Analysis of long weekend booking patterns, by online booking engine Eviivo, reveals that the seaside is the favourite place for extended weekend stays.
Seaside locations including Blackpool, Torquay, Scarborough, Weymouth and Brighton figure prominently in Eviivo’s analysis, which is based on aggregate annual booking data from nearly 6,000 bed and breakfasts and small hotels UK-wide.
Eviivo has attributed its findings to the heavy investment in the arts and a flourishing food culture which has created a surge of interest in seaside towns.
Spending a long weekend in London is still a popular choice, and the capital takes second place in the overall list behind Blackpool, but the remainder of the top 20 is largely comprised of seaside resorts.
Forward booking data by Eviivo for this year also points to B&Bs becoming increasingly popular with UK and international guests, with bookings for this summer already up 10.3% year on year.
The renaissance in B&Bs is attributable to the emergent popularity of independent British accommodation providers and the weaker pound, which is acting as both a deterrent for international travel and a magnet for inbound tourist traffic.
Commenting on the findings, Ruth Whitehead, director at Eviivo, said: “Long weekend breaks, romantic or otherwise, provide an all-important punctuation mark for British workers and are a great opportunity to experience some of the UK’s hidden gems.”
Find the full set of rankings below:
| Ranking | City/town |
| 1. | Blackpool |
| 2. | London |
| 3. | Edinburgh |
| 4. | Torquay |
| 5. | York |
| 6. | Scarborough |
| 7. | Weymouth |
| 8. | Glasgow |
| 9. | Llandudn |
| 10. | Great Yarmouth |
| 11. | Shanklin |
| 12. | Newquay |
| 13. | Norwich |
| 14. | Bournemouth |
| 15. | Keswick |
| 16. | Paignton |
| 17. | Whitby |
| 18. | Canterbury |
| 19. | Brighton |
| 20. | Windermere |
