Londoners are escaping to the South East coast as staycation demand surges

After being hit particularly hard by the multiple heatwaves the UK has seen this year and frequent disruptions impacting international travel, London residents are choosing to escape the bustle of the city by heading south to the Kent coast for a last-minute staycation.

According to data from Parkdean Resorts, St Margaret’s Bay Park in Kent has seen a 144% increase in demand this week.

Other areas of Kent have also seen a rise in interest, with Romney Sands in Greatstone up 39%, and Camber Sands up 10%. The increase is supported by 31K Google searches for ‘London beaches’ this month.

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Image: Parkdean (St Margaret’s Bay)

It’s not just Kent that Londoners are escaping to, locations in Essex and the Isle of Wight have also seen a surge in demand this week.

Other trending destinations outside of London in the last 7 days
1
Shanklin, Isle of Wight
2
Weeley, Essex
3
Cowes, Isle of Wight
A spokesperson at Parkdean explains why we’re seeing a rise:

“Kent boasts many popular seaside resorts and places to visit all year round, however, its proximity to London is especially attractive to Londoners wanting to escape the bustle of the capital and experience some fresh sea air before the summer is over. We’re seeing demand rise for many locations that can be reached from the capital in under two hours, like Kent and Essex, or, in the case of the Isle of Wight, around three hours, that don’t require spending hours in airport queues and delays.

“We’re also seeing more and more Brits reminisce about their own childhood holidays and seek to take part in nostalgic seaside activities again. Returning to pastimes like exploring the pier or playing ball games on the sand. Not only does this encourage relaxation and allow you to reconnect with nature, but it’s also a great way to spend time away from screens, which can often serve as a reminder of the stresses of city life back home.

“St Margaret’s Bay is an especially great location to escape to for the weekend. The village is known for its dramatic white chalk cliffs and rock pools, and for its clear view of the channel. Sitting above the bay is also home to James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s former seaside residence, as well as the historic National Trust landmark, South Foreland Lighthouse, where early radio and electric light experiments took place.”

To explore last-minute coastal holidays across the UK, visit the Parkdean website.