Coastal staycation holidays vs. city stays, does the cost vary in the UK?

Coastal staycation holidays commanding a -30% price premium vs city stays

The latest research by Butter, the UK’s only Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) travel agency, has revealed the varying cost of a UK staycation holiday this summer depending on whether you opt for city, coast or country holiday.

With yet more changes to travelling abroad causing further chaos and uncertainty over recent weeks, Butter looked at the average hotel room rate in August and how it differed across 10 of the best coastal, country and city locations in the UK.

The Coast - £117 per night

The research shows that a trip to the coast requires by far the largest budget, with the average room rate coming in at £117 per night. However, this climbs to £202 per night in St Ives, the most expensive of all coastal staycation destinations analysed by Hoo. Bournemouth also ranks high at £156, as does Brighton (£145), with Tynemouth presenting the most affordable option for a coastal getaway at just £65 per night.

Beach huts coastal staycation travel

The Country - £111 per night

A countryside retreat doesn’t come much cheaper than the cost and Butter’s research shows that the average staycation in the sticks will set you back £111 per night, - 5% cheaper than the coast. The Scottish Highlands comes out on top as the least affordable at £150 per night, with the Isle of Wight also amongst the highest hotel costs (£133).

However, the Peak District (£89), Brecon Beacons (£89) and Snowdonia (£95) do offer the chance of a week away in the country for less than £100 per night on average.

Snowdonia landscape countryside staycation travel

The City - £82

The city break is perhaps the most underrated when it comes to a staycation option but it could also prove the most affordable for those looking for a budget break this summer. Butter’s research shows that on average, hotel room rates across 10 of the UK’s major cities come in at just £82 per night, -26% more affordable than the country and -30% less than the coast.

Birmingham is the most affordable at just £63 per night on average, while Swansea (£64) also presents an affordable option, with the additional benefit of a trip to the seaside for those that want to venture out of the city for a day. Of course, not all cities are as affordable and London ranks as the least so at £126 per night on average, with Edinburgh (£123) also costing over £100 per night.

Birmingham architecture city break travel

Timothy Davis, Co-Founder and CEO of Butter, commented:

“During the summer months a staycation by the sea is always going to be the go-to for many, but this higher demand will often mean paying above the odds for a place to stay. So if you’re struggling to find accommodation, let alone afford it, a trip to one of our many great major cities could make a fantastic alternative.

If you do have your heart set on sand, sea and fish and chips, though, don’t lose hope just yet. There are a number of seaside locations that offer a more affordable option to the south coast summer hotspots of St Ives and Bournemouth.

There’s also the option to spread the cost which many of us don’t consider when holidaying in the UK as we often book direct. However, with a Buy Now Pay Later travel agent like Butter you can still do so while opting to spread the cost over a number of months, doing so even after you’ve been away. What’s more, any reputable Buy Now Pay Later travel firm will allow you to do so interest free, so it can be a great option when maximising your time spent enjoying the British summer.”

Staycation Type	Average Room Rate	Difference
Seaside	£117	N/A	-30%
Countryside	£111	-5%
City	£82	-26%

Location	Type	Average price per night
St Ives	Seaside	£202
Bournemouth	Seaside	£156
Scottish Highlands	Countryside	£150
Brighton	Seaside	£145
Isle of Wight	Countryside	£133
London	City	£126
Portmeirion	Countryside	£125
Whitby	Seaside	£124
Edinburgh	City	£123
Lake District	Countryside	£115
Margate	Seaside	£109
New Forest	Countryside	£109
Dartmoor	Countryside	£104
The Cotswolds	Countryside	£101
Great Yarmouth	Seaside	£100
Aberystwyth	Seaside	£99
Snowdonia	Countryside	£95
Skegness	Seaside	£92
Brecon Beacons	Countryside	£89
Peak District	Countryside	£89
Glasgow	City	£80
Belfast	City	£80
Liverpool	City	£77
Blackpool	Seaside	£76
Cardiff	City	£71
Newcastle	City	£68
Manchester	City	£66
Tynemouth	Seaside	£65
Swansea	City	£64
Birmingham	City	£63
Data sourced from Butter and Booking.com based on a seven night stay from Aug 9th - 16th, in 3 star accommodation, 1 room and 2 adults (correct as of 03.06.21).