Summer has finally arrived here in the UK which means many Brits will be planning on enjoying the warmer weather with loved ones on staycations.
A recent study shows almost three-fifths of Brits (57 percent) plan to take between two and four staycations in 2024.
Additionally, Google searches for ‘UK road trips’ have risen by 84 percent in the last 12 months as Brits look for the most scenic drives this summer.
With this in mind, Specialist insurance broker ChoiceQuote has looked at search and social media data to uncover the UK’s most in-demand scenic hotspots for Britons looking to take road trips this summer.
But which UK destination takes the top spot?
Windermere was named the most in-demand scenic road trip location in the UK. The Cumbrian town was found to have, on average, 141,000 monthly searches on Instagram and 110,000 monthly searches on Google. Searches for Windermere have increased 122 percent in the past 12 months.
If you’re looking for a shorter route, Windermere to Grasmere via Ambleside is 8.8 miles making it perfect for a summer afternoon drive. Alternatively, Windermere to Ullswater via Kirkstone Pass is a 17-mile drive, great for those who have more time to soak up the scenery.
In the heart of the Lake District National Park with its breathtaking scenery, it is clear to see why Windermere is an unmissable road trip location this summer.
Keswick in the Lake District and Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds take joint second place as the most scenic road trip locations.
Keswick boasts a staggering 116,000 monthly searches on Instagram, making it clear that Brits are keen to find out more about the picture-perfect town. Not only that but Google searches for the town have increased by 123 percent, with around 90,000 monthly searches for the road trip hot spot.
The Keswick Loop via Buttermere and Borrowdale is a 23-mile route that is a great way to see what the area has to offer. Bourton-on-the-Water is known for its honey-coloured stone architecture and idyllic village scenes. It is no surprise that Google monthly searches for the British village have risen by 124 percent in the last 12 months reaching a total of 135,000 average monthly searches.
The research also found that the Cotswolds village also has a huge 171,000 monthly searches on Instagram making it one of the most sought-after road trip locations in the UK.
A scenic route from Bourton-on-the-Water to Broadway via Chipping Campden is a 31-mile journey, perfect to take in all of the historically rich surroundings.
Meanwhile, St Ives, a historically acclaimed seaside town in Cornwall that’s known for its fantastic beaches and art galleries, took the third spot with 173,000 monthly Instagram searches.
The town also totals an impressive 135,000 monthly Google searches, with 49 percent growth in searches in the past 12 months.
The 60-mile route from St Ives to Padstow via Hayle makes the perfect scenic road trip along the Cornish coastline. With its outstanding beauty, it is clear to see why so many Brits look to venture to St Ives this summer.
The top 10 best scenic road trips in the UK
1. Windermere, Lake District
2. Keswick, Lake District
2. Bourton-on-the-water, The Cotswolds
4. St Ives, Cornwall
4. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
5. Grasmere, Lake District
6. Durdle door, Dorset
7. Tenby, Pembrokeshire
8. Lyme Regis, Dorset
9. Cromer, Norfolk
10. Bude, Cornwall