British tourists prefer spending their holidays in the UK rather than abroad, according to a new study. More than half (53%) said exploring the British Isles was their favourite type of holiday, while 47 per cent said they prefered camping in the UK over a package holiday in a warm location or a European city break.
The study by Rentalcars.com surveyed 2,000 Brits on their holiday habits. A staggering 56 per cent said they spend their main family holiday in the UK, while 11 per cent said they travel to Spain, and just 7 per cent said they are most likely to visit France. 2,000 UK consumers participated in the research between 16 – 19 October
When it came to reasons for choosing to book holidays in the UK, 20 per cent said they liked exploring the British landscape, while another 20 per cent said they enjoyed not having to worry about a language barrier. Another 16 per cent said they like tucking into traditional British food, while 7 per cent said they like being able to catch up on their favourite TV shows at night.
London proved to be the most popular destination for a holiday in the UK, with 21 per cent saying the capital would be their number one choice for a long trip, while 15 per cent said they preferred a traditional seaside resort. Another 12 per cent said Cornwall was their preferred location for a long break.
But when it came to short trips the South Coast came out on top, with 21 per cent saying they would choose destinations such as Dorset and Sussex for a weekend break.
The survey also revealed the extent of sleep deprivation in Brits. A staggering 83 per cent said catching up on sleep was their favourite thing to do on holiday, while 60 per cent said they enjoyed outdoor activities such as walking and cycling.
Nearly half (49%) said they enjoyed going sightseeing, while 30 per cent said visiting museums and art galleries was one of their favourite things to do while on holiday.
More than half of the people surveyed (57%) said the threat of terror has had no impact on where they choose to go on holiday, while 23 per cent said concerns over terror attacks have definitely influenced their chosen holiday destination.
Of those who choose to spend their holidays abroad, 79 per cent said they would still travel overseas despite the poor currency exchange rates since last year’s Brexit vote, while 21 per cent said they have been put off travelling overseas.
Flight delays and cancellations may have dominated the headlines over the past few weeks, but the survey revealed most Brits have not been deterred from flying abroad. Sixty two per cent said they have not been put off booking flights, while 37 per cent said the negative press around airlines would make them think twice before booking flights abroad.
Natural disasters proved to be the top concern for Brits travelling abroad, with fifty per cent saying hurricanes and earthquakes worry them most, while 35 per cent said they worried about contracting food poisoning in a foreign country. More than a quarter (26%) said they worried about becoming a victim of theft, while 18 per cent said they worried about not being able to speak the language.
The survey also revealed the average amount Brits spend on their holidays. Almost a third (30%) of those surveyed said their holidays typically cost more than £700 per person, while 15 per cent said their holidays cost more than £300 per person. Just 6 per cent said they managed to spend less than £200 per person.
Dan Robb, chief marketing officer at Rentalcars.com, said: “It is refreshing to see Brits making the most of the many beautiful locations we have on our doorstep. The UK is packed with exciting cities, stunning beaches and outstanding areas of natural beauty, so it is not surprising to see so many Brits are choosing to spend their holidays closer to home.
“At Rentalcars.com we are passionate about encouraging customers to go on an adventure, exploring new places off the beaten track and seeing things they didn’t know existed. The UK is rich in culture and history and we are incredibly lucky to have such diverse landscape with hills, mountains, flat countryside and busy cities, so there are hundreds of road trips that Brits can take to see the best sights the country has to offer.”
Top five UK holiday destinations (long break)
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London (21%)
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Traditional seaside town (15%)
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Cornwall (12%)
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Lake District (10%)
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South Coast (10%)
Top five UK holiday destinations (short break)
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South Coast (21%)
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Cornwall (14%)
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Lake District (12%)
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Wales (11%)
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Yorkshire (10%)
Best aspects of holidays in the UK
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No language barrier (20%)
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British landscape and countryside (20%)
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Traditional English food (16%)
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Being able to catch up on favourite TV shows (7%)
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No baggage restrictions (6%)
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