Survey

The most expensive destinations in England for summer half term

May 27, 2021

The small Lake District town of Ambleside is the most expensive destination for hotel stays in England during this year’s May half-term, according to a survey by Cheaprooms.co.uk.

The survey compared the cost of accommodation across 50 English destinations during the period 29 May - 6 June. Only centrally-located hotels and guest houses, and with a minimum of 3 stars, were considered.

According to the survey’s findings, visitors to Ambleside will have to pay an average of £162 per night for the most affordable double room during May half-term. Fractionally less expensive are Penzance in Cornwall and Keswick, also in the Lake District, both of which have average rates of £159 per night.

As well as Penzance, three other Cornwall tourism hot spots – St Ives, Falmouth and Bude – also feature in the top ten priciest destinations in England for hotel stays during May half-term.

With average rates of just £51 per night, London emerged as one of the least expensive destinations. This is almost certainly a consequence of the continued reduction in foreign travellers coming to the UK due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With tourist numbers still way down, hotel rates in the capital are almost 50% more affordable than during a typical May half-term.

The following table shows the 20 most expensive destinations in England during May half-term. The prices shown reflect the average nightly rate for each location’s cheapest available double room (for a centrally-located hotel or guest house with a minimum of 3 stars) for the period 29 May - 6 June.

  1. Ambleside £162
  2. Penzance £159
  3. Keswick £159
  4. St Ives £157
  5. Bakewell £149
  6. Falmouth £143
  7. Bath £141
  8. Windermere £132
  9. Bude £131
  10. Bridport £127
  1. Penrith £124
  2. St. Austell £121
  3. Looe £115
  4. Newquay £97
  5. Poole £91
  6. Whitby £87
  7. York £82
  8. Harrogate £76
  9. Bury St Edmunds £76
  10. Winchester £75


Press Contact
Paul Joseph, press@cheaprooms.co.uk, Phone: 00447977499670