Action-packed itineraries, melting in heatwaves, and airport queues are OUT, and comfortable, rejuvenating staycations are IN this summer.
According to Google Trends, searches for luxury staycation in the UK surged to peak popularity in July 2025 – marking the strongest interest in the term all year. According to the VisitEngland 2025 report, domestic holiday spending rose 29% year-to-date in 2025, despite a drop in trip numbers – suggesting higher-value trips and more luxury spending. It’s safe to say travellers are refreshing the way they holiday and opting for an indulgent English getaway – but why?
People are swept up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Travelling abroad, albeit still popular, is inevitably chaotic and unpredictable – rising heatwaves in popular southern Europe holiday-hotspots, airport delays, foreign-travel costs… The list goes on. We’re swapping chaos for calm, and indulging in what really feels like a break from reality.
kate & tom’s travel expert, Andy Brooker, is decoding the rise of the luxury English escape, and why we’ve suddenly decided to redefine the way we travel: “The luxury English getaway is booming. Domestic travel defies the stresses of travelling abroad, we’ve all got to the airport and been greeted by chaos and unpredictability – plane delays, strikes, cancellations, falling over people to get a coffee. I believe people are redefining what meaningful travel looks like to them, prioritising comfort, luxury, and relaxation – something that really feels like a pause button break from life.”
The English Countryside is the only call you’re receiving
We live in the digital age. Do not disturb is on, notifications are silenced, and the only person calling you is England’s green and pleasant lands… A dream. Much of our communication is now online, and escaping to the countryside for some real candid moments with loved ones, and being ‘locked out’ rather than ‘locked in’ is proving the perfect way to wholeheartedly recharge.
We’ve all seen the trend of ‘the feminine urge to escape to the countryside’, and we’re here for it. We’re romanticising the peacefulness of rural areas, where the only thing on your itinerary is strolling through a wildflower garden of an English Elizabethan house, followed by a family game of volleyball or badminton in the grounds of your staycation property.
Sometimes the most enriching sightseeing is looking over the countryside, and putting all life’s worries into perspective, creating core memories with family and remembering what life is really all about. Slow travel is surging, and people are making the most of their holiday breaks – not with a jam-packed itineraries – rather by getting intentional with their English getaway travel and prioritising fulfilling moments together.
Airports… Say no more
Airports are notoriously unpredictable, stuffy, and chaotic… We often forget the horror as soon as we’ve landed, but most people have had an experience at the airport they’d much rather forget.
That’s if they made it to the airport. Heathrow’s recent shutdown due to a power outage creates widespread unease, and it can be extremely offputting for travellers as while rare, the prospect that the holiday you’ve been preparing for for weeks on end could be impacted, is enough to put people off altogether.
Once you’re there, be prepared for long queues, plenty of mindless waiting, claustrophobia, and all the usual culprits: stress, boredom, frustration. The airport experience is far from luxurious. People are realising they can put their seatbelts on and strap in for a premium English getaway experience with half the hassle, and one that doesn’t take any of the share of the luxury.
The UK is… stunning!
#ukstaycation has over 34,000 posts on TikTok.
People are waking up to the diversity the UK has to offer, and realising they don’t have to travel thousands of miles to experience beauty, cultural enrichment, and fun-filled experiences… It might actually be down the road!
Think cosy Cotswold haven that oozes timeless charm, and you can cosplay being Lords and Ladies of the Manor. Nothing evokes a fairytale book like a manor house engulfed in wild flowers – it’s the childhood of our imaginations. You can truly embrace scenic views over rolling hills and honey-stone villages, and let the kids find a games room or good-old Wendy house, and enjoy that real togetherness sipping vino around an oak table. These moments together are recharging, and people are waking up to the endless benefits of comfort and joy close-to-home.
The UK is versatile. From a remote, wild retreat in the Lake District with scenic hikes, wild swimming followed by a dip in the hot tub, to an artsy, lively, coastal cool trip to Brighton, you can make staycations personalised to you and your loved ones. People are realising you can have premium experiences without going abroad!
Shifted focus on wellbeing
We want to regulate our nervous system, not throw it out of whack. Flying can throw your body off kilter, with jet lag, airport chaos, and heatwaves. Many people are embracing the calm and comfort of staying more local to maximise their wellbeing.
#wellnessretreat has over 36,000 posts on TikTok alone. Many of us are tapping into wellness – both emotional and physical – and reassessing what being well really looks like for you. Virtuoso reported a 44% increase of travel to cooler climates – ‘Coolcations’ – including northern Europe, and that 70% of travellers are seeking relaxation and disconnection through wellness travel. People are reassessing what feels good for them, and sometimes that means quiet luxury, comfort, and escaping.
We’re considering what it really feels like to be on holiday, and while for some it’s sightseeing and getting those steps in or relaxing by the pool, for others it’s escaping to a luxury staycation, signing up for a hot yoga class, and resting your muscles in a bubbling hot tub with a glass of champers as the sun goes down.
We’re getting intentional about our travel and embracing slow travel and soft travel – prioritising pure relaxation. But slowing your travel right down doesn’t mean fun follows suit, wellness is always about what feels good for you. That might mean prioritising indulgence and rest and detoxing yourself in a sauna, or it could be as fast-paced as tennis – channeling your suppressed emotions into winning on the court!
Stay cool
According to Google Trends, UK searches for coolcations surged by 100% in mid-July, we’re opting for cooler climates to escape the heatwaves and overcrowding in popular holiday destinations, and staying cool and local in the UK or Scandinavia.
Weather in the UK is infamously unpredictable, but people are embracing the cool, and shifting their focus onto experiences over chasing the sun. Instead of planning your holiday itinerary around avoiding tourist traps and the stifling heat, we’re prioritising luxurious holiday stays for all seasons.
Nothing oozes luxury like sipping Pimms in your very own heated pool, sun or shine, eating al fresco straight from the Aga with family and friends, and huddling together around a fire for that real, uninterrupted quality time – remembering what it means to be a family. On an English getaway you can create those timeless core memories, playing charades and revisiting those iconic family moments that no one else would find as hilarious, whether you need to add a jumper in the evening hours or not.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com, pexels.com
