With the official start of summer just over a week away, our coastal resorts are gearing up for a busy period as 55% of British adults will be holidaying in Great Britain over the next few months. Holidaymakers will be splashing out on average £599.80 on their annual break – giving the UK economy a boost of £17 billion. Topping the holiday location hot spots are: Cornwall, Devon, North Wales, Blackpool and the Isle of Wight. These findings have been revealed in Travelodge’s annual holiday index.
The report, which has surveyed 3,000 British adults for the past seven years, shows that 2017 is set to be another strong year for the Staycation. However, there is a small drop of three percentage points in the number of Britons holidaying at home this year (55%), compared to last year, which was 58%.
The report also revealed that this year Britons are spending £130 less on their summer getaway, with the average spend being £599.80 compared to £729.80 in 2016. This still equates to a collective spend of £17 billion.
A jaunt to the seaside still remains a key favourite for Britons with 53% of adults flocking to the British seaside for their annual break. Top destinations are: Cornwall, Devon, North Wales, Blackpool and Isle of Wight.
A third of the Britons surveyed reported that they are taking a rural break this summer and the top destinations for this year include: the Lake District, Scottish Highlands, Norfolk Broads, Yorkshire Dales and Peak District.
Twenty seven per cent of adults are taking a city break this summer with London, Edinburgh, Bath, York and Oxford being holidaymaker’s top destinations.
The study also revealed that nearly half of Britons are taking a one-week holiday supported by three short breaks throughout the 2017. Just 17% of adults are taking a ‘traditional’ two-week holiday.
The report also revealed that over a third (38%) of holidaymakers are taking a multiple location break as part of their main UK holiday and combining a coastal break with either a rural or city break.
Over half (55%) of Britons surveyed reported that they are holidaying at home this year because it is too expensive to go abroad and a Staycation break offers better value for money.
Over a third (36%) of adults also stated that they want to holiday at home this year in a bid to support the British economy as a result of Brexit.
A quarter (25%) of Britons reported that an annual holiday is one thing that they refuse to cut back on.
The report has also highlighted that the UK’s top Staycationers are in Aberystwyth with as many as 85% of people from the Welsh town taking a Staycation break this year and the average household spending £456.75. The other cities making up the top five are Gloucester, Sheffield, Plymouth and Worcester.
The table below highlights the UK’s top Staycationers:
| Rank | Town / City | % taking a Staycation | Average Spend |
| 1 | Aberystwyth | 85% | £456.75 |
| 2 | Gloucester | 82% | £553.28 |
| 3 | Sheffield | 72% | £664.72 |
| 4 | Plymouth | 71% | £446.72 |
| 5 | Worcester | 67% | £433.00 |
| 6 | Belfast | 66% | £573.10 |
| 7 | Norwich | 65% | £667.52 |
| 8 | Bristol | 64% | £437.07 |
| 9 | Chelmsford | 63% | £525.50 |
| 10 | Cardiff | 62% | £490.82 |
“Our research shows that 2017 is set to be another strong year for the Staycation, which is great news for our economy. The current weakness of the pound means more Britons are choosing a Staycation this summer whilst foreign tourists are making the most of their strong currency and flocking to Great Britain. Our 528 Travelodge hotels, which stretch the length and breadth of the U.K., are gearing up for a busy summer.” Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said:
The table below details the top 10 Staycation destinations for 2017 as well as last year:
| Ranking | 2017 | 2016 |
| 1 | Cornwall | Cornwall |
| 2 | Devon | London |
| 3 | Lake District | Devon |
| 4 | London | Lake District |
| 5 | North Wales | Blackpool |
| 6 | Scottish Highlands | Edinburgh |
| 7 | Edinburgh | Yorkshire Dales |
| 8 | Blackpool | Brighton |
| 9 | Norfolk Broads | Scottish Highlands |
| 10 | Isle of Wight | Scarborough |