Summer Holiday Letting Insights

As one of the leading holiday letting agencies in North Cornwall, we at John Bray Cornish Holidays are delighted to share a season update, enabling owners to better prepare for the summer ahead.

In the last month, we have analysed our own data, and statistics from our parent company Sykes Cottages, to understand how the 2025 season is unfolding both for our 250+ holiday homes, and the wider UK holiday letting market.

For anyone letting a self-catering holiday home, or considering entering the letting market, these are our key takeaways:

• 37% of summer searches are for pet-friendly accommodation
• 47% of summer searches are for family holidays
• Cornwall’s short break bookings have risen by 4% year on year
• Hot tubs offer 27% more booking value
• Last minute bookings have risen by 2.5%
• Cornwall: Top region for income per holiday

37% of summer searches are for pet-friendly accommodation

The Coach House, near Padstow

Pet-friendly accommodation has become increasingly popular since the pandemic, and clearly demand is continuing throughout the 2025 summer season, with 37% of searches being for properties taking dogs.
At John Bray Cornish Holidays, we have over 150 pet-friendly holiday homes – many of which are on or near the South West Coast Path, providing an abundance of walking opportunities. If you are thinking of making your property dog-friendly, or are looking for inspiration on improving your offering, read our case study on good practice, featuring Megizzy in Polzeath.

47% of summer searches are for family holidays

During the summer, searches for family getaways in Cornwall are significantly higher than at any other time. In the last month, 47% of summer searches for Cornwall have been for family breaks, whereas 34% have been for couples’ holidays. Interestingly, there is a noticeable booking spike in Cornwall search demand for the week commencing the 6th September, when the schools go back and couples or adult groups look to enjoy a late summer break.

Providing flexible bedding configurations and making your property appeal to families, couples and groups of adults will pay dividends, as it will allow you to target more than one demographic.

Cornwall’s short break bookings rise year on year

So far in 2025, 31.6% of bookings in Cornwall have been for short breaks, a rise from 27.3% of bookings in 2024.

Despite this, Cornwall continues to have the highest average duration of holidays of any region in the UK. For 2025 Cornwall’s average length of stay is currently 6.7 days. Devon follows closely with 6.3 days. Arguably, this could be due to the longer drive time to the South West… other holiday destinations closer to major cities are likely to have shorter holiday durations, as people opt for weekend getaways within a short drive.

For owners, being flexible with last minute getaways and short breaks, will mean more bookings and income overall!

Hot tubs offer 27% more booking value

Goose Cottage, near Delabole

Did you know, hot tubs offer 27% more booking value and four more bookings per year, yet only 14% of Sykes Cottages properties have one. For owners looking to maximise their income potential, installing one could be a great opportunity to make your property stand out from the crowd.

Other ways of optimising outdoor space include installing an EV charger, adding a barbecue, and updating the garden furniture. It may seem obvious, but making the outside of your property just as desirable as the interior, ready for the summer sunshine, will ensure happy customers and repeat bookings!

Last minute bookings up 2.5% year-on-year

The trend for last minute bookings has been growing for some time, and 16.5% of bookings for 2025 have been made within 1 month of the holiday. This is up from 14% at the same point last year. It seems even more people are choosing to book and visit within just a few weeks. In fact 6% of bookings made this year have been for arrival within 7 days!

However, it’s not exclusively last minute bookings. Other key periods people are searching for currently include early September, October Half Term, Christmas / New Year and May Half Term 2026.

Cornwall: Top region for income per holiday

Our holiday home owners in Cornwall currently achieve the highest income per holiday, with a greater average weekly rental than any other region in Great Britain. Plus, Cornwall remains in the top three performing regions for overall number of bookings, after the Lake District and North Wales. For those looking to invest in a holiday home, as a destination the South West continues to be a great opportunity.

Let Your Holiday Home with John Bray Cornish Holidays

Breakers View, Polzeath

With more than 50 years of local expertise, the approachable John Bray Cornish Holidays team is here to help you every step of the way. Operating from offices in both Rock and Port Isaac, the agency has a fantastic range of accommodation – from pet-friendly homes and properties with hot tubs to large houses perfect for group celebrations.

For free advice, and an informal chat about the services John Bray Cornish Holidays can offer, email lettings@johnbraycornishholidays.co.uk, call 01208 228910, or visit the Let Your Cottage page.