UK Staycations 2026

The UK climate is changing. Perhaps a bit faster than we thought it would.

UK tourists use approximately 20 million tons of CO2 each year flying for holidays alone. The affect of that on global warming is doubled by the fact that at high altitudes aircraft release other emissions such as Nitrogen Oxide.

Those that decided to stay at home this summer were rewarded with a glorious hot spell that pretty much lasted from May to October. Day after day of clear skies. Warm evenings. Beaches packed but still enjoyable if you timed it right.

At the same time there are Brexit barriers to holidaying abroad. The new Entry Exit System means fingerprints and photos at the border. Complicated Pet regulations if you want to take the dog. Longer queues at every airport. Roaming charges that catch you out. Passport validity rules that trip people up.

Plus, the heat around the Mediterranean in high summer is becoming unbearable. July and August temperatures regularly push past 40 degrees in places that used to feel manageable. Air conditioning runs constantly. Outdoor dining turns into a sweat. Wildfires make the news more often.

If summers are going to be warmer, why not save the CO2 and probably some cash and take a staycation.

The United Kingdom has some fantastic places to visit and stay. The coast of Northumbria delivers empty beaches and dramatic castles. Cornwall has the cooling effect of the Atlantic even when the rest of the country is baking. London never stops, but the parks and riverside walks feel different in good weather. The Cambrian mountains in Wales offer quiet roads and proper hills. The wilderness of the Scottish Highlands remains vast and largely empty if you go beyond the usual honeypots.

I am late to this party. The UK is a fabulous place to take a vacation. There is so much to do and see once you stop looking overseas.

Public transport has improved in places. Train journeys along the coast become part of the holiday. Local pubs and independent places do well when people stay closer to home. Campsites and self-catering cottages fill up early. Booking ahead matters more than usual.

Weather still varies by region. Scotland stays cooler in the north. The south and east take the heat. That spreads the options out: one week on the beach, another walking hills. No need to fly for contrast.

Costs add up differently. No airport parking, currency exchange fees or last-minute baggage charges. Money stays in local economies instead of leaving the country.

All the footage in this video is from my summer of 2026. It was a great year to go nowhere.