£4.1 billion boost to the economy estimated as 11.2 million Brits planning a holiday at home this August bank holiday

Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025 0

VisitEngland’s August bank holiday trip tracker survey, published today, shows that 11.2 million Brits are definitely planning an overnight holiday trip in the UK this bank holiday weekend, bringing an estimated £4.1 billion boost to the economy.

The figures are just up on last year, when 11 million Brits planned to take an overnight trip in the UK during the August bank holiday weekend. Looking back at 2023 the figure was 9.7 million. This would give a much needed boost to the industry which has seen year-to-date domestic overnight trips decrease by 5% from 32.6 million in 2024 to 31.1 million in 2025 at the end of May.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

“From Cornwall and Cumbria to The Gower and Glasgow, Britain is blessed with so many fantastic destinations.

“The tourism industry is a vital part of the economy and it is great to see that this year, even more people are planning to make the most of the August bank holiday weekend by heading off on an overnight trip. This will not only provide millions with fantastic days out, but will also help create jobs and drive economic growth across the country.”

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 our globally renowned museums and art galleries to our buzzing food and music scene, from our great pubs to our beautiful coast and countryside, there is a destination to suit 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, making it difficult for businesses to plan in advance, and wanting to save on accommodation, activities, eating out and searching for good value options. 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 7.3 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 if I can afford it’, ‘waiting to see what the weather will be like’ and ‘waiting to see if there are any deals / special offers’.

Tourism is one of England’s largest and most valuable industries, delivering economic growth right across the country.

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, from food festivals to live music by the sea, please visit: VisitEngland’s 2025 Summertime News | 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 12^th and 14^th August 2025.
Trip volumes are based on an estimated adult (16+) population of 56 million in GB for 2025 (Office for National Statistics).
Economic impact is based on the average domestic overnight holiday spend of £369 per trip (Great Britain Tourism Survey, 2024 annual figures).
For the full report, visit VisitEngland’s bank holiday trip tracker page.

VisitEngland’s latest domestic consumer sentiment research towards travel, published on 22 July, can be accessed here https://www.visitbritain.org/domestic-sentiment-tracker