With cultural tourism accounting for 40 per cent of all tourism worldwide, today, Airbnb shares data that reveals a growing demand for heritage-related travel. In the UK, figures from Airbnb indicate that bookings for Historical Homes increased by over 80 per cent in 2021 compared to 2019 with over 90 per cent of bookings from local UK residents seeking homes in more remote rural locations.
To accommodate this growing demand, Airbnb has launched a new Historical Homes Category, making it easier for guests to discover almost 4,000 heritage homes in the UK - from a converted chapel in County Durham to a 12th-century castle in Fife. To date, the Historical Homes Category is available in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, with more countries available soon, bringing the current total number of Historical Homes on Airbnb to just under 20,000. Historical Homes Hosts on Airbnb offer unique listings of historical significance dating from the 19th-century or earlier.
According to Airbnb data, typical Host earnings for Hosts listing Historical Homes in the UK was almost £10,000 in 2021 compared to just over £6,000 for regular Hosts. This is equivalent to over three months’ additional pay for the median UK household, just by renting an Historic Home on Airbnb.
Alfonso Pallavicini, President of the EHHA, said: “The introduction of the Historical Homes Category is a strong driver of travel to heritage homes and it’s a powerful way to encourage people to travel to places they wouldn't normally visit. We’re delighted to collaborate with Airbnb and welcome this growing appreciation for heritage buildings we’re witnessing across the continent.”
Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb, said, “The new Historical Homes Category on Airbnb will not only allow travellers from all over the world to discover the richness of British cultural heritage, but it also opens up previously overlooked destinations and helps disperse tourism and its economic benefits in a more equitable way.”
Debi, Host of a charming Grade II listed Mews near Windsor, said: “Guests come from all over the world to stay in our historic 1887 Mews home on Airbnb. The mews is bursting with history and was originally owned by Baroness Cheylesmore. Our guests who stay are curious about the heritage and often visit historic landmarks nearby such as Windsor Castle and Magna Carta Libertatum. The mews has been lovingly restored and maintained, and we love meeting and hosting new guests through Airbnb, and being able to share the history of the property with them.”
From as far north as rural Dumfries and Galloway down to the bustling city of Oxford, Hosts of Historical Homes are welcoming guests across the country. The top trending UK destinations for stays in Historical Homes in 2022 to date are:
- Stratford-on-Avon
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Yorkshire Dales
- Hastings
- East Lindsey
- Chichester
- Leicester
- Peak District
- South Northamptonshire
- Oxford
As such, destinations where Hosts of Historical Homes earn the highest average income, based on 2021 Host earnings, include the Peak District, Inverness, Wiltshire, Pembrokeshire and Herefordshire.
To celebrate the launch of the new Historical Homes Category, Airbnb, today, reveals some of the most wishlisted Historical Homes in 2022 so far across the UK, from a romantic medieval castle in Peebles to a Grade II windmill in Stoke Ferry:
Former Abbey at Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Boleskine and Abertarff, Scotland
Dairsie Castle, Fife, Scotland
Chapel on the Hill, Forest-in-Teesdale, County Durham, England
Romantic Medieval Castle, Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland
Rustic Barn, Boscastle, Cornwall, England
The Bridge House, Ballintuim, Perthshire, Scotland
16th-century castle, Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Scotland
7 Storey Grade II Windmill, Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, England
Unique Church Conversion, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Entire Castle, Wiltshire, England
To inspire travellers on their next heritage adventure, even more Historic Homes can be found in a wishlist here.
Prospective Historical Homes Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn by sharing their space on Airbnb through the What’s My Place Worth tool. The interactive tool computes the estimated income based on geography, type of listing, and uses prior Airbnb booking data in the area. For more information, visit Airbnb.com/host.
