Cornwall’s artiest seaside town will be the UK’s most popular staycation destination this summer

Don’t underestimate a staycation. Sure, you could go overseas to try new foods, bask in blazing sunshine and see the planet’s most weird and wonderful landscapes, but who’s to say you can’t do that here in the UK? The British Isles are packed with beauty and culture worth staying on home soil for – and we’re not the only ones that think so. 

According to new research in Sykes Holiday Cottages Staycation Index, more than a quarter of Brits say that they are more likely to choose a UK break now than they were a year ago – with 38 percent intending to make a staycation their main holiday of 2026 (up from 34 percent last year). And apparently, it’s Gen Z that’s leading the trend. The survey found that over 53 percent of 18-28 year-olds are opting for a UK main holiday and 72 percent are planning a domestic trip overall.

But where exactly are they going? Well, the most popular place for staycationers this year, according to Sykes, is St Ives in Cornwall. 

You could fill an entire day and then some in this town just perusing paintings, sketches and sculptures. Home to the Tate, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, historic studio Leach Pottery, the award-winning Porthminster Gallery and a swathe of smaller indie galleries, St Ives is Cornwall’s art mecca. 

In between gallery-hopping, make a stop at Yallah Cafe for a caffeinated pick-me-up and baked goods, secure a table at The Fish Shed for some fresh seafood or take a seat at St. Eia for some natural wine and elegant small plates. Make sure to spend some time on the harbour and Porthmeor Beach, too. 

As for everywhere else the Brits are going this year, Sykes found that the second most popular domestic destination in Bamburgh in Northumberland, followed by Ambleside in the Lake District. 

The top 10 UK staycation destinations for 2026, according to Sykes Holiday Cottages 

1. St Ives, Cornwall
2. Bamburgh, Northumberland
3. Ambleside, Lake District
4. Grasmere, Lake District
5. Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
6. Brighton, East Sussex
7. Lyme Regis, Dorset
8. Bakewell, Peak District
9. Salcombe, Devon
10. Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds

The best of Britain: take a look at Time Out’s guide to the UK’s most underrated city breaks. 

And explore our roundup of the country’s greatest seaside towns for 2026. 

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