The Great British Staycation

With summer holiday season in 2020 looking slightly different than we’re used to, a number of us look set to fulfil our vacation plans a little closer to home than we may have originally planned earlier in the year.

Luckily, the UK has plenty to offer those looking to squeeze in a getaway over the coming months, with vibrant and historical cities, gorgeous coastal escapes, and vast amounts of breathtaking countryside available to us on our doorstep.

So, whether you’re planning on a few day trips here or there or opting for a longer break in your motorhome or campervan to somewhere new and exciting within the UK, there are certainly plenty of options for your Great British Staycation.

But exactly where do Brits plan on visiting this summer?

Oh, the places we will go

As restrictions around travel and leisure activities within the UK are gradually starting to ease, holiday bookings have naturally begun to surge, offering a much-needed boost  to the economy following reports that an estimated £22bn is expected to be erased from the UK’s domestic tourism industry, due to the coronavirus restrictions.

We were keen to find out more about the nation’s holiday intentions for Summer 2020, and so using Google search trend data, we explored the UK’s domestic summer getaway plans for the coming months

The UK’s Summer 2020 Bucket List

1. St Ives
2. Norfolk Broads
3. Lancaster
4. Wales
5. Newquay
6. Blackpool
7. Ireland
8. Weymouth
9. Dublin
10. Tenby
11. Bournemouth
12. Great Yarmouth
13. Torquay
14. Skegness
15. Brighton
16. Peak District
17. Anglesey
18. Scarborough
19. Whitby
20. Edinburgh

The beautiful Cornish coastal town of St. Ives was found to be the UK’s number one staycation destination for 2020, with an average of 12,100 monthly searches over the past 90 days (1^st May – 30^th June 2020). Boasting everything from a choice of beaches equipped with surfing, seals and a famous light house, as well as cultural options such as the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Museum, and plenty of delicious eateries, such as the West Beach Bakery, for all you foodies too.

Making up the top five, were the equally as beautiful Norfolk Broads (5,400 avg. monthly searches) the historical North-Western city of Lancaster (5,400 avg. monthly searches); a country filled with a vast choice of dramatic coastlines, challenging countryside hikes and vibrant cities, Wales (4,400 avg. monthly searches); and finally, the Cornish surfing haven of Newquay (3,600 avg. monthly searches).

Escape the Hustle and Bustle

Whilst any of the UK destinations on our list will have plenty to offer those that choose to visit, for those looking to avoid the crowds this summer, there were a number of lesser searched for areas of the UK over the past 90 days that may be worth considering when making your plans for your holiday this year.

So, for those of you who would prefer a quieter place to explore whether it’s for a day, a week, or longer, then you may want to opt for one of the following locations instead:

• Hull (30 avg. monthly searches) – the 2017 City of Culture has a plethora of museums, architecture, shopping and maritime history to offer, with plenty to see and do both in the port city itself and in the more scenic surrounding areas too such as Willerby and Skidby.
• Cheltenham (30 avg. monthly searches) – Cheltenham may be famous for the annual festival, but the city has much more to offer those who visit, and with the Cotswold Way on its doorstep, this is the perfect getaway for those hoping for a mix of city life and stunning scenery.
• Appledore (20 avg. monthly searches) – the Devonshire village of Appledore is nestled between the coastline and the River Torridge and is famed for both its shipbuilding heritage, colourful houses, and not forgetting its ice-cream!
• The South Downs (20 avg. monthly searches) – the chalk hills of the South Downs stretch for an impressive 68 miles, taking in some wonderful south-eastern coastal counties, from Beachy Head in East Sussex to the River Itchen, Winchester. This national park has plenty of wildlife, walking and coastline to offer those who visit.

 

Fun and Laughter on our Summer Holiday

With a reported 73% of UK adults sharing that following the Covid-19 pandemic they plan to holiday within the UK, even when restrictions have been lifted, we wanted to set a little challenge to test the nation’s knowledge on the UK’s top 20 counties for a staycation in 2020, based on our search trend data findings.

So, in an ode to the wonderful villages, towns, cities, beaches, and countryside locations housed within the UK that many of us are likely to be visiting in the coming months, we created a Great British Staycation themed brainteaser.

The challenge?

We would like you to identify the 20 iconic landmarks featured within the puzzle and to name the location (county) they can be found in.

Home Sweet Motorhome

Despite all the uncertainty of the past few months, there is some positive news for the UK hospitality and tourism industry, as UK holiday bookings are on the up.

So too have the sales of campervans and motorhomes, which have seen a huge peak in interest since the start of June. Autotrader has also reported caravan advert views up 18 per cent and motorhome adverts up 17 per cent in the first week post-lock down.

In fact, when dealers reopened their doors to customers in June, we saw a near 20 per cent increase in requests for leisure vehicle insurance quotes when compared to the same time last year.

Campervans have proven to be particularly popular, with quote requests increasing by 50 per cent.

We’re especially delighted to hear about this rise in sales, as it shows that people are investing in their travel plans not only for 2020, but for many years to come. Whether they opt to holiday at home or a little further afield, ensuring you’ve picked the right insurance for your travel needs should be a key consideration before heading off on your adventures.

The Big Reveal

How did you get on with our brainteaser? It was quite a tough one in parts.

Of course. we couldn’t possibly let you go without sharing the answers to our Great British Staycation brainteaser with you – we’re not that mean!