With Christmas less than three weeks away, Sykes Holiday Cottages has revealed its top 10 locations for Christmas and New Year staycations. According to new booking data, Whitby has been crowned the number one destination for holidaymakers looking to get away over the festive season, with Cumbrian spots Ambleside, Windermere, Keswick, and Bowness-On-Windermere rounding out the top five.
Whitby Pavilion will welcome a live band on New Year’s Eve, as well as a DJ, and the town’s pubs and restaurants will also be celebrating with special menus and fireworks. Cumbria also has a number of New Year’s celebrations which take place annually, including a gathering in front of the clock tower in Keswick’s town centre to count down to the new year together.
And in Bowness-on-Windermere, it has also become a tradition for people to gather by the jetty on the lake shore to watch the local hotels’ firework displays. According to Sykes’ research, 13%* of Brits plan to take an overnight break in the UK over Christmas and New Year this year.
Over half (53%) of all Christmas and New Year bookings are adult groups and families, while a third (29%) are couples, with holidaymakers across the country looking to unite to celebrate the holiday season together.
Graham Donoghue, CEO at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said:: “Brits are beginning to realise that the perfect Christmas doesn’t have to be had at home, as shown by our year-on-year increase in bookings over the festive season. Whitby is a popular spot throughout the year, but it’s perhaps not surprising that it ranks top for Christmas and New Year celebrations given its central location. Families based throughout the UK want somewhere convenient to meet in the middle.
“Our self-catered cottages give families the chance to cook all of their favourite festive dishes while exploring a new part of the country. From roaring fires to long countryside rambles and inviting pubs, the UK has so much to offer when it comes to seasonal breaks and a staycation can be a great way to spend quality time together.”
The top 10 locations for Christmas and New Year bookings in 2022
- Whitby, North Yorkshire
- Ambleside, Cumbria
- Windermere, Cumbria
- Keswick, Cumbria
- Bowness-On-Windermere, Cumbria
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire
- Weymouth, Dorset
- Lyme Regis, Dorset
- Grasmere, Cumbria
- Bakewell, Derbyshire
The top 10 regions for Christmas and New Year bookings in 2022
- Cumbria & the Lake District
- North Wales
- North York Moors & Coast
- Cornwall
- Peak District
- Yorkshire Dales
- East Anglia
- Cotswolds
- Devon
- Heart of England
