The great British holiday boom

Research by Kelkoo shows the UK is fast becoming our favourite holiday destination

This time of the year is traditionally spent booking oversees holidays as people plan sunny breaks later in the year.  This year however, statistics from Kelkoo show that the number of people searching for holidays in the UK is up by 39%, whilst searches for long haul holidays are down 12%. Kelkoo has seen a 21% rise in people searching for cottages and holiday homes in areas like the Lake District, Cornwall and Dorset . Walking holidays and short breaks in the UK have also seen an increase of 18%.

To coincide with Brits staying closer to home, Kelkoo has seen a rise in people searching for outdoorsy products such as hiking boots, tents, and camping stoves. Some of our favourite outward-bound brands are benefiting from this trend, with Northface enjoying a year-on-year increase in searches of 22%, Timberland 28% and Berghaus 14% respectively. It seems the bad weather isn't a turn-off for us hardy Brits, with people preparing for rain by searching for Barbour waterproof jackets, which are up 12% year-on-year.

As well seeing a marked increase in people searching for outward-bound clothing, Brits are arming themselves with all the required accessories to ensure a successful trip, with roof racks seeing an increase of 15% year on year. Some people are even opting to forgo the cottage and get back to nature in a tent, which have benefited from a 10% increase.

This trend may also be fuelled by top celebrities who are known for their love of the great outdoors. Rosine Murphy and Liz Hurley (and the rest of the Cotswolds set) are known to enjoy the delights on our doorstep, whilst Kate Moss always camps when she visits Glastonbury each year, abet in an ultra-luxurious tent!

Bruce Fair, Managing Director, Kelkoo said: "Whether this is down to early effects of the credit crunch, worry over carbon footprint, or just people wanting a holiday with a bit of a difference, we've certainly seen searches for UK holidays and outward-bound products increase over the past 12 months. Smart shoppers are searching Kelkoo's 3000+ brands and leading retailers to secure the best price. In addition users are increasingly looking for a convenient and reliable delivery service to allow them to spend less time waiting around for deliveries and more time enjoying their precious holiday period."