New research has revealed that demand for unique holiday experiences is on the rise amongst holidaymakers in the UK – presenting an opportunity for holiday homeowners with land to explore different ways to tap into this trend.
According to the findings, George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces appears to have played a role in inspiring holidaymakers to try something different when booking a staycation, with nearly a third of respondents agreeing that the popular Channel 4 show had inspired them to try something new and unique.
When quizzed about accommodation preferences for the year ahead, while 46% said they’d most like to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast, over a third of the nation agreed they would opt for a holiday cottage, while a quarter said they’d like to stay in more unconventional properties.
Asked specifically about the type of unique property that the nation would most like to stay in, a log cabin ranked number one for a third of people in the top 10 list of dream accommodation, followed by a beach hut/house and castle (both 25%).
Top ten list of unique properties that the UK would most like to stay in:
- Log cabin (33%)
- Beach hut/house (25%)
- Castle (25%)
- Lighthouse (18%)
- Manor house (17%)
- Treehouse (16%)
- Boat (14%)
- Glamping pod or dome (14%)
- Farm (12%)
- Barn conversion on a working farm (11%)
A spokesperson for Holiday Cottages says: “With log cabins clearly emerging as a popular type of accommodation, this could present an opportunity for those with a bit of land to tap into the movement and create an additional income stream.
“In fact, our data tells us that log cabins and lodges for two to three people can on average make an annual revenue of £22,596 while shepherd’s huts can generate up to £14,437, while some are achieving in excess of this figure. What’s more, both log cabins and shepherd’s huts attract a higher proportion of out of season bookings than other property types – at least 6% higher. Those that feature a hot tub can expect to typically receive 42% more bookings than those without, and an open fire or woodburner can also attract around 10% more.”
The holiday letting agency also revealed that the annual average revenue for more unique or quirky properties can typically deliver £22,970, while more rural or remote properties can expect to draw in an average of £26,614 in revenue, thanks to their presence in nature or a quiet and peaceful location. Again, those featuring hot tubs, fires and accepting dogs will receive significantly more bookings than those properties which do not.
Shedding light on what type of break holidaymakers are seeking for the year ahead, the data suggested that 73% are excited to explore more unique staycation ideas in the UK. Of these, 81% of 25 to 34-year-olds are most likely to try something different, and inspiration for this age group was mainly taken from Instagram (36%) and TikTok (30%).
In fact, 58% of respondents who said they’re planning a staycation in the next year are seeking out a more unusual UK getaway. Over a quarter of those definitely taking a UK staycation in the coming year said they wanted to find somewhere special where they could return to time and time again or create truly memorable experiences.
Despite the data showing that some of the UK’s most popular hot spots such as Cornwall (47%), Devon (32%) and North Yorkshire (26%) remain in high demand for the coming year, just under a third said they would prefer to discover hidden corners of the UK, with nearly half of these saying they wanted to find unique experiences, 71% wanting to explore new places, and 48% seeking find a peaceful retreat.
For those looking for a quieter stay, one in fourteen said they were looking to book a stay in destinations such as Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, Kent and Gwynedd – presenting opportunities for tourism boards to support local businesses in drumming up further awareness about some of the UK’s more hidden corners in the year ahead.
When asked where in the UK people had been on staycation in the past, only a fifth of respondents said they’d stayed in the Heart of England (such as the Peak District and Oxfordshire), and 19% said they had been to the East of England (for example Norfolk and Suffolk). This compared with 35% saying they’d been to North England (areas like the Lake District, Yorkshire and Northumberland), 34% travelling to South West England (including Cornwall, Devon and Dorset), followed by Wales (25%), Scotland (24%) and the South Coast (22%).
The poll of 2,000 people across the UK also revealed that nearly half of Britons say they’re definitely intending to go on a staycation in the coming 12 months, with a further 40% saying they’re seriously considering one. A quarter of these respondents said they’d be taking their dog with them. And with over three quarters polled to be going on a UK staycation at least once or more in the in the last two years.
Key considerations when looking to unlock your land’s potential:
- What planning permission is required? Is your property a new build or a renovation?
- Is there any conservation consideration in your area?
- Is there sufficient water, electricity and waste systems?
- Are access routes for visitors sufficient?
- Would there be an impact on the local community?
- Research what financial grants may be available to support you
- What is the revenue potential of the property, and therefore the ROI potential?
- What additional facilities do you want to offer to help drive bookings, such as hot tub, fire pits, BBQs and wood burner