Sharing over the latest travel findings, which show the traditional fly-and-flop holiday is losing its appeal. Brits are increasingly looking for trips that leave them feeling genuinely restored.
From silent retreats to solo hikes, Brits are treating the summer holiday as an opportunity to reconnect with nature and try something new. The findings point to a new approach to self-care, where holidays are becoming an opportunity to reset on their own terms.
Booking.com’s Summer Getaway Report reveals the top 10 wellness and nature-led experiences shaping holiday plans this summer:
- Saunas (22%)
- Hiking (19%)
- Wildlife spotting (16%)
- Silent off-grid retreats (15%)
- Ice baths (12%)
- Solar eclipse trips (12%)
- Sound baths (11%)
- Juice cleanses (11%)
- Breathwork sessions (11%)
- Yoga breaks (10%)
Time outdoors is proving popular too, as almost one in five (19%) are planning a hiking holiday – solo travel searches for the Seven Sisters Cliffs have soared 661%, with the Lake District up 164%.
Wellness is not the only thing shaping summer escapes, with romance also firmly on the holiday agenda:
- More than three quarters (76%) of Brits are planning trips with romance in mind, while nearly a quarter (23%) of single travellers hope to meet someone while they are away.
- Some are even prepared to cross borders in the pursuit of a connection, with 13% admitting they have travelled overseas for a date.
From child-free escapes to ‘extreme’ day trips: The trends redefining Britain’s summer holidays
- Brits are breaking the holiday habit, with 71% planning to visit somewhere new this summer.*
- Shanghai is the hottest global summer trending destination, with searches up 88%.**
- Interest in the ‘extreme’ day trip is booming with over half (58%) of Brits wanting to travel to a dream destination and back in a single day.***
- Child-free escapes are on the rise, with 30% of parents saying they’d rather holiday without the kids.***
- Booking.com’s Summer Getaway Report reveals the trends reshaping how Brits holiday in 2026.
Britain’s summer holiday is getting a makeover. Nearly three quarters (71%)* of Brits are planning to visit somewhere they’ve never been before, according to Booking.com’s Summer Getaway Report – and the data shows a nation hungry for new experiences and bigger adventures.
Spain still tops the charts as the UK’s favourite summer destination – leading both Booking.com search data and holiday wishlists (32%)*** – but travellers are looking further afield. Booking.com search data shows Shanghai, China is this summer’s fastest-rising global destination for Brits, with searches up 88% year on year.**
Closer to home, there is a fresh demand for UK breaks too, with Morecambe (+106%), Carnforth (+86%), and Exmouth (+76%) among the fastest-rising staycation spots, and rounding out the top five summer trending destinations alongside Shanghai and Santa Barbara.**
Trending Global Getaways for summer 2026**
1. Shanghai, China (+88%)
2. Santa Barbara, USA (+57%)
3. LA, USA (+26%)
4. Kemer, Turkey (+25%)
5. Santa Maria, Cape Verde (+24%)
Trending European Escapes**
1. Budva, Montenegro (+56%)
2. Dublin, Ireland (+48%)
3. Durres, Albania (+42%)
4. Peschiera del Garda, Italy (+38%)
5. Kotor, Montenegro (+34%)
Trending UK Staycation Hotspots**
1. Morecambe (+106%)
2. Carnforth (+86%)
3. Exmouth (+76%)
4. Penzance (+45%)
5. Stratford- upon-Avon (+42%)
The rise of the ‘extreme’ day trip
Forget the weekend break. Brits are looking to embrace a bolder approach in the ‘extreme’ day trip. Nearly six in 10 (58%) say they’d travel to a dream destination and back in a single day, and one in five (21%) have already done it***. Booking.com flight search data backs the trend revealing that searches by Brits for same-day return international flights have risen 62% year on year.****
This drive to do more extends to holidays overall. More than a third (37%) say they’re fitting more into every trip than ever before, and almost two thirds (65%) now choose experiences over simply switching off.***
Sub-culture capitals
That experience-first mindset is also reshaping why Brits choose to travel, with city breaks increasingly built around food (24%), festivals and cultural events (20%), art galleries (16%), coffee culture (14%), and vintage shopping (12%).***
Almost a third (32%) admit it is their shorter attention span that is driving their desire to squeeze more into every getaway.***
Child-free escapes take off this summer
Family holidays remain the most popular type of trip (51%)*, but many parents are carving out time for themselves too. Almost one in three Brits (30%) say they’d rather holiday without their children this summer. 41% are planning an adults-only getaway, and 37% are actively seeking adults-only hotels and resorts. It’s perhaps not a surprise, as over half of parents (51%) admit holidays with kids can be more stressful than relaxing.***
Solo travellers head off the beaten track
Solo travel keeps gaining ground, and Portuguese destinations are leading the charge. Booking.com data shows searches for solo trips to Monção have surged 5,288%, while Machico is up 375%.*****
Trending solo travel destinations:
1. Monção, Portugal (+5288%)
2. Machico, Portugal (+376%)
3. Trapani, Italy (+131%)
4. Porto Vecchio, France (+99%)
5. Zakynthos Town, Greece (+93%)
Love is in the air this summer
Romance is also high on travellers’ priority lists, with 76%* of Brits planning summer trips with romance in mind. Nearly a quarter (23%) of single Brits hope to find love on their summer getaway, while 13% admit they have even travelled overseas for a date.***
The year of the bigger holiday budget
Despite cost-of-living pressures, many Brits are refusing to cut back on travel. Almost a third (31%) plan to spend more than usual this summer, with average budgets reaching £1,526. Much of that extra spend is being allocated to bucket-list experiences (27%), better accommodation (21%), and upgraded flights (18%). That said, almost a quarter of savvy travellers are still choosing connecting flights to keep costs down (22%).***
Passion-led travel replaces the beach break
The traditional beach holiday is no longer the default with Brits increasingly building trips around personal passions – trips featuring hiking (19%), wildlife spotting (16%), solar eclipses (12%), and stargazing (10%) are all on the rise.***
When it comes to hiking, solo travellers are swapping resorts for scenic trails, with searches for the Seven Sisters Cliffs up 661% and the Lake District up 164%.******
Wellness is also climbing the travel agenda. From silent off-grid retreats (15%) to yoga breaks (10%), Brits are seeking more restorative escapes – saunas (22%), ice baths (12%), sound baths (11%), juice cleanses (11%), and breathwork sessions (11%) featuring in holiday plans.***
Ryan Pearson, Regional Manager for UK & Ireland at Booking.com, says: “This summer, we’re seeing holidays redefined. While classic destinations remain hugely popular, travellers are becoming more intentional about why they travel – whether it’s to discover somewhere new, embrace a solo adventure or a child-free break, or to follow a personal passion. This year’s trends show people feel more inspired and adventurous than ever before.”
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