile, Scotland and Cornwall were the favourite UK alternatives, with 16% opting to holiday there, followed closely by places like the Lake District, Tattershall Lakes Country Park and Wales. Almost three-quarters (74%) of respondents admit to relaxation being their top priority for a British staycation. This is followed by sightseeing at 59%, which will come as a big relief to the UK’s visitor economy. 

The survey of 1,015 UK adults also highlighted that hotels, lodges and cottages are the most popular types of accommodation for those holidaying in Britain.  

Encouragingly, almost three-quarters of respondents (71%) are intending to plan a UK holiday in 2022, suggesting that the great British staycation is not just a short-term solution to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Click here to read the full report.