LONDONERS SET TO LEAD UK’S OVERSEAS TRAVEL BOOM IN 2026
Londoners are emerging as the UK’s most adventurous travellers heading into 2026, with new research pointing to a strong appetite for long-haul, experience-led holidays as the capital looks beyond city breaks and closer-to-home escapes.
A survey of 2,000 adults conducted for AllClear Travel Insurance suggests residents of the capital are more likely than any other group in the UK to be planning overseas travel in the year ahead. Romance, cruise holidays, winter sun and walking trips feature prominently on Londoners’ wish-lists, reflecting a desire to escape urban life rather than replicate it elsewhere.
More than half of Londoners surveyed said they were considering a winter sun beach holiday in early 2026, compared with a national average of 45 per cent. Romantic breaks were also notably popular, with a third of Londoners planning a Valentine’s getaway, significantly above the UK average of 24 per cent. Interest in cruise holidays and countryside walking trips was similarly elevated, as was demand for music festival travel and winter sports.
By contrast, traditional city breaks – a staple of short-haul European travel – failed to resonate with London respondents. While more than a third of people across the UK said they were interested in city break holidays, fewer than a quarter of Londoners shared that enthusiasm, underlining a broader desire to step away from urban environments altogether.
That appetite for escape is also shaping destination choices. While Mediterranean hotspots remain popular nationally, Londoners are increasingly looking further afield. Japan, East Asia and the Pacific ranked among the most popular destinations, alongside Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean, signalling a clear tilt towards long-haul travel.
Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at AllClear Travel Insurance, said the findings offer an early glimpse into how consumers are thinking about travel in the wake of economic pressures. “Our new data gives an early indication of consumer travel plans for 2026 and despite the economic challenges of 2025 – or maybe because of them – people are already thinking about the breaks from everyday life they will be looking for this year. It’s quite possible that the cold, wet weather and dark evenings at home are also at play in making people think of winter sun, ski or cruise holidays to start the year.”
The strength of Londoners’ travel ambitions will be welcomed by airlines, tour operators and cruise companies seeking signs of sustained demand after a volatile period for the travel industry. However, the research also highlights growing awareness of risk, particularly among travellers with health concerns.
“The broad-based desire of Londoners to travel abroad this year is good news for the travel industry,” Nelson said. “That said, our research underscores the importance of safety abroad and people thinking early about getting comprehensive travel cover when shopping around for holidays over the New Year period. Not only are a lot of Londoners considering long-haul travel in 2026, but many people with pre-existing medical conditions (78%) say they are looking to travel abroad at some point in 2026. In general, medical conditions should not be a barrier to travel but our data does stress the importance of getting the right cover before you go.”
For travel insurers, the combination of long-haul destinations, an ageing population and growing awareness of medical risks is likely to drive demand for specialist policies. For Londoners, meanwhile, the message appears clear: after years of disruption and uncertainty, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of bigger journeys and more meaningful escapes.
Discover more about AllClear’s travel insurance at: www.allcleartravel.co.uk
