A SMALL city in the UK has been surprisingly picked as the country’s most popular staycation spot, according to search data.
The South West is easily one of the most picturesque places in the country but few might predict that Exeter would pip spots in Cornwall and elsewhere in Devon as the most glamorous.
However, according to numbers put together marketing company Semetrical, more people search for glamping hoildays in Exeter than they do anywhere else in the nation every month.
Brits picked up a penchant for glamping holidays during the pandemic, but that interest has remained.
There are now as many as 42,000 searches in the UK for glamping every month, according to the figures analysed by Semetrical, which were released by search engine optimisation (SEO) specialists Ahref.
Of those searches, 40.4 per cent are aimed at glamping holidays in Exeter, a pretty city of 130,000 that sits right on the river Exe.
That’s 7,000 more each month than second place Northern Ireland, which gets 10,000 people looking for glamping holidays each month.
Shockingly, the Lake District is only the third most popular place, with 9,500 monthly searches, ahead of fourth place Scotland (7,700) and Yorkshire (6,000).
Sophie Mizrachi, Content Manager at Semetrical said: “Drawing from Ahrefs search data, it’s evident that Brits love a good glamping holiday.
“Exeter takes the lead with a search volume of 17,000, which is no surprise with so many beautiful coastal spots and nature reserves in the area.”
There are plenty of ways in which people can enjoy a day out in Exeter, including with a good cheap drink.
The city’s Wetherspoon pub is said to be the “fanciest” in the country, according to its patrons.
One wrote on Reddit that The Imperial was, in their opinion, one of the best looking of the pub chain in the country.
They singled out its wrought iron barrel vaulted orangery as its signature feature.
However, its old ballroom, now a dining area cost a man called Sir George Chudleigh £120,000 and was initially intended to be a replica of Buckingham Palace.
Meanwhile, the city centre also has several award-winning attractions to visit, including its cathedral and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery.
Some of the best staycation destinations for 2024
Bristol
The arty harbour city was the top spot on the list and is bursting with culture and trendy cafes scattered along the River Avon.
A bubbling hub for creatives, Bristol is the birthplace of street artist Banksy, and you can admire some of his best early works on a free walking tour.
2. Hull
The Humberside port city started to get recognition last year, and it has a thriving nightlife scene – if that’s something you’re after.
The old town is crawling with history and classy buildings, whose walls have many stories to tell and The Deep is a fascinating aquarium attraction.
3. Isles of Scilly
Just off the Cornish coast, it’s easy to see why the archipelago made it into the top three.
Here, you can expect golden sandy beaches where you will be able to spot dolphins beyond the shoreline, as well as seafront pubs serving up hearty grub.
They both picked up TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice gongs this year for the positive feedback they’ve received from visitors on the review site.
The city’s quayside also claimed the same prize, as did the Underground Passages – 14th Century Medieval passages that run beneath the high street.
According to Visit Exeter, they are the only passages of this kind open to the public in Britain.
Though there are lots of rumours about the passages’ history, including stories of war and plagues, they were primarily designed to bring clean water to the city from natural springs outside.
After exploring the city, visitors can spend time relaxing at the beach, with several stretches of shoreline well worth a visit near the city.
They include the likes of Dawlish Warren Beach and Exmouth Beach, among others.
A night for two in the city can be booked from £60 in a hotel.
However, if you’re following the trend and heading for a glamping break, a night for two in a converted cabin will set you back around £50 for two.
Meanwhile, this seaside town has been named the best in the UK for the fourth year in a row.
And The Sun’s travel experts have revealed some of their favourite staycation spots.
