VisitEngland’s August bank holiday Trip Tracker survey, published today, shows that 10.6 million Brits are definitely planning an overnight holiday trip in the UK this bank holiday weekend, bringing an estimated £4.3 billion boost to the economy.
The figures are slightly down on last year’s, when 11.2 million Brits planned to take an overnight trip in the UK during the August bank holiday weekend. Looking back at 2024 the figure was 11.0 million and in 2023 9.7 million.
If realised, this year’s August bank holiday would bring a much-needed financial boost to the tourism industry, which has seen a decline in domestic overnight trips in 2025 and particularly those to the coast, with the latter down 18% year-on-year in England.
Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said:
“It is brilliant that so many people are choosing to spend their August bank holiday weekend in the UK, whether enjoying the summer weather at our beautiful coastlines, or exploring our towns and cities.
“Domestic breaks truly help our local areas to thrive by boosting support for small, locally-owned businesses, strengthening social cohesion and promoting pride in where we live.
“It is also a great opportunity to make the most of the final weekend of our Great British Summer Savings scheme, allowing families to enjoy discounted access to attractions and leisure activities such as theme parks, soft play centres and cinemas, while also backing businesses who rely on footfall in the summer season.”
VisitEngland Chief Executive Patricia Yates said:
“It is very encouraging to see many of us are planning a domestic break for the August bank holiday weekend. From invigorating coastal walks, lively festivals, great pubs and boutique stays to art and culture, history and heritage, there is something for all tastes and budgets.
“Businesses will be looking to the long weekend for a critical late summer lift after what has been a very mixed year for many destinations. We can also see from our latest consumer research that the cost of living remains a concern. Brits are still keen to take their breaks, however many are booking last minute and wanting to save on accommodation, activities, eating out and searching for good value options. It is nail biting if you’re a small business, so do please get out and support our amazing destinations, first class attractions and local events this long weekend and beyond.”
The survey also showed that a further 5.8 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight holiday trip in England during the bank holiday weekend. The top reasons are ‘waiting to see what the weather is like’, ‘waiting to see if there are any deals / special offers’, and ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’.
It also comes as the UK Government announced its Great British Summer Savings scheme, cutting the cost of a family day out this summer and supporting businesses.
VisitEngland’s wider research, meanwhile, shows that even a small shift towards domestic holidays could have a significant impact. Converting just 10% of what Brits spend on travelling abroad to holidaying at home could deliver an £8 billion boost annually to the economy.
In autumn, VisitEngland is rolling out the next phase of its domestic coastal campaign ‘All on England’s Coast’, a £2 million marketing campaign to boost breaks to England’s coast during the quieter season, and will be working with a commercial partner to drive bookings.
Tourism is one of England’s largest, most valuable industries, worth £127 billion annually to the English economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of businesses and 2.1 million jobs across the regions, many in rural towns and coastal communities.
The full VisitEngland August bank holiday Trip Tracker survey can be accessed here: Domestic Tourism Bank Holiday Trips Data | VisitBritain.org.
For ideas on what’s on this August bank holiday across England and beyond, from food festivals to coastal experiences, please visit: England Makes a Splash with New Coastal Experiences for Summer 2026 | VisitBritain.org
Notes to editors:
- VisitEngland commissions online omnibus surveys, ‘Trip Trackers’, periodically in order to collect data on the number of GB consumers who plan to take an overnight trip at key times throughout the year.
- In this August edition, the survey was carried out on an online omnibus by Kantar TNS, with a representative sample of 1,231 adults aged 16 and over in Great Britain.
- The fieldwork for the survey took place between 18th and 20th August 2026.
- Trip volumes are based on an estimated adult (16+) population of 55.6 million in GB for 2026 (Office for National Statistics for England and Wales and National Records of Scotland). Economic impact is based on the average domestic overnight holiday spend of £406 per trip in Britain (GBTS, 2025 annual figures, adjusted for inflation).
- For the full report, visit VisitEngland’s bank holiday Trip Tracker page.
- VisitEngland’s latest domestic consumer sentiment research towards travel, published on 20th August 2026, can be accessed here https://www.visitbritain.org/domestic-sentiment-tracker