'British seaside remains king' - Blackpool named UK’s fastest-growing Easter getaway for families
Blackpool has been identified as the UK’s fastest-growing destination for Easter weekend breaks, according to new travel data.
Figures released by Life360 show that visitor numbers to the seaside resort increased by 39% over the bank holiday period last year, placing it at the top of a list of emerging Easter hotspots.
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The data, based on millions of journeys made across the UK, suggests a shift in travel habits, with families opting for coastal and countryside locations rather than traditional city breaks.
Blackpool recorded the highest increase, followed by Nottingham (34%) and Ingoldmells in Lincolnshire (33%). Other locations seeing notable rises included Penrith in Cumbria (24%) and Leeds (21%).
Easter travel trends
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The data also highlights several patterns in how people travel over the Easter weekend:
- Saturday busiest for trips: Travel dropped by 12.5% on Good Friday but rebounded strongly on Easter Saturday, which emerged as the busiest day for outings.
- Fewer but longer journeys: Overall trips fell by nearly 12%, but the average journey length increased to 9.3 miles, indicating more deliberate travel to specific destinations.
- Quieter Easter Sunday: Activity fell by 12.1% on Easter Sunday, making it the least busy day of the weekend.
Peak travel times
The data shows that congestion was highest between 3pm and 6pm on Maundy Thursday. Travellers are advised to avoid this period due to increased traffic levels and a higher likelihood of incidents.
The findings point to changing preferences among UK families, with more choosing destinations like Blackpool for longer, planned breaks over the Easter bank holiday.
‘Blackpool Bounce’
A Life360 Spokesperson said: "The 'Blackpool Bounce' confirms that the British seaside remains the heartbeat of the Easter Bank Holiday. The 39% surge into Blackpool shows that families are choosing high-impact, traditional destinations for their time off.
“With millions of families descending on these hotspots simultaneously, tools for location-sharing are now an essential part of the holiday packing list, helping families stay connected during peaks of hyper-concentration.”