A Cardiff staycation amongst cheapest in the UK – but still costs over £50

• A weekend break in Cardiff is the third cheapest staycation for couples in the UK, but it’ll still cost Brits at least £580 to visit, new research reveals 
• The weekend break prices take into account the cost of accommodation, local transport, food and drink, and leisure activities in each UK city 
• Visiting Cardiff will set you back £588 this spring, whilst Leicester is the cheapest destination overall with a weekend rate of £572
• Accommodation was the biggest expense in Cardiff, with the average hotel costing £69 a night, and Airbnbs priced at £125 per night 

New findings have revealed that Brits looking to enjoy a staycation this spring can get good value for money in Cardiff – but will still have to shell out at least £580 to visit. 

The research, conducted by travel experts Jersey Island Holidays, collated Airbnb and hotel rates, meal and drink prices, local transport fees, taxi fares and leisure activity costs for each city, to identify how much it currently costs for a weekend break in the UK. 

And – despite the analysis including money-saving options like monthly public transport passes and fast food lunches – a weekend staycation will set you back at least £500. 

The analysis found that when two nights of accommodation, restaurant meals, fast food lunches, taxi rides, public transport and a cinema/theatre excursion are taken into account, the cheapest city to visit right now is Leicester – but it’ll still cost you £572 to do so. 

Cardiff came out as the third cheapest staycation destination overall, with a weekend rate of £588. Other cheap destinations came out as Coventry (£581) and Northampton (£592) – with no city costing less than £500 per trip. 

The biggest expense for those looking to visit Cardiff is lodgings, with a hotel costing £69, and an Airbnb priced at an average of £125 per night.

In reality, holidaymakers need to be budgeting at least £700 when planning their staycation, as the data reveals that the average UK city costs £715 to visit – with London coming out as the most expensive destination for a weekend break at £1,230.

The price rises further if there are more than two people planning to get away, with a family of four expected to shell out an additional £130 on just food and drinks alone. 

It also doesn’t take into account additional costs associated with getting away, such as travel to/from the city destination, additional leisure activities or excursions, or boozy nights out.

These figures may scupper some Brits’ spring holiday plans, as – despite anticipating a surge in staycation bookings from those looking to save money – it turns out a trip across the channel could well be cheaper than staying in the UK. 

They may have to reevaluate further if planning to go away during the summer holidays as opposed to spring, with prices peaking over the warmer months due to increased demand.

Top 10 cheapest cities for a weekend break this spring 

Rank	City	Overall Weekend Cost
1	Leicester	£572
2	Coventry	£581
3	Cardiff	£588
4	Northampton	£592
5	Stoke-on-Trent	£611
6	Leeds	£621
7	Birmingham	£643
8	Cambridge	£547
9	Belfast	£652
10	Portsmouth	£655

Top 10 most expensive cities for a weekend getaway 

Rank	City	Overall Weekend Cost
1	City of London	£1,230
2	Manchester	£980
3	Edinburgh	£847
4	Brighton	£799
5	Southampton	£792
6	Hull	£785
7	Nottingham	£745
8	Bristol	£726
9	Reading	£705
10	York	£700

And it’s not just Cardiff that has seen a hike in accommodation costs, as the average UK hotel priced at £75 per night, whilst an Airbnb will set you back £117 a night.

Airbnbs are the most expensive in London, costing an average of £195 a night, but also proved particularly costly in Brighton (£145), York (£138) and Edinburgh (£136).

Speaking on the findings, Jersey island Holidays said: “Many of us are looking forward to making the most of the weather getting better and getting away for a weekend break – particularly after a costly and cold winter. However, Brits might be surprised to see how expensive a staycation is, as it’s typically thought of as a cheaper holiday alternative.

“Preparation is key in order to reduce the price where possible, as you should look for package deals – particularly if you’re wanting to get away during a peak period – and to be flexible when booking exact dates, as a Thursday-Saturday stay often proves cheaper than a Friday-Sunday break.”