As the days get colder and darker, you might find yourself thinking more and more about next year’s holidays. One of the best cures to the winter blues is getting a summer trip or two booked into the diary, but that requires a lot of planning. If you’re looking for a destination that you’re guaranteed to enjoy, Expedia might be able to help.
The booking platform has just revealed where it reckons the world’s top trending destinations are going to be for 2026. It says that the destinations on its list go ‘beyond the crowds’, and is made up of spots ‘where global interest is rising fast, even in destinations that haven’t yet gone viral’. Intriguingly for anyone currently in the market for a staycation, one of the top 10 was in the UK.
The Cotswolds was named as one of Expedia’s top trending destinations. Whilst the famously picturesque area of England isn’t exactly a hidden gem or an up-and-comer, it is true that the Cotswolds has gained a lot of international attention in recent years. According to Expedia, there was a 39 percent increase in international interest for the area in 2025 when compared to 2024.
And the Cotswolds is popular for a reason. The ideal traditional English countryside getaway, the region boasts countless cute little towns complete with winding cobbled paths, babbling brooks and postcard-perfect thatched roofs.
Bibury: The ‘most beautiful village in the world’ in the Cotswolds
One Cotswolds town in particular – Bibury – made headlines recently when it was named the most beautiful village in the world by Forbes. For anywhere else that kind of exposure would be welcome, but Bibury was already suffering so much from overtourism that the local council had been considering banning coaches full of visitors from entering at all.
Whilst we at Time Out agree that Bibury is gorgeous, but there are just too many tourists. If you want to actually beat the crowds, try instead one of our favourite Cotswolds village alternatives, some of which we reckon are actually even prettier.
Plan your Cotswolds trip
If your heart is still set on Bibury, we’ve got a helpful guide on exactly how to access the place from London. But if you’re willing to cast a wider net, Time Out’s top thing to do in the region is pay a visit to Sudeley Castle and Gardens, and we’ve got a thorough list of great things to see and do in the Cotswolds.
In terms of which towns to try out, Bourton-on-the-Water is known for its romance, but Castle Combe has been the set for several big films (War Horse and Stardust, for example), so it depends on your interests.
A Cotswolds vacation can get pretty pricey, so we also have a list of the region’s best budget hotels, helping you can explore without breaking the bank. Bigger budget? Cottages on Airbnb are a more luxe option.
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