UK's 8 best cheap holiday destinations promise stunning views
While Blackpool might often be thought of as the go-to cheap family getaway, it's been toppled from the top spot and dropped down to third due to having the most expensive day out.
Taking its place at the top of the table for the best value holiday is the Lake District, with plenty of cheap and free things to do among its stunning mountains and waterways. In 2025, research from the finance firm RIFT revealed that a family day out in the Lake District costs an average of £42, a significant saving compared to the £215 total for a family to visit Blackpool's Pleasure Beach.
Despite the high entry costs at the theme park, Blackpool still offers the most affordable hospitality - a pint of beer in the resort currently averages £4.10, while Brighton remains the most expensive destination surveyed, with the average pint now costing £6.85 according to their latest pricing analysis
But it's not just the north that has good value destinations, with the research also listing Dorset – famous for its rugged Jurassic Coast - and Devon - with its rolling hills and sandy beaches - in the top half of the table.
Rift analysed costs for a family of four for a night's accommodation, a day out to a nearby famous attraction, a pint of beer and a portion of fish and chips.
Eight popular destinations were studied to create the Staycation Index - Lake District, Dorset, Blackpool, Devon, the Cotswolds, Brighton, the Peak District and Cornwall.
While the list of destinations remains the same as previous years, recent data shows that the average cost per night for a UK trip has reached £107, with a total average spend of £312 per person per domestic break.
For families staying overnight, Blackpool continues to offer the most competitive rates, with average accommodation costing £182.40 per night for a family of four. In contrast, the Cotswolds remains the most expensive region, with nightly rates climbing to £258.10, followed by the Lake District at £237.50.
Dining costs have also risen; a standard portion of fish and chips now costs £12.15 in Blackpool, while visitors to Brighton face a premium price of £15.40 based on 2025/2026 local vendor data.
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It was also cheaper to stay in Blackpool than the Lake District, which cost £206.40 a night for a family of four. But its day out to The World of Beatrix Potter a stone’s throw from Lake Windemere (pictured) has dropped 35% to just £33 for the whole family.
A portion of fish and chips will only set tourists back £10.48 in Blackpool compared to £13.06 in Brighton - the most expensive.
Hospitality inflation continues to reshape the domestic market in 2026. Short-term accommodation prices have seen a more moderate 6% year-on-year increase following the dramatic post-pandemic surges.
The average cost of a family day out has risen by 5% to £78, while the average price of a pint has increased by 7% to £5.15.
A traditional fish and chip supper now costs an average of £13.80 —a 9% increase over the last 12 months as operators pass on rising energy and ingredient costs according to ONS and RIFT data.
Bradley Post, managing director at Rift, said: “The recent wet weather might not be the only factor putting you off a staycation this year. Our latest index shows that with inflation having only just eased, the cost of everything from accommodation to some fish and chips is higher than it was last year.
"So with the economy now finding its feet, we’d encourage you to help further its recovery by spending your hard-earned money holidaying domestically and supporting local businesses and the domestic tourism industry.”
Cheap UK holidays
The Staycation Index ranks destinations on the price of a number of common items such as accommodation, food, drinks and days out to give destinations a score. The higher the score, the better value the location.
- The Lake District - 5.06
- Dorset - 4.11
- Blackpool - 4.05
- Devon - 4.03
- The Cotswolds - 4.02
- Brighton - 3.86
- The Peak District - 3.78
- Cornwall - 3.63
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