As the cost of foreign holidays continues to soar, two-thirds of Brits (66 percent) are opting for UK getaways this summer, according to new research by TransPennine Express (TPE).
The study reveals that a quarter of Brits surveyed (25 percent) have decided against traveling abroad due to increased costs. Over a third (35 percent) report that flights to popular destinations have become prohibitively expensive, with one in five (20 percent) having difficulty affording an overseas holiday for the first time.
Millions of Brits are now choosing UK breaks. Over two-thirds (69 percent) plan to holiday within the UK this summer, with an additional 16 percent considering it. The top destination, as identified by TPE’s research, is the Lake District, with 38 percent planning a visit within the next month. This is closely followed by York (19 percent) and Edinburgh (19 percent).
Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience and Transformation Director at TPE said: ‘We’ve all felt the pinch this year and the rising costs of flights abroad has meant that some Brits can’t go on a foreign holiday. It means we will see the return of the much-loved UK holiday and with so many hidden gems across the UK, all accessible by train, we can’t wait to be the ones carrying thousands of Brits to their summer holiday destinations on our modern, clean and comfortable trains.’
The shift towards UK holidays is largely driven by the rising costs associated with foreign travel. Experts indicate that prices for hotels, airfares, and package holidays are increasing by an average of 10 percent annually. ‘Airfares in particular have never been this high and there’s no doubt we’ve seen the end of the low-cost fare era. So it’s no surprise to see people grabbing a £10.20 ticket to the Lake District for their summer holiday. Our affordable prices mean that holidaymakers can sit back, relax and make the most of getting together across the North and Scotland,’ O’Brien added.
Flight cancellations have also played a role in the trend towards UK holidays, with many Brits facing disruptions at airports both domestically and abroad. Ensuring reliable and stable service is a priority for TPE, with over half (52 percent) of Brits expressing increased confidence in the railway. The research highlights the top ten UK holiday destinations:
Lake District (37.79 percent)
York (19.19 percent)
Edinburgh (19.06 percent)
Scarborough (14.02 percent)
Manchester (10.14 percent)
Liverpool (8.40 percent)
Newcastle (7.36 percent)
Berwick-upon-Tweed (6.52 percent)
Durham (5.68 percent)
Cleethorpes (4.07 percent)
TPE offers journeys to these top northern UK destinations, such as Manchester to Oxenholme in the Lake District for £10.20, Manchester to York for £14.30, and Manchester to Edinburgh for £23.40.
