It's 2025 and the way Brits are traveling has hit refresh.
Forget the same-old, same-old - this year's trends are daring, nostalgic, eco-conscious and just a little bit chaotic.
The UK's Hottest Travel Trends for 2025
Let's dive into the top travel trends of the year and figure out which one you're secretly plotting for your next getaway.
Extreme Day Tripping - The Buzz That's Going Nowhere
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If you thought 2024 was the peak of Brits doing bonkers things like taking a day trip from London to Naples for pizza, you were wrong.
Extreme day tripping is alive and well in 2025 and is showing no signs of slowing.
Armed with budget flights and a slightly concerning disregard for exhaustion, adventurous souls are packing in whirlwind visits to Europe.
You might catch extreme day trippers enjoying a fry up in London for breakfast, browsing an art gallery in Amsterdam at lunch, then taking a nap on the Eurostar home.
Yep - extreme day tripping is proof that we'll do anything for a good Instagram story.
If you dip your toe into the trend this year, remember to activate an eSIM from Airalo before you go.
Who wants to hunt for Wi-Fi while boarding your second flight of the day?
Heritage Touring - Trace Your Roots on the Move
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In the age of Ancestry.com, Brits are swapping city breaks for trips to discover their lineage.
Heritage touring is all about connecting with where you came from.
Maybe it's time to visit the remote Irish village your great-grandparents called home.
Or wander the Scottish Highlands for a taste of your clan's past.
Bonus points if you find a distant relative in an exotic country who insists on hosting you for tea and stories.
It's meaningful, slightly emotional and an excuse to finally learn the difference between second cousins and twice-removed ones.
Slow Travel - It's a Whole Mood
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Flying is so last year. The slow travel movement is gaining steam, quite literally, with Brits looking set to explore more by train, bus, or boat.
Why rush when you can meander through the Alps by rail or glide down the Rhine on a riverboat?
It's all about enjoying the journey, not just the destination.
Bonus: Slow travel can be better for the environment. So prepare to feel smug while sipping tea in a vintage train carriage.
Ex-Cursions - Breakup Travel is a Thing
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Got dumped? Go on holiday. Ex-cursions are the latest way to turn heartbreak into adventure.
Whether it's a yoga retreat in Portugal, hiking solo in the Pyrenees, or just spending three days bingeing tapas in Barcelona, Brits are channelling the post-split blues into something cathartic.
You might cry over sangria at sunset, but at least you'll have the receipts, and the selfies, to prove you're thriving.
Note: Installing an eSIM before you go is handy for those "look at me, I’m doing FINE" social posts.
Flexiscapes - Merge Relaxing with Adventure
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In 2025, the perfect holiday strikes a balance. Enter the flexiscape.
This trend is driven by Brits craving trips that blend chill vibes with adrenaline hits.
Expect part lounging by the pool, part ziplining through the jungle.
Picture splitting your week between yoga on a Greek island and paragliding over its cliffs.
Or skiing in the morning and soaking in a hot spring by evening.
It's the perfect compromise for solo travellers, couples, family or friends who can't decide between lazy and lively.
Kidcation - Let Your Little Ones Call the Shots
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"What do you want to do?" is no longer a rhetorical question for parents planning family trips.
In 2025, kidcationing means putting the children in charge.
Disney holidays? Sure. Dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum? Why not? Kids are deciding the itinerary and parents are rolling with it.
The upside? Happy kids mean fewer tantrums. The downside? You might spend three days at a water park.
Pro tip: Download an eSIM to stay online - perfect for Googling emergency snacks and sneaky grown-up attractions nearby.
Me-Mooning - The Self-Care Escape
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Forget the honeymoon. 2025 is all about the me-moon.
Solo trips have gone luxe, with Brits booking spa weekends in Tuscany or beach retreats in Croatia where their relaxation is the only priority.
Think massages, wine tastings and guilt-free sleeping in.
It's self-care on steroids and we're here for it.
Nostalgication - The Holidays of Your Youth
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Remember those family holidays to the same caravan park every summer? In 2025, nostalgia is back.
Brits are revisiting childhood haunts, bringing their own kids along for the ride.
Whether it's the Cornish seaside or the Lake District, these trips are about reliving old memories while making new ones.
Expect a lot of, "It didn't look like this when I was ten" and "these ice creams used to cost £1!"
The only upgrade? You're probably not traveling in a rattly old Vauxhall Astra this time.
Spontanitrip - Zero Planning, Maximum Adventure
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Gone are the days of itineraries that resemble military campaigns.
Spontanitripping is about rocking up to a destination with zero bookings and seeing where the wind, or the locals, take you.
It’s the anti-planner's dream. Sure, it might land you in a dodgy hostel for a night, but that's all part of the adventure.
Ready to Try a 2025 Travel Trend?
Whatever your travel plans for 2025, you'll need to stay connected. That’s where an eSIM from Airalo comes in.
No matter your travel style - extreme day tripping to Paris, slow traveling through Italy or spontaneously booking a me-moon, we've got you covered.
Visit our store here to choose the best data package for your trip and stay online as you go.
