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Are holiday lets heating up?

ended 21. May 2026

With a heatwave about to hit Britain (TFFT), have you seen increased demand for holiday lets next week, all the more so given that it's half term? Which areas of the country are proving popular and why? Also, are you seeing increased demand for staycations this summer as a whole given flight uncertainty due to fuel shortages? Any other trends you're seeing, fire away.

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Kate Allen
Owner at Finest Stays
Without doubt this is our busiest and most booked May half term on record. Revenue for this week alone has increased by 92% compared to the same period last year, whilst occupancy has jumped from 78% to 96%. We have just three properties left across our entire portfolio for a full week's stay. Availability has become about as rare as spotting a mermaid off the Devon coast.

This isn't just a heatwave effect either. Booking momentum has been strong across the wider year, but combine travel uncertainty, rising flight prices and now sunshine arriving perfectly for half term, and you've got the ideal conditions for a standout staycation season.

We're seeing particularly strong demand for coastal escapes in Devon where families can switch off quickly. Think beaches, pubs, ice cream and somewhere children and dogs can let off steam. More and more people want simplicity: less airport stress and more time actually enjoying their holiday.
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Leanne Hemingway
Owner at Dorset Cottage Holidays
Demand for cottage holidays here on Dorsets Jurassic Coast has surged this year. 80% of our availability already booked for May 2026 and only a handful of nights remaining over the half-term period. With the strong forecast for warm weather and continued interest in UK staycations, we anticipate being fully booked in the coming weeks
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Niall Mellonie
Managing Director at Laik
As the owner of Laik, we’re definitely seeing holiday lets heating up ahead of half-term, especially with the warm weather forecast arriving at exactly the right time for the Lake District.

Over the past 7 days, enquiries have increased by around 35% week-on-week, with a sharp rise in last-minute family bookings. Occupancy across our portfolio for half-term is already above 90%, with many larger family properties fully booked.

Premium properties continue to outperform, with some of our higher-end homes achieving 15–20% higher revenues year-on-year. We’re also seeing continued demand for shorter, more frequent UK breaks, with many guests now booking within 2–4 weeks of arrival. Homes with hot tubs, lake views, outdoor spaces and dog-friendly features are seeing the strongest demand.