UK's 8 best cheap holiday destinations promise stunning views
While Blackpool might often be thought of as the go-to cheap family getaway, it's been toppled from the top spot and dropped down to third due to having the most expensive day out.
Taking its place at the top of the table for the best value holiday is the Lake District, with plenty of cheap and free things to do among its stunning mountains and waterways. In fact, finance firm RIFT found a family day out costs just £33 in the Lakes, compared to a £180 dent in the wallet for a family to visit Blackpool's Pleasure Beach.
But it's not just the north that has good value destinations, with the research also listing Dorset – famous for its rugged Jurassic Coast - and Devon - with its rolling hills and sandy beaches - in the top half of the table.
Rift analysed costs for a family of four for a night's accommodation, a day out to a nearby famous attraction, a pint of beer and a portion of fish and chips.
Eight popular destinations were studied to create the Staycation Index - Lake District, Dorset, Blackpool, Devon, the Cotswolds, Brighton, the Peak District and Cornwall.
While Blackpool's Pleasure Beach broke the budget, it does have the cheapest pint at £3.30 compared to the most expensive price of £5.90 in Brighton. Blackpool, with its iconic tower and famous theme park also won points for the cheapest accommodation at £158.60 compared to the most expensive price of £220.50 in the Cotswolds.
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It was also cheaper to stay in Blackpool than the Lake District, which cost £206.40 a night for a family of four. But its day out to The World of Beatrix Potter a stone’s throw from Lake Windemere (pictured) has dropped 35% to just £33 for the whole family.
A portion of fish and chips will only set tourists back £10.48 in Blackpool compared to £13.06 in Brighton - the most expensive.
Inflation has had a big impact on UK holiday destinations this year, with the average price of short-term accommodation on Airbnb across all eight destinations rising 33% year-on-year.
The average day out for a family of four has risen 8% in the last year to £63, while there's been a 3% rise in the cost of a pint, up to £4.41.
A fish and chip supper has risen 4% year on year, costing an average £11.69, Rift's research found.
Bradley Post, managing director at Rift, said: “The recent wet weather might not be the only factor putting you off a staycation this year. Our latest index shows that with inflation having only just eased, the cost of everything from accommodation to some fish and chips is higher than it was last year.
"So with the economy now finding its feet, we’d encourage you to help further its recovery by spending your hard-earned money holidaying domestically and supporting local businesses and the domestic tourism industry.”
Cheap UK holidays
The Staycation Index ranks destinations on the price of a number of common items such as accommodation, food, drinks and days out to give destinations a score. The higher the score, the better value the location.
- The Lake District - 5.06
- Dorset - 4.11
- Blackpool - 4.05
- Devon - 4.03
- The Cotswolds - 4.02
- Brighton - 3.86
- The Peak District - 3.78
- Cornwall - 3.63
A spokesperson from Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort said: "It's difficult to compare an amusement park to smaller attractions such as museums, which guests typically visit for shorter periods, have lower operating costs, and are often subsidised.
"However, we offer much better rates by booking in advance online, where tickets for two adults and two children start at £122. We have worked hard to keep our prices low in spite of our rising running costs."
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