A record number of Brits are ditching their traditional Christmas Day at home in favour of a getaway with their family, according to new figures. Instead of spending the day in their own homes, figures show that a large number of people are planning to escape the in-laws, avoid cooking a big dinner or find a bigger location to host the entire family by going away for the Christmas period.
Data released by the UK’s leading holiday home lettings company show that, compared to 2012, almost double the number of people are planning to spend Christmas away from home in a rented cottage or villa this year.
A spokesman for Holiday Lettings said:
“Traditionally, Christmas was about spending the day at home with your family.
“But now, it seems many are keen to escape the stress of cooking dinner or the dilemma of trying to fit everyone around your dinner table by heading elsewhere.
“Not only do you all get to spend the festive period on neutral ground, but it means everyone can chip in with the Christmas dinner, rather than it being left to whoever hosts it.
“The trend is also likely to be caused by extended families, and relatives now living in different locations around the country.
“Instead of a few people traveling a long way, it can make sense for some families to find a cottage in a central location and everyone heading there for Christmas Day together instead.”
Figures from Holiday Lettings show that rather than escaping to the country, festive travellers are looking for a cottage or house in the city with London the most popular destination for the Christmas week.
Edinburgh has also seen a large number of bookings followed by Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, the south west city of Bath and York.
Other popular UK locations for spending the Christmas week include Brighton, the New Forest, St Ives in Cornwall and Whitby, in Yorkshire.
Windermere, in the Lack District completed the top ten.
TOP TWENTY LOCATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK (22nd – 29th December)
1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Cirencester, Gloucestershire
4. Bath
5. York
6. Brighton and Hove
7. New Forest
8. St Ives, Cornwall
9. Whitby, North Yorkshire
10. Windermere, Lake District
11. Stratford-upon-Avon
12. Newquay, Cornwall
13. Stroud, Gloucestershire
14. Aviemore, Scotland
15. Bournemouth, Dorset
16. Matlock, Derbyshire
17. Croyde, Devon
18. Keswick, Cumbria
19. Weymouth, Dorset
20. Ambleside, Lake District