Awaze reports late sales surge to coastal resorts in northern England

Awaze has reported a "significant" spike in late bookings to coastal destinations in the north of England over the May half-term and bank holiday.

The sales surge seen by the group’s brands Hoseasons and Cottages.com were attributed to the recent heatwave coinciding with the school holiday and long bank holiday weekend, which the company said had triggered interest in last-minute, closer to home stays at the seaside.

The domestic operator said coastal bookings in the last seven days for Hoseasons were up 62% year on year in northeast England, with the area of Hornsea experiencing a particularly sharp increase.

Similarly, Cottages.com’s seaside properties in the northwest of England enjoyed a 50% bookings boost on this time last year. Whitby, Bridlington and Filey were the top-selling destinations for Cottages.com.

Other strong coastal sellers for Hoseasons included Great Yarmouth, Bude and Weston-Super-Mare.

Awaze said global uncertainty and continued cost-of-living pressures were also increasing the appeal of UK staycations.

Awaze chief executive Matthew Price said: “We’ve seen a significant uplift in last-minute coastal bookings as consumers sought respite from the heat through seaside getaways.

“Traditional coastal hotspots performed particularly strongly, with holidaymakers drawn to easy-to-reach seaside destinations combining striking coastlines, traditional seaside charm and a genuine sense of escape closer to home.

“What’s increasingly clear is that flexibility, convenience and affordability are continuing to shape travel decisions, with UK staycations continuing to appeal to holidaymakers seeking high-quality breaks that can be planned quickly and enjoyed at short notice.”