Unpredictable weather puts flexible UK holidays in focus
With extreme weather increasingly influencing when and where people travel, flexible touring holidays could give UK holidaymakers more choice over their plans.
Extreme weather is becoming a consideration for travellers deciding not only where to go, but when to travel, as an unusually warm UK summer brings weather and holiday planning into focus.
For Doncaster-based Adwick Caravans, the changing way people approach UK holidays is also reflected in growing interest in caravan and motorhome travel, with customers looking for greater flexibility over where and when they travel.
Research from Booking.com's 2026 Travel & Sustainability Report found that 74% of travellers globally consider the risk of extreme weather when choosing both their destination and the timing of their trip. More than half (55%) said unpredictable weather makes it difficult to know when to travel, while 31% said they had cancelled or changed travel plans because of extreme weather or natural disasters in the previous 12 months.
The issue comes as the UK experiences an unusually warm summer. By 15 July, 2026 had already recorded more days above 30°C than the whole of 1976, while becoming the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July. The Met Office also reported that UK temperatures were averaging 1.8°C above the long-term seasonal average at the halfway point of summer.
For UK holidaymakers, unpredictable conditions may make deciding when to travel more complicated. Booking closer to departure can give people the opportunity to consider the forecast before committing to a destination, particularly when travelling within the UK.
Research from Mintel found that 39% of UK holidaymakers said unpredictable UK weather, including flooding and heatwaves, made them more likely to book a UK break at the last minute. The research also found that 55% of Brits intended to take a holiday in the UK in 2024.
The relationship between weather and holiday choices is not limited to booking times. Booking.com's latest research found that 25% of travellers planned to seek out cooler destinations in 2026, while 42% said they planned to travel outside peak season.
For those choosing to holiday in the UK, having the freedom to move between destinations could provide another way to adapt plans around changing conditions.
Touring holidays have already attracted interest from British holidaymakers. Research published by Auto Trader in 2024 found a 59% increase in advert views for caravans and motorhomes over the previous five years. Among people already going on or wanting to go on a caravan or motorhome holiday, 21% said greater freedom was a primary motivation for choosing this type of break.
William Lee, Managing Director at Adwick Caravans, said the business has noticed growing interest from customers looking for more choice over how they travel.
“We’ve noticed growing interest in caravan and motorhome holidays from people looking for more flexibility over where and when they travel. Touring gives holidaymakers the freedom to explore different parts of the UK rather than committing to one destination.”
Touring can give holidaymakers the option to travel between destinations during the same trip, rather than basing their plans around a single location. For those who prefer to make decisions closer to the time, this could provide more scope to adapt an itinerary as conditions change.
As weather continues to play a role in how people approach their holidays, the ability to choose where and when to travel could become another consideration for those planning a UK break.
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