What do Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Batman, and James Bond have in common? Well, apart from being blockbuster hits on the small and big screen, they are playing a major role in boosting the UK’s booming staycation market – which in turn is boosting profits for short-term rental hosts and property managers up and down the country.
The Sykes Staycation Index 2024 included a list of 10 pop culture choices that are fuelling people’s desire to travel – with the list topped by Game of Thrones, which was partly filmed in Northern Ireland. Here’s the full list:
Northern Ireland – Game of Thrones
Edinburgh – One Day
Cornwall – Poldark
Liverpool – The Batman
Manchester – Fool Me Once
Alnwick – Harry Potter
Glencoe – Skyfall
West Bay, Dorset – Broadchurch
Bath – Persuasion
Lowick, Northamptonshire – Saltburn
The report highlighted the massive impact of domestic tourism, which is set to boost the UK economy by £30.3 billion this summer. On average, Britons will take three breaks this year and spend more than £1,000 each.
According to Sykes, more Brits are choosing to holiday at home because it’s easier, cheaper, and less stressful. The top activities in the UK are coastal walks, countryside walks, exploring local attractions, having a pub lunch, and trying local restaurants, while the five most popular type of UK breaks are cottage-style holiday homes, city breaks, lakes and mountains, beachfront holiday homes, and countryside bed and breakfasts. The most searched-for property features are a hot tub, Wi-Fi, and garden.
Top 10 most popular staycation destinations
Cornwall
Scottish Highlands and Islands
London
Devon
Yorkshire
Cumbria
North Wales
Norfolk
Dorset
Isle of Wight
While Northumberland, central Scotland, and the south coast of England are the top trending destinations in the short-term rentals market, here are the top 10 towns and villages:
Llanfechell
Thorpe on the Hill
Invergarry
Newton-by-the-Sea
Torver
Chichester
Bournemouth
Porthcawl
Boroughbridge
Largs
And here are five hidden gems which continue to attract tourists year after year:
Ashgill Force, a waterfall near Alston, Cumbria
The Iron Bridge in Shropshire
Holehird Gardens in the Lake District
Berafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire
The village of Dent in the Yorkshire Dales
While most holidaymakers enjoy walking and going to the pub, a host of more unusual staycation activities are becoming ever more popular. Here are the top 10:
Wild swimming
Visiting caves
Hunting for fossils
Ghost hunting
Hiking with llamas
Participating in unique events
Ziplining
Surfing
Cooking classes
Foraging
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