The number one staycation spot of 2020 has been revealed - will you visit in 2021?

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published 27 December 2020

With travel largely cancelled, 2020 quickly became the year of the staycation - the year we all decided to explore a bit more of the country we call home.

Foreign holidays have been pretty much off the table for most of us in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with travel corridors, quarantine and the spread of the virus making it safer and easier to stay put.

But with everyone having enjoyed more staycations than ever this year, which has been the most popular spot to visit in the UK? And could it be your next vacation spot for 2021?

The top UK staycation spot of 2020

You might expect that in a year of social-distancing and pubs, restaurants and entertainment venues being shut down, that we'd all be flocking to the seaside and countryside to enjoy some fresh air and respite in nature.

But it seems not - as the top staycation spot has been revealed to be none other than London!

holidaycottages.co.uk revealed that 11% of us chose to stop over for a break in the capital this year, making it the most popular staycation location of 2020.

This year has certainly been a unique time to enjoy the city - with many venues closed and social distancing required when pubs and restaurants are open, visitors will have had to find different ways to make the most of all that London has to offer.

If you were expecting more rural locations to have topped this list though, you've not gone far wrong - as Cornwall and Devon took the joint second spot, while the city of Edinburgh took the fourth spot, and the Lake District the fifth.

When participants in the survey were asked where their dream staycation for 2021 would be, Cornwall scored equally highly, taking the number one spot. The Scottish Highlands came in a close second, with Devon third, the Lake District fourth, and the Yorkshire Dales fifth.

So where will you be holidaying in 2021? Will you choose to explore more of the UK - or will you be heading abroad as soon as it's possible?

Amy Hunt is an experienced digital journalist specialising in homes, interiors and hobbies. She began her career working as the features assistant at woman&home magazine, before moving over to the digital side of the brand where she eventually became the Lifestyle Editor up until January 2022. Amy won the Digital Journalist of the Year award at the AOP Awards in 2019 for her work on womanandhome.com.