A popular seaside town has been crowned the most affordable staycation in Britain after experts found a hotel visit costs on average just £80 a night. Research by credit card firm Aqua compared UK hotspots on metrics like accommodation cost, social media hits, Google searches and weather data to reveal the best staycation destinations for holidaymakers this spring.

According to a 2025 survey, 8 in 10 UK residents have taken a staycation. So, from coastal towns to bustling cities, which destination is the best for a springtime staycation in the UK?Blackpool was crowned the most affordable staycation destination in the UK this spring, costing just £80 for a weekend stay, including attractions like Pleasure Beach Resort and the Golden Mile promenade.

Torquay takes second place, with a hotel stay only costing £92 a night for visitors to the "English Riviera" - while Eastbourne and Portsmouth tied for third place, both offering a hotel stay under £100, at £93 per night.

London scooped overall the UK's best destination for a spring staycation, with 173 million Instagram posts, nearly one million average annual searches on Google, springtime temperatures of 9.8C and although average hotel stays cost £187 a night, the capital has plenty of free attractions.

Liverpool came second, drawing over 18 million Instagram posts and 416,400 Google searches, and 9.2 °C spring temps - while the region of Northumberland rounds off the top three, offering the best temperatures, with an average of 10.7°C in April and only 38.6 mm of rainfall.

For holidaymakers seeking quieter, more intimate staycations, away from the hustle and bustle of touristy destinations, the study also identified "hidden gem" spots - looking for those with the fewest Instagram posts and average annual searches online.

The Kent seaside resort of Broadstairs stood out as the UK's top hidden gem, with 332,000 Instagram posts under #Broadstairs and only 3,360 searches for visits and hotels, keeping it under the radar.

Ranking second among the UK's hidden gem staycation spots is Dartmouth in Devon.

Although the picturesque town has 878,000 Instagram posts, interest in visiting or booking hotels remains relatively low, at just 3,360 searches, keeping it a peaceful retreat.

Rounding out the top three are Whitstable, Poole and the Scottish Highlands, all in joint position.

Scott Yule, commercial director at Aqua, shares some top tips for saving for a staycation and managing your money while you're away: "To help budget for your holiday, consider setting up an automated direct debit to your current account months in advance.

"Even small, regular contributions will accumulate over time, ensuring you have a dedicated fund for your trip."

He added: "A top tip: it's a good idea to have an emergency fund in place before your holiday. If anything goes wrong, you know you have a pot of money to help cover the cost of emergencies or extra expenses.

"That way, you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind. A credit card can be a helpful tool to have while on a staycation.

"Your credit card can help you in an emergency, for example, if you need to cover unexpected expenses. Using a credit card can also help you work towards building your credit score if you stay within your credit limit and make your repayments on time."

"An instalment plan can help you spread the cost of your holiday spending into manageable monthly payments, giving you more control over how you budget.

"Sticking to a clear repayment plan is highly recommended, as missing a payment could break your instalment plan, impacting your credit record and will take longer to pay off your balance."