UK summer travel 2026: How inflation and travel costs are changing plans

Key findings:

• Parents are more likely than non-parents to have already booked a summer holiday this year (40% vs. 32%).
• The cost of living remains the biggest factor affecting travel plans, cited by 42% of UK adults.
• Nearly one in five (19%) are opting for domestic holidays instead of international travel.
• More than a third of UK adults (36%) expect their summer travel budget to be higher than last year, compared with 21% who expect it to be lower.

With rising costs and wider geopolitical uncertainty continuing to weigh on household finances, summer travel plans among people in the UK are showing signs of caution. However, parents remain more likely than non-parents to prioritise a summer trip despite ongoing financial pressures.

Data from a recent YouGov survey shows that 37% of UK adults have already booked their summer travel for the year. Another 14% have not booked yet, while a further 14% remain unsure. Meanwhile, a third (33%) say they do not plan to travel this summer.

Parents with children are more likely than non-parents to have booked their summer trip (40% vs. 32%). Non-parents, on the other hand, are more likely to say they do not intend to travel at all this year (36% vs. 31%).

What is influencing UK summer travel decisions in 2026?

Among UK adults, the cost of living is the most commonly cited factor affecting summer travel plans, with 42% mentioning inflation-related pressures. Around a third cite hotel or accommodation costs (32%), while 29% mention airfare prices.

Non-parents appear slightly more affected by rising costs than parents. While 40% of parents say the cost of living is influencing their travel plans, the figure rises to 44% among non-parents. Parents are also less likely than non-parents to mention accommodation costs (30% vs. 34%) and airfare prices (27% vs. 32%).

Beyond financial concerns, around one in five UK adults cite safety or geopolitical issues (19%) and work commitments (18%) as factors affecting travel decisions. Another 15% mention weather or climate concerns.

The findings also reflect broader shifts in travel sentiment linked to geopolitical instability. Recent YouGov DestinationIndex data found that the ongoing Iran conflict has affected consumer perceptions of destinations including Dubai, Turkey, Israel, and the United States.

Are domestic holidays replacing overseas summer travel in 2026?

To manage costs, many adults in the UK who plan to travel are adjusting how they will do so this summer. The most common changes include choosing domestic holidays instead of international travel (19%), reducing spending during the trip itself (18%), selecting cheaper destinations (17%) and taking shorter trips (16%).

The findings reflect a wider shift towards staycations and shorter-haul travel as consumers respond to rising travel costs and uncertainty around disruption. Parents are more likely than non-parents to swap overseas holidays for domestic travel (21% vs. 16%). Non-parents are slightly more likely to choose cheaper destinations (18% vs. 15%) or reduce spending during the trip (20% vs. 17%).

Even so, 41% of UK adults say they have not changed their summer travel plans this year, including 43% of parents and 39% of non-parents.

Off-peak travel emerges as the top money-saving strategy

Travelling during off-peak dates is the most common cost-saving measure among UK adults overall, with 31% saying they are doing so. Around one in five say they book earlier to secure lower prices (21%) or compare travel websites before booking (20%).

Parents and non-parents show some differences in how they approach saving on travel. While 28% of parents say they are travelling off-peak, this rises to 34% among non-parents. Parents are more likely to choose destinations closer to home (20% vs. 16%) and book ATOL-protected holidays (20% vs. 12%).

Overall, 19% of UK adults say they are not taking any specific cost-saving measures.

More people in the UK expect travel budgets to rise than fall

More than a third of UK travellers (36%) expect their summer travel budget to be higher than last year, while 21% expect it to be lower. Three in ten (30%) say it will stay about the same.

Parents are more likely than non-parents to expect higher travel spending this summer (41% vs. 31%). This includes 11% of parents who say their budget will be “much higher”, compared with 9% of non-parents.

The findings suggest that while financial pressures and geopolitical uncertainty are shaping travel behaviour, many households — particularly families with children — still plan to prioritise summer holidays. For many, that means adapting travel plans through domestic trips, alternative destinations, or higher overall spending.

Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online between 20-21 May 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 2,089 adults (aged 18+ years) in the United Kingdom, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, gender, education, region and social grade to be representative of all adults in the United Kingdom (18 years or older) and reflect the latest ONS population estimates.

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