UK’s greatest staycations for 2026 as Cornwall’s St Ives tops the listing once more

Britain’s greatest staycations for 2026 are out however one sudden entry is shaking up the coast.

The busy harbour area in St. Ives, Cornwall, with many holiday makers, tourists and fishing or commercial boats in the beach and harbour.

St Ives was topped the most effective staycation vacation spot for the second yr in a row (Picture: Getty) This text accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, we are going to obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra

Britain’s greatest staycations for 2026 have been revealed, with Cornwall’s St Ives as soon as once more taking the highest spot and Northumberland village of Bamburgh in second place as a brand new entrant.

The annual staycation report, based mostly on a survey of two,000 adults, revealed Bourton-on-the-Water and Salcombe have risen in reputation whereas different seaside locations additionally noticed shifts within the rankings. Brighton overtook Lyme Regis, climbing to sixth place, forward of the Dorset city, which has moved from fifth final yr to seventh.

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The analysis, commissioned by Sykes Vacation Cottages, discovered 38% plan to take their fundamental vacation within the UK this yr, rising to 53% amongst Gen Z. This compares with 34% of adults who stated the identical final yr, whereas Gen Z’s curiosity in UK holidays has risen from 45% in 2025.

James Shaw, chief business officer on the vacation model which launched the annual Staycation Index Report, stated: “The continued reputation of UK breaks demonstrates that staycations stay a key a part of how Brits vacation.

“Extra individuals are selecting to remain at dwelling and prioritising worth, flexibility and reassurance when planning time away, significantly amid ongoing uncertainty round abroad journey.

“What’s particularly notable this yr is the rising affect of youthful travellers, Gen Z is more and more embracing UK holidays, with extra folks choosing experience-led journeys that mix surroundings, meals, tradition and the possibility to discover a number of locations in a single break.

“From seaside cities and nationwide parks to countryside retreats, the UK continues to supply an infinite number of vacation experiences, and that’s mirrored within the energy and variety of locations featured on this yr’s rankings.”

The analysis discovered 64% are planning to – or have thought-about – a multi-destination street journey, stopping off at a median of three areas. Coastal spots are probably the most wanted, adopted by rural areas and nationwide parks.

Vacationer sights (48%) had been additionally a key issue when deciding the place to go to, alongside areas with fond recollections (38%) and good evaluations and scores (35%).

Beach huts on Brighton beach

Brighton crept up into sixth place forward of Lyme Regis (Picture: Getty Pictures)

Of these hoping for a break within the UK, 48% stated it’s merely the time they’ve to modify off and chill out.

The analysis, carried out through OnePoll, discovered 14% have been influenced by a movie or TV present, with Peaky Blinders probably the most influential following its movie launch this yr (11%), set in Birmingham.

Equally, Northern Eire, dwelling of the Sport of Thrones prequel Home of the Dragon, and Northumberland, which was a location for Jurassic World, had been additionally fashionable.

James Shaw, added: “For many individuals, holidays stay one of the vital necessary alternatives within the yr to correctly swap off and spend high quality time collectively, whilst budgets stay beneath stress.

“What this analysis highlights is that UK journey continues to enchantment as a result of it provides each comfort and selection – whether or not that’s a coastal escape, a countryside street journey or revisiting locations that maintain private recollections.

“We’re additionally seeing extra travellers embrace versatile, multi-stop breaks, with folks more and more eager to expertise extra of what the UK has to supply in a single journey.”