With air fares rising and international travel feeling less certain than it has in years, more Brits are turning to the UK’s own extraordinary landscapes for their holidays in 2026.
According to data collected by holiday home insurance specialists Schofields Insurance, search interest in UK staycation destinations has surged dramatically year-on-year, and booking figures across the industry suggest this could be the biggest year for staycations since the pandemic.
From the rugged highlands of Scotland to the sun-soaked coves of Cornwall, Britain has a remarkable range of destinations waiting to be explored.
Here are the top UK staycation locations capturing the imagination of British holidaymakers right now:
1. The Lake District
The Lake District remains the UK’s most searched staycation destination in 2026, with year-on-year search interest up by an extraordinary 129%. It is not difficult to understand why.
England’s largest national park is a place of genuine, lasting beauty, covering 912 square miles of fells, valleys and shimmering lakes in the north-west of England.
Windermere, Coniston Water and Ullswater are the headline acts, offering boat hire, kayaking, wild swimming and some of the finest lakeshore walking in the country.
The surrounding fells, including Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, draw experienced hikers from across the UK and beyond.
The Lake District is equally well suited to those who simply want to slow down. The market town of Keswick is a lovely base, with independent shops, excellent restaurants and easy access to Derwentwater.
Ambleside and Grasmere offer a similarly relaxed pace, with the added draw of Grasmere’s famous gingerbread shop and the former home of William Wordsworth. For a family staycation or a couples retreat, the Lake District delivers in every season.
2. The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds has seen a 128% surge in search interest this year, making it the second most searched staycation destination in the UK.
Stretching across parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the quintessential English countryside escape.
Honey-coloured stone villages, ancient market towns and a landscape of gently rolling hills make the Cotswolds one of the most photogenic regions in
England. Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold are among the most visited spots, each offering a distinct character and a strong selection of independent shops, pubs and tea rooms.
The Cotswolds is particularly well suited to exploring by car. The villages are spread across a large area and many of the best spots lie along quiet country lanes that are a genuine pleasure to drive.
A road trip through the region in spring or autumn, when the crowds are thinner and the light is at its best, makes for an outstanding UK staycation break.
3. Scotland
Scotland is enjoying a 69% increase in staycation search interest in 2026, and it is easy to see why the country continues to captivate.
From the dramatic sea lochs of the west coast to the vast moorlands of the Cairngorms, Scotland offers some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in Europe.
Edinburgh is a natural starting point for a Scotland staycation. The capital combines a world-class arts and food scene with one of the most striking city skylines in the UK, anchored by the castle and the ancient volcanic crag it sits upon.
Holyrood Park, the Royal Mile and the Dean Village are all within easy reach, and the city works brilliantly as a base for day trips into the surrounding countryside.
For those looking to venture further, the North Coast 500 is one of the great UK road trips. This 500-mile circular route takes in the Highlands, the remote far north and the rugged north-west coastline, passing through landscapes that feel genuinely untouched.
The route can be broken across several days, with distilleries, castles and remote beaches providing natural stopping points along the way.
The Isle of Skye, Glencoe, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park all offer further reasons to make Scotland a staycation destination of choice this year.
A hired car gives you the freedom to explore on your own terms, reaching spots that are simply not accessible by public transport.
4. Wales
Wales staycation searches are up 72% year-on-year, and the country is increasingly being recognised as one of the UK’s most rewarding and underrated holiday destinations.
With three national parks, a dramatic coastline and a culture and language all of its own, Wales offers something genuinely different from the rest of Britain.
Snowdonia National Park in the north is the obvious headline attraction, with its jagged peaks, glacial lakes and ancient slate landscapes drawing walkers, cyclists and adventurers throughout the year.
The summit of Snowdon itself can be reached on foot or by the famous mountain railway, and the surrounding villages of Betws-y-Coed and Beddgelert make excellent bases.
The Pembrokeshire Coast in the south-west is one of the finest stretches of coastline in the UK, with a series of sandy beaches, dramatic cliff walks and charming harbour towns.
