Beautiful seaside destination named as the best place to go on a family holiday in the UK

The best places for a family staycation have been revealed in a new holiday index, with one seaside location topping the list.

Kent was named as the best place in the UK for a holiday, receiving a near-perfect score of 9.6 out of 10 on the report, putting it firmly in first place.

A study conducted by Go.Compare looked at family-friendly accommodation, kid-friendly attractions, and hotel cost trends during term time and school holidays.

In first place was Kent, which boasts over 600 family-friendly hotels and 485 attractions suitable for all ages.

During school holidays, hotel prices in the South East of England increase by just 6% on average, meaning Kent sees some of the lowest increases in the UK.

Kent was closely followed by Norfolk and Suffolk, coming in first and second respectively. Norfolk 740 family-friendly hotels and 349 attractions, including beaches and wildlife reserves.

While Suffolk’s 702 family-oriented hotels and 201 attractions, like peaceful countryside retreats and seaside activities, make it a strong contender. 

However, price hikes in these areas outside of term times reach an average of 18% during peak holiday seasons, making these locations slightly more expensive than enjoying a getaway in Kent.

Rhys Jones, travel expert at , said: “Kent taking the top spot in our staycation index is surprising as it’s not often the first place that comes to mind when we think about holidaying in the UK.

“Destinations like Cornwall or the Lake District tend to be considered more. Despite this, Kent has quietly positioned itself as a fantastic choice for families, offering a range of accommodation and attraction options while remaining affordable.”

On the other end of the spectrum, Newport was revealed as the worst spot for family staycations, with only 72 family-suited hotels, meaning it could be difficult for families to find suitable accommodation.

Also on the ‘worst’ list was Cardiff, which may surprise some due to its lively reputation, but with just 70 family-friendly hotels and 85 attractions suitable for children, families staying for an extended period of time may struggle to find things to do. 

Both Newport and Cardiff are impacted by huge price hikes during peak holiday seasons, with a steep 47% increase being found all across Wales.

Top five family staycation locations

1. Kent
2. Norfolk
3. Suffolk
4. East Sussex
5. North Yorkshire

The five lowest-ranked staycation spots

1. Newport
2. Cardiff
3. Swansea
4. Aberdeen
5. Glasgow