Why Multi-Generational Holidays Are Reshaping UK Travel in 2026
New research from tailor-made holiday specialists Journeyscape reveals a significant shift in how UK travellers are planning their getaways, with multi-generational trips emerging as one of the fastest-growing travel trends of the past three years.
By analysing long-term UK search behaviour between December 2021 and November 2025, Journeyscape uncovered a steady rise in demand for holidays designed to bring grandparents, parents and children together under one itinerary.
Searches for “multi-generational holiday” have surged by 142.4% over the last three years, making it the fastest-growing term in the study. Meanwhile, broader generational travel searches are up 77.5%, reinforcing a growing appetite for shared experiences that span age groups.
It is not simply a sentimental shift — it is structural.
Journeyscape’s exclusive booking data reveals that holidays for groups of six or more are up 67% year-on-year, with further growth predicted throughout 2026. Families are actively prioritising time together, opting for longer stays, larger properties and more experience-led itineraries.
Accommodation preferences reflect this change. Searches for “large holiday villa” have soared by 130.8%, reaching more than 23,000 over the four-year period analysed. Similarly, “holidays for large family groups” have risen by 88.2%, while “large family package holidays” are up 71.1%.
The message is clear: UK travellers want space, privacy and flexibility when travelling as extended family units.
But it is not only about size — it is also about ambition.
Interest in experience-led travel has grown sharply. Searches for “family ski breaks” have climbed 87.1%, suggesting families are choosing active, memory-making holidays over traditional fly-and-flop escapes. Meanwhile, demand for long-haul destinations is increasing, with “family holiday United States” searches up 45.6% and “Canada family holiday” rising 23.7%.
These destinations offer the scale and variety needed to satisfy multiple generations — from theme parks and national parks to cultural cities and scenic rail journeys.
Even value-focused searches reflect the trend. Queries for “cheap holidays for big families” have risen 43%, indicating that while budgets remain a consideration, families are committed to making group travel work.
Overall, multi-generational travel-related searches totalled more than 1.8 million over the four-year period, marking a 3.8% overall rise despite fluctuating economic conditions.
The growth suggests something deeper than a fleeting travel phase. As remote working, flexible schooling and shifting family dynamics continue to reshape modern life, holidays are becoming one of the few guaranteed opportunities for extended families to reconnect meaningfully.
In 2026, luxury is not simply about destination — it is about togetherness.
And according to the data, the future of UK travel may well belong to the multi-generational getaway.
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