Brits will struggle to get away on a weekend break in the UK for less than £500, according to new research.
The rising cost of living is pushing up the price-tag of staycations, with an inflation rate of around 10% causing hotels, transport and meals out to become more expensive.
New research suggests the cheapest average weekend away in the UK currently costs £572, whilst visiting the most expensive city will set you back £1,230.
The research, conducted by travel experts Jersey Island Holidays, worked out the price of two nights of accommodation, restaurant meals, fast food lunches, taxi rides, public transport and a cinema/theatre excursion.
Leicester is the cheapest destination - but will still cost over £500 for a couple to visit - followed by Coventry, Cardiff and Northampton.
The biggest expense when going away is accommodation, as the average hotel costs £75 a night, while an Airbnb is priced at £117 per night
In reality, holidaymakers need to be budgeting at least £700 when planning their staycation, as the data reveals that the average UK city costs £715 to visit.
London came out as the most expensive destination for a weekend break at £1,230.
The price rises further if there are more than two people planning to get away, with a family of four expected to shell out an additional £130 on just food and drinks alone.
Airbnbs are the most expensive in London, costing an average of £195 a night, but also proved particularly costly in Brighton (£145), York (£138) and Edinburgh (£136).
The research also doesn’t take into account additional costs associated with getting away, such as travel to/from the city destination, additional leisure activities or excursions, or boozy nights out.
Top 10 cheapest cities for a weekend break this spring
- Leicester, £572
- Coventry, £581
- Cardiff, £588
- Northampton, £592
- Stoke-on-Trent, £611
- Leeds, £621
- Birmingham, £643
- Cambridge, £547
- Belfast, £652
- Portsmouth, £655
Top 10 most expensive cities for a weekend getaway
- City of London, £1,230
- Manchester, £980
- Edinburgh, £847
- Brighton, £799
- Southampton, £792
- Hull, £785
- Nottingham, £745
- Bristol, £726
- Reading, £705
- York, £700
A separate poll commissioned by Sykes this week revealed 27% of holidaymakers are more likely to book a staycation this year due to the rising cost of living.
A massive 94% said it is important to them that they are getting good value for money when booking a holiday – however, 26% of those who are planning to go away this year said their holiday kitties have decreased because of the rising costs they are contending with.
The study, conducted via OnePoll, found the average traveller will set aside nearly £1,800 for their trips this year.
To help keep within their budgets, one in three will book their getaways out of peak seasons, while 29% will spend more time researching the best deals.
And 28% will book self-catering accommodation so they can keep the cost of meals down while away.
