Are UK staycations on the rise? Conflict abroad and rising fuel prices push travellers to domestic stays

Travel companies say UK domestic holidays are becoming increasingly popular as more people embrace staycations amid the conflict in the Middle East and an increase in fuel prices.

Some of the UK’s top domestic travel companies have reported an uptick in holidays booked within the country. Meanwhile, Britain’s tourism board agrees that people are more likely to seek a holiday in the UK rather than abroad, but notes that this was also true of April last year.

Airbnb said that searches for UK stays for the May bank holidays have increased by over 15 per cent year-on-year, showing that domestic travel is on the rise for the long weekends ahead.

UK holiday parks provider Haven also reported that double-digit growth over the Easter holidays, with bookings up 10 per cent year-on-year.

Seaside resort chain Butlins said they believe there is a direct link between the Middle East conflict and an increase in UK staycation demand.

The company reported this increase across its three resorts for Easter and is also seeing strong growth for both May half term and the summer school holidays, with bookings up over 20 per cent year-on-year in mid-April.

Jon Hendry Pickup Butlin’s CEO, said it “does feel that there’s been a significant growth in demand for staycations driven by the conflict”.

He added: “We have been at full capacity across our three resorts for the Easter break, with late demand up 68 per cent compared to the same period last year.

“That suggests that guests were holding off booking for longer, perhaps hoping for a swift resolution, before ultimately deciding to stay in the UK.”

Mr Pickup said that the demand for its upcoming off-peak breaks is up nearly 40 per cent year on year.

He added: “It’s not just families who are now choosing staycations over international travel, bookings for our ‘Big Weekenders’ – adults-only breaks with live music and entertainment – were up 20 per cent relative to last year.”

However, a recent data survey by tourism board VisitBritain has so far not seen any major jumps in staycations, and instead found that the number of people who are likely to holiday in the UK this year is no different from 2025.

The April data showed that 78 per cent of UK adults intended to take a domestic overnight trip over the next 12 months, which is very similar to the April 2025 levels of 77 per cent, and is now on par with February levels, too (78 per cent).

This is a three per cent recovery from a dip in March (75 per cent).

In the survey, 46 per cent said that global conflicts or warzones overseas would make them choose to holiday at home (up four per cent since March), yet the biggest reason to opt for a UK holiday was that it is cheaper.

The domestic holiday figure of 78 per cent is also significantly higher than the proportion of the surveyed people that said they would take an overseas trip in the next year, which stands at 60 per cent.

This is five per cent less than in April 2025 and below pre-Iran war levels, suggesting that the appetite for trips abroad may have been altered by the conflict.

Staycation numbers are currently stable, but the people surveyed identified some barriers to taking a break in the next six months.

A increase in the price of fuel has become an increased worry for some domestic holidaymakers. It’s listed as the third biggest barrier (up 15 per cent compared to last month) to taking an overnight UK trip. The rising cost of living, UK weather and personal finances would also stop people from taking a UK break.

Read more: UK travellers turn to the Mediterranean as Middle East conflict disrupts travel