The Hot List: Emerging UK Travel Trends for 2026

Written By Lucy Murdoch
A person with short hair and colorful jewelry basks in golden sunlight in a wooded area, eyes closed in peaceful reflection. This serene moment captures the wellness and nature-focused experiences shaping current UK travel trends.

A quiet moment in the sun… the kind of luxury Hushpitality is really about.

Hushpitality: The New Luxury is Quiet

Forget the hustle. The biggest trend for 2026,  'Hushpitality,' redefines luxury. It’s an intentional escape from the hyper-connected, daily grind to simpler, nature-based, often beautifully remote locations. Think off-grid treehouses, calming farm stays, and new wellness retreats—all emerging to deliver one premium experience: pure, unadulterated peace.

Dark Sky Travel: Stargazing is the Ultimate Digital Detox

Craving the ultimate switch-off? Head where the light pollution can't follow. Locations with minimal or no artificial light are set to shine in 2026. The UK is home to multiple International Dark Sky Reserves and parks, famous for their breathtaking, pitch-black quality and dazzling starry nights. These locations are perfect for ‘star or dark sky bathing’. In fact, a greater connection to the night sky was highlighted recently in a new Feb 2024 NIght Sky Connectedness Index as contributing to health and happiness. 

Your UK Stargazing Hotspots:

  • Exmoor National Park (England): Europe's first Dark Sky Reserve (2011).

  • Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park (Wales).

  • Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park (Wales).

  • North York Moors National Park (England).

  • Yorkshire Dales National Park (England).

  • Cranborne Chase (England): A National Landscape.

  • Moore's Reserve (South Downs National Park, England).

A surf instructor in a blue wetsuit leads a group lesson on a misty beach, with students in pink wetsuits seated on surfboards. Surfing lessons like this are increasingly popular, especially along coastal destinations shaping UK travel trends.

From learning to surf with locals to learning to weave baskets, experience-led travel is all about doing, not just seeing.

Experience-Led Travel: Go Local, Get Personal

The checklist holiday is over. Today’s traveler demands meaningful engagement, seeking personal, unique experiences deep within local communities. Cultural activities, from theatre to literary tours, are getting a local, immersive makeover.

Some Fabulous Examples:

  • A Taste of History: Visit the Dennis Severs’ House for an immersive step back into the world of East London’s Huguenot immigrants.

  • Foodie Fun: Sign up for a cheese-making class at The River Cottage Cookery School in Devon or The School of Artisan Food in Nottinghamshire.

  • Master a Craft: Learn a traditional skill, from willow basket weaving to an embroidery course at The Royal School of Embroidery at Hampton Court Palace, or even try your hand at dry stone wall building at The Newt in Somerset. Seriously, there is something for everyone.

A pair of worn blue hiking shoes rest in tall grass and wildflowers overlooking a calm sea with a distant boat and misty hills. Coastal hikes and slow travel moments like this reflect emerging UK travel trends focused on nature and mindfulness.

Swap city breaks for boots, wildflowers, and fresh air.

Outdoor and Activity-Led Travel: Breathe the UK Air

The UK is an adventure playground for an active vacation. You'll find well-signposted coastal paths that wrap around the entire country, plus thousands of miles of trails, including the famous West Highland Way and The Cotswolds Way.

Pick Your Adventure:

  • Trails & Hikes: From mountain climbing in Scotland and Wales to Fell walking (on rugged terrain) in Cumbria, Scotland, and Wales, your boots will never be bored.

  • Watery fun: Wild swimming is popular in the UK—dive into the fairy pools on the Isle of Skye, explore tide pools in Cornwall, or find a lake in Cumbria. Plus, surfing is popular year-round in Cornwall, Wales, Devon, and Scotland.

  • Foraging: This emerging pastime lets you literally taste the local environment. Totally Wild UK offers expert-led day foraging events across the country, where you can learn the ropes and enjoy the fruits of your labor afterwards.

Off-Season and Shoulder Season Vacations: The Smart Traveler's Secret

For those with the flexibility to travel outside of school holidays, the off-season and shoulder season are your new best friends. Why? It's simple: a quieter holiday, zero crowds, brilliant prices, and the genuine welcome of locals who are thrilled to see you!

A flock of sheep graze on a lush green field under a clear blue sky, with rolling hills in the background in the UK countryside. Scenes like this highlight rural escapes that are growing in popularity as part of UK travel trends.

Dive into lesser-known destinations like Yorkshire, Cumbria, The Notswolds, and more!

New Destinations: Going Off-Radar

Savvy travelers are seeking out places well-loved by locals but less saturated with international visitors—places that perfectly deliver on the 'hushed,' cultural, and outdoor experiences we've been talking about.

  • Yorkshire: This untouched, gorgeous county offers the stunning North York Moors, historic gems like York and Harrogate, Bronte country, coastal villages, and that famous, down-to-earth Yorkshire welcome.

  • Cumbria: A simply beautiful county of lakes and hills. Whether you're feeling active or just want to curl up by a fire with a good book, this is the place. It's home to the Lake District National Park. Walk in the footsteps of William Wordsworth or visit Beatrix Potter’s home where Peter Rabbit was born.

  • Northumberland: Often overlooked, this county is packed with drama! Think stunning coastlines, epic castles (Alnwick, Bamburgh), Roman ruins along Hadrian's Wall, vast dark skies for stargazing, and unique islands like Holy Island.

  • Wales: An untouched gem featuring dramatic landscapes and coastlines. Known as the castle capital of the world (with over 600 to explore). Wales’ Coastal Path is one of the UK’s most stunning treks. Bonus: you can explore the fascinating Welsh language, a living Celtic culture.

  • The Notswolds: Named by House and Garden Magazine as an emerging alternative to the Cotswolds. Focused on the East Midlands, this area offers picturesque sandstone villages, market towns, and manor houses without the tourist traffic. Key spots include Stamford, Oakham, Uppingham, and villages in the Welland Valley.

A quiet reminder that travel should be slow and regenerative.

Regenerative Travel: Be a Transformer, Not Just a Tourist

This is one of the most important trends for 2026. From simply lessening your negative impact to actively leaving a place better than you found it. This is where intention meets itinerary.

  • Your Stay is Your Contribution: Forget faceless hotels. This is about choosing accommodation that is locally owned, ethically sourced, and directly fuels the economic well-being of the community. A great example is Cefn Coch Farm in the Cambrian mountains of Wales. You’re not just getting cozy self-catering; you’re staying where you can learn from an on-site ecologist and support projects like the nearby Cambrian Wildwood Project.

  • The Plate is Local: Regenerative travel means prioritizing dining experiences that source ingredients locally and seasonally. This choice dramatically shrinks your carbon footprint while strengthening local farmers and producers. It’s a delicious, direct investment in the regional economy and the UK is leading the way in the farm to table, ‘zero mile’ food movement.

  • Active Giving Back: You’re no longer just a spectator. Regenerative travelers actively engage in activities that benefit the destination. This could be volunteering on local conservation efforts or taking part in clean-ups—be it a beach sweep or a wildflower planting initiative in Cornwall.

Ready to plan your own transformative 2026 adventure? Check us out at www.insidestorytravel.com or email us at enquiries@insidestorytravel.com

Lucy Murdoch
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