UK heatwave sparks last-minute bookings for coastal breaks
- Coastal destinations in the North of England saw significant booking spikes this May Bank Holiday and Half Term
- Demand was up 62% year-on-year in Northeast England for Hoseasons and 50% year-on-year in Northwest England for cottages.com
- Awaze says growing demand for spontaneous UK getaways reflects the continued appeal of flexible, affordable and easy-to-plan staycations closer to home
Britain’s heatwave this May Bank Holiday and Half Term sparked a surge in UK coastal bookings across the UK portfolio of Awaze, Europe’s largest provider of holiday rentals.
Coastal cottage bookings made in the past seven days for cottages.com rose 50% in Northwest England, while bookings for Hoseasons seaside homes rose 62% year-on-year in Northeast England.
Known for their traditional seaside charm and Yorkshire coastline, Whitby, Bridlington and Filey were the most popular destinations for cottages.com. Meanwhile, for Hoseasons, strong demand was seen for Great Yarmouth’s family-friendly beaches, surfing destination Bude, and classic seaside resort Weston-Super-Mare.
Warm weather accelerates trend towards spontaneous UK breaks
Awaze’s booking data highlights growing demand for spontaneous UK getaways, with the recent heatwave fuelling a surge in last-minute coastal bookings as holidaymakers escaped to the seaside to make the most of the warmer weather.
The flexibility, convenience and ease of planning domestic holidays make them ideally suited to last-minute travel, enabling people to maximise long weekends and school holidays while exploring new destinations closer to home.
Amid ongoing global uncertainty and continued cost-of-living pressures, UK staycations continue to appeal to travellers seeking affordable, reliable and stress-free breaks without the complexity of travelling abroad.
Matthew Price, CEO at Awaze commented: “We’ve seen a significant uplift in last-minute coastal bookings as consumers sought respite from the heat through seaside getaways.
“Traditional coastal hotspots performed particularly strongly, with holidaymakers drawn to easy-to-reach seaside destinations combining striking coastlines, traditional seaside charm and a genuine sense of escape closer to home.
“What’s increasingly clear is that flexibility, convenience and affordability are continuing to shape travel decisions, with UK staycations continuing to appeal to holidaymakers seeking high-quality breaks that can be planned quickly and enjoyed at short notice.”