Where to Find a Holiday By the Sea This Summer

The Great British staycation is selling out fast. Space is particularly tight for self-catering accommodation at coastal hotspots around the UK. And now that an extension on the foreign travel ban looks increasingly likely, there will be even more of a squeeze on summer holiday accommodation as people snap up remaining rentals for stays by the sea.

However, there are still some holiday properties available this summer. The choice may be limited but there are some real gems, even in most popular locations, especially if you can choose one of the less busy weeks. While quieter and lesser-known destinations have a greater range of accommodation left for holidaymakers who are willing to try somewhere different.

See our list of the Top 10 Coastal Properties You Can Book Now for Summer 2021 >

Most Popular UK Coastal Holiday Destinations

Google search data for the Simply Sea Views site for the last 28 days (prior to 26th March) shows that the most popular locations for holiday accommodation searches are:

1. Cornwall – 8% of all clicks
2. Devon – 7.5% of all clicks
3. Norfolk – 3.6% of all clicks
4. Northumberland – 3.5% of all clicks
5. Dorset – 2.5% of all clicks

The popularity of these locations is reflected by the number of remaining self-catering properties available in these coastal areas on our site.

Areas with the least remaining availability for the school summer holidays are:

1. Suffolk – 97% booked
2. Cornwall – 95% booked
3. Norfolk – 94% booked
4. Devon – 93% booked
5. Pembrokeshire – 91% booked

UK Coastal Destinations with the Most Remaining Availability

Areas with the most remaining availability for the school summer holidays are:

1. Essex – 42% booked
2. Lancashire – 51% booked
3. Cumbria – 68% booked
4. Conwy – 69% booked
5. Argyll & Bute – 75% booked

Weeks With the Best Chances of Finding a Staycation Property

If you can travel outside the school summer holidays, you stand a much better chance of finding a suitable property for your holiday. The best bet is the week at the very end of August and into September, where there is the most availability left with only 76% of properties booked nationally. The busiest weeks with very limited choice are the first three weeks of the school summer holidays which average around 90% booked across the whole country.

National average booking levels per week:
Wk1 – 03/07/2020 – 85% booked
Wk2 – 10/07/2020 – 86% booked
Wk2 – 17/07/2020 – 84% booked
Wk2 – 24/07/2020 – 90% booked
Wk2 – 31/07/2020 – 91% booked
Wk2 – 07/08/2020 – 90% booked
Wk2 – 14/08/2020 – 88% booked
Wk2 – 21/08/2020 – 87% booked
Wk2 – 28/08/2020 – 76% booked
Summer Average 86% booked

Find a Holiday Home by the Sea for this Summer

So there are a few places left if you have flexibility on dates and destinations. Take a look at our list of the Top 10 Coastal Properties You Can Book Now for Summer 2021 or use our accommodation search to find your own holiday home by the sea.