Tenby, St Davids and Barafundle Bay are among the highlights, and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path offers some of the most rewarding coastal walking in Britain.
The Brecon Beacons, recently rebranded as Bannau Brycheiniog, round out Wales’ national park trio with open moorland, waterfalls and dark sky reserves that make for outstanding stargazing.
Wales is also home to more castles per square mile than almost anywhere else in the world, giving history enthusiasts plenty to discover on a road trip through the country.
5. Norfolk
Norfolk has seen a 66% rise in staycation searches this year, and this quietly spectacular county in the east of England deserves every bit of the attention it is receiving. Often overlooked in favour of more obvious destinations,
Norfolk offers a genuine sense of space and solitude that is increasingly rare in the crowded south of England.
The Norfolk Broads is a unique landscape of navigable rivers, shallow lakes and reed beds that stretches across much of the county. Hiring a boat and spending a few days on the water is a classic
Norfolk experience, but the Broads are equally rewarding for cycling, birdwatching and walking along the riverbanks.
The north Norfolk coast is one of the most unspoiled stretches of coastline in England.
The villages of Blakeney, Wells-next-the-Sea, Brancaster and Burnham Market have a loyal following for good reason, offering wide sandy beaches, excellent local food and a relaxed atmosphere that makes them ideal for a family staycation or a quiet break for couples.
Holkham Beach, one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in England, is a particular highlight and well worth the drive.
6. Devon
Devon is up 61% in staycation search interest this year, and this large and gloriously varied county in the south-west of England continues to be one of the UK’s most popular destinations for a staycation break.
With two separate coastlines, a national park and a string of market towns, Devon rewards both first-time visitors and those who return year after year.
Dartmoor National Park sits at the heart of the county, offering wild moorland, ancient stone circles, dramatic tors and a sense of remoteness that is extraordinary given how accessible it is.
The market town of Tavistock and the village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor are lovely places to base yourself for exploring the park, and the driving routes across the moor are genuinely memorable.
The North Devon coast around Croyde, Saunton and Woolacombe is a favourite with surfers and families alike, while the South Devon coast offers a gentler, more sheltered alternative with the pretty towns of Salcombe, Dartmouth and Totnes all worth a visit. Exeter,
Devon’s cathedral city, is an excellent base for exploring the county by car, with good road links to both coasts and the national park.
7. Cornwall
Cornwall rounds out the list with a 46% increase in staycation search interest, and this is a county that rarely needs much introduction to British holidaymakers.
The most south-westerly point in mainland England, Cornwall has long been one of the UK’s most beloved staycation destinations, and its appeal shows no signs of fading.
The coastline is Cornwall’s greatest asset, stretching for over 400 miles and taking in everything from the surf beaches of Newquay and Fistral to the sheltered coves of the Roseland Peninsula and the dramatic cliffs of Land’s End.
The South West Coast Path follows the entire coastline and offers some of the finest walking in England, with countless sections accessible as shorter day walks.
St Ives is arguably Cornwall’s most celebrated town, with a thriving arts scene, a beautiful harbour and beaches on three sides. Padstow, with its connection to Rick Stein and a strong reputation for excellent seafood, draws food lovers from across the country.
The Eden Project near St Austell, with its iconic biomes set within a former china clay pit, remains one of the most visited attractions in the UK.
Cornwall is a county best explored at your own pace, and hiring a car remains the most practical and enjoyable way to do it.
The distances between the best spots can be significant, and having the flexibility to follow coastal roads, discover hidden beaches and stop wherever takes your fancy makes all the difference to a Cornwall staycation.
Explore the UK by Hire Car with Drivalia
The best UK staycation destinations are almost always best explored by car.
From the remote single-track roads of the Scottish Highlands to the winding coastal lanes of Cornwall, having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and discover places that simply cannot be reached any other way.
Drivalia has car hire locations across the UK, including major airports, city centres and railway stations, making it straightforward to collect your vehicle and get straight on the road.
Browse our full range of UK car hire locations and book your staycation car today with the UKs best car rental company.