Londoners the busiest holiday planners as the UK gets ready for the great Summer getaway

With seven in ten (70%) Brits planning a holiday abroad this summer, research from AllClear Travel Insurance gives a regional insight into the diverse holiday preferences of UK holidaymakers. Londoners are leading the pack in planning their overseas adventures, while people in the North East are most likely to be staying at home this summer.

With the return of spring and clocks soon to go forward for British summertime, Easter weekend for many people signals the starting pistol for summer holiday planning. To get an early indication of the top holiday choices for 2024, AllClear Travel Insurance asked a nationally representative sample of 2,137 adults what kind of holidays they were planning for the summer – and where they wanted to visit.

For summer 2024, three in ten adults (31%) said they will be booking a beach holiday, whilst almost one in five (18%) are opting for a city break this summer. Nationally, 17% want a hotel pool holiday somewhere hot, with a romantic break on the cards for 9% of people and 7% preferring the privacy of a villa break with loved ones.

In terms of this summer’s hotspots, the Mediterranean is once again the top choice for British holidaymakers (46%), with other top regions comprising of: Northern Europe (16%), the Caribbean (14%), North America (12%) and Africa (10%).

Differences in holiday planning across the UK
Out of all UK regions, people from London have the busiest holiday plans for this summer, with eight in ten (84%) intending to head abroad. Londoners are most likely to book a walking or hiking holiday for the summer (12%), to dance the night away at a music festival (11%), or go on a sports holiday (7%)., Londoners are also most likely to rent properties through an Airbnb (12%).
People in the West Midlands are most keen on a beach holiday this summer (36%), closely followed by people in the East of England (34%) and the South West (34%).
City breaks were most popular among people in London and Northern Ireland (28% respectively) – with the Northern Irish also most drawn to the idea of a summer cruise holiday (16%).
In the East Midlands, one in four people (24%) are looking forward to unwinding in a hotel by the pool this summer, and people from the East of England are those most likely to book a villa or private house for a peaceful excursion (11%).
While three in ten Scottish (30%) and Welsh people (29%) are also heading to the beaches this summer, city breaks also appeal. More than one in ten people (15% and 16% respectively) are planning cultural adventures in a new city for the summer months.
People from Northern Ireland and London were tied as the top two regions where people were planning to enjoy the great outdoors with a camping or caravan holiday (13%).

Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at AllClear Travel Insurance commented: “Following a busy period for travel at the start of this year, it is promising to see that so many people are gearing up for their summer holidays. With the Easter weekend welcoming in the warmer months, we want to remind people about the importance of taking out travel cover that fully meets their needs – and especially those travelling abroad with medical conditions. Whether relaxing on the beach or exploring a new city, it makes sense to get the best cover possible rather than to just shop around on price.”