Brits are pining for a holiday in God's Own Country of puddings and good cricketers.
The top UK holiday hotspot for 2023 is Yorkshire, according to Sykes Holiday Cottages’ latest Staycation Index report which surveyed 2,000 British adults.
Known for its picturesque coastal towns and rolling dales, Yorkshire covers an area of huge variety which is becoming increasingly popular amongst tourists.
Yorkshire - which is so large it has been split into four counties - is packed full of things for a great holiday.
The capital York is home to many iconic engines and carriages at the railway museum, the largest minster in northern Europe, the quilt museum and an interactive Viking history experience at the Jorvik Centre.
If you're a sports fan, a fast paced evening watching the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team or a sunny afternoon's county cricket at Headingly are hard to beat.
Few more idyllic days out can be experienced that sitting in the shade of the Knaresborough viaduct while drinking a Pimms next to the river.
Whitby over on the east coast is another charming spot, crammed full as it is of goths due to the town's links to Bram Stocker's Dracula, old fashion cafes and pie shops, and an excellent Youth Hostel which overlooks the bay and remains of the abbey.
If you're a Happy Valley fan, a visit to the cobbled streets of its filming location, Hebden Bridge, can help extend the joy of the series now it's finished.
Set within the 500-acre, 18th-century Bretton Hall estate, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park lets visitors wander through the charming grounds to witness some of the world's finest and most intriguing physical artworks.
Cornwall and the Scottish Highlands and Islands follow closely behind in the list of sought-after destinations Brits want to visit in the UK this year, with Cumbria and Northumberland rounding out the top five.
Lesser-visited locations such as Berkshire and the Isle of Wight also appear in the holiday letting agency’s top ten ranking, alongside always popular hotspots such as Cumbria and Devon.
Top 20 most popular UK holiday spots
- Yorkshire
- Cornwall
- Scottish Highlands and Islands
- Cumbria
- Northumberland
- Devon
- Norfolk
- Berkshire
- North Wales
- Isle of Wight
- Dorset
- Derbyshire
- London
- Scottish Borders
- Buckinghamshire
- Suffolk
- South Wales
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Scotland
- Somerset
Sykes found that 75% of Brits plan to book a staycation this year over jetting abroad – with half attributing this decision to the cost-of-living crisis.
On average, Brits will take three UK breaks in 2023, with other reasons for opting to stay home over travelling abroad including the rediscovered love of a staycation in recent years as well as the ease of travelling closer to home.
Graham Donoghue, chief executive of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: "With holiday season almost upon us, travellers are starting to make plans for the year ahead if they haven’t already.
"And with financial pressures significantly impacting holidaymakers’ travel choices, it’s no surprise that holidaying closer to home remains a popular choice for many.
"The UK has so much to offer and there are so many beautiful regions to visit that mean you don’t have to compromise on your holiday experience. From award-winning beaches to stunning countryside and city breaks, there are also plenty of hidden gems to be found in our home country.”
The study also found 52% can’t see themselves booking a trip abroad this year due to pressures on their budget, with last-minute UK breaks being popular with those hoping to land a bargain.
You can find out more on sykescottages.co.uk.
