Are Britons considering term-time holidays as living costs rise?

Key findings:

• Nearly half of British parents (45%) have taken their child out of school for a holiday during term time.
• Lower costs are the biggest motivator, with 53% citing cheaper travel and 42% citing cheaper accommodation as reasons for taking term-time holidays.
• Many parents require significant savings to justify travelling during term time, with 20% saying holidays would need to be at least 40% cheaper.
• 36% of parents say they would seek school approval for a term-time holiday but travel regardless, accepting the risk of a fine.

The debate around term-time holidays continues as schools and local authorities issue hundreds of thousands of fines to parents for unauthorised absences, with most penalties linked to family holidays.

Data from a recent YouGov survey explores how common term-time holidays are among parents with children under 16 in full-time education, what motivates families to take children out of school during the academic year, how much cheaper a term-time holiday needs to be before parents consider booking it, and whether parents are willing to risk paying fines.

How many British parents have taken their children on holiday during school term?

More than two in five parents (45%) say they have taken a child out of school during term time for a holiday, while 54% say they have not.

Among those who have taken a term-time holiday, most report doing so relatively infrequently. More than half (54%) say they have taken one such holiday in the past two years, while a quarter (25%) have taken two. Only 12% say they have taken three or more.

Why parents choose term-time holidays: Lower costs lead the way

Among parents who have taken their children out of school during term time, lower costs are the most cited reason for doing so.

More than half (53%) say lower travel prices influenced their decision, while 42% point to lower accommodation prices. Other factors include better availability (29%), fewer crowds (27%) and family schedule or work commitments (24%). Around one in five (21%) say they travelled to attend a family or friend's event.

Relatively few cite educational or cultural experiences (12%) or better weather (10%) as reasons for travelling during term time.

How much cheaper does a term-time holiday need to be?

While lower costs are a key reason families choose to travel during term time, many parents say they would need a substantial discount before considering doing so.

Asked how much cheaper a term-time holiday would need to be compared with travelling during school holidays, one in five (20%) say a holiday would need to be at least 40% cheaper before they would consider booking it, while 13% say a discount of 30-39% would be enough. A further 19% say they would consider travelling during term time if the holiday was 20-29% cheaper.

By contrast, relatively few say a smaller saving would be sufficient, with 9% saying a discount of 10-19% would persuade them and just 3% saying less than a 10% reduction would be enough. A quarter (25%) say they would not travel during term time regardless of the potential savings.

Are children more likely to miss school at the beginning or end of term?

Among parents who have taken children out of school during term time, 57% say the holiday took place towards the end of a school term.

Around 11% say it took place in the middle of a term and 7% at the beginning. Around a fifth (21%) say the timing was not related to the school calendar.

Are British parents willing to risk a school fine for term-time holidays?

When asked how they would respond if travelling during term time offered significant savings, parents are divided.

More than a third (36%) say they would ask the school for permission and travel regardless of whether the absence was approved, accepting the risk of a fine. A further 15% say they would not request permission and would travel anyway.

However, 22% say they would only travel if the absence was approved by the school, while an identical proportion (22%) say they would not travel during term time regardless of the potential savings. 

How many parents plan to take term-time holidays in the next year?

Looking ahead, relatively few parents expect to take their children out of school during term time in the next 12 months. Nearly half (46%) say they are very unlikely to do so. This may be a reflection of ongoing cost-of-living pressures and rising travel expenses, which are limiting holiday plans this summer.

Roughly 13% say they are very likely to do so and another 13% say they are fairly likely.

Despite this, parents are more likely to agree than disagree that taking children out of school during term time for holidays has become more socially acceptable. Around half (50%) agree with the statement: It is now more socially acceptable for parents to take their children out of school during term time to benefit from cheaper holidays, including 20% who strongly agree and 30% who agree. Around a quarter (24%) disagree, with 15% disagreeing and 9% strongly disagreeing. A further 26% neither agree nor disagree.

The findings highlight the trade-offs parents make between cost savings and school attendance. They also point to changing attitudes towards term-time holidays, with half of Britons viewing the practice as more socially acceptable than in the past. For travel brands, the results offer insight into how families balance affordability, convenience, and potential penalties when planning holidays.

Methodology: YouGov polled 390 British adults with children under the age of 16 in full-time education online on 3 June 2026. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, education level, region, and social grade.  

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