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The study from Hey Discount, has analysed popular tourist spots around the UK on factors such as the number of holiday rental properties, the increase in house prices and the estimated time to buy a house to reveal the areas where tourists are having the biggest impact.
Top 10 locations where tourists are pushing out locals
| Rank | Tourist destination | No. of holiday rental properties | Average house price increase in the last ten years (%) | Average annual salary | Estimated years to buy a house | Holiday demand search increases (%) | Tourist pressure score/10 |
| 1 | Bath | 1,544 | 78.4% | £19,864.00 | 27.5 | 108.3% | 8.35 |
| 2 | Lake District | 7,911 | 66.2% | £17,940.00 | 15.8 | 81.3% | 8.13 |
| 3 | Newquay | 1,263 | 65.0% | £17,264.00 | 20.6 | 81.5% | 8.06 |
| 4 | London | 38,212 | 86.4% | £45,240.00 | 16.1 | 37.7% | 7.81 |
| 5 | York | 1,999 | 53.7% | £20,280.00 | 16.3 | 84.5% | 7.37 |
| 6 | Cambridge | 2,171 | 74.1% | £26,156.00 | 18.8 | 75.3% | 7.24 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 1,616 | 54.1% | £19,968.00 | 17.1 | 66.5% | 7.11 |
| 8 | Whitby | 1,846 | 40.5% | £17,056.00 | 17.0 | 107.6% | 7.02 |
| 9 | Brighton | 4,205 | 18.6% | £21,788.00 | 14.0 | 83.5% | 6.67 |
| 9 | Oxford | 1,437 | 72.0% | £26,104.00 | 22.0 | 66.8% | 6.67 |
| 11 | Edinburgh | 6,421 | 44.9% | £25,012.00 | 12.9 | 63.6% | 6.54 |
The ancient city of Bath took the top spot, with a total tourist-pressure score of 8.35/10. Bath ranked in the top 15 locations for all but one category, and it seems the problem will keep growing as there was a 108% rise in the number of searches about holidaying in Bath in peak summer last year, which we can only expect to be on the increase in 2023! Millions of tourists flock to the city every year to see sights such as Bath Abbey and the Roman baths, which were recently named one of the UK’s best places to visit by TripAdvisor.
The Lake District ranked in second place, with a total tourist-pressure score of 8.13/10. The Lake District national park is the most visited tourist attraction in the country and contains the largest mountains and lakes in England. Unfortunately, this tourism greatly impacts the locals, with soaring house prices damaging the livelihoods of Cumbrians. In peak times, the national park’s winding, narrow roads can overcrowd and cause lengthy delays for tourists and locals alike.
Newquay rounds off the top three, with a total tourist-pressure score of 8.06/10.
One of the most popular staycation destinations in the UK, Newquay has been regarded in the past as a party town for affluent youngsters. After working hard to shed this reputation, the town still sees incredible tourist demand – with 67% of the towns tourists flocking to the beach in the peak months of April – September. The town is currently investing in a project to make the location a year-round holiday destination.
The nation’s capital, London, also ranked fourth, with a total tourist-pressure score of 7.81/10. The average house price in London is now almost three-quarters of a million pounds, up by 86% in a decade. London also had the second-highest number of holiday searches .
FURTHER FINDINGS
- Bath also had the longest estimated time to purchase a house, taking a whopping 5 yearsto make it on the property ladder.
- The Welsh town of Conwy had the biggest percentage of property price increasesin the last ten years. The average house price cost £137,969 back in 2012, however, this increased to a whopping £300,547 in 2022.
