Two Thirds Tipped To Take Leisure Trips As New Research Reveals Top Travel Trends For 2023

Exclusive research revealed by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) shows memory-making leisure travel is still high on the agenda for 2023, despite the rising cost of living.

The survey conducted for LNER by Ipsos, shows that travel remains top-of-mind with 65 per cent of people planning to take a leisure trip within the UK in the next 12 months.

Top tips and recommendations are among the main factors in influencing people to get out and explore, with one in three leisure travellers motivated to make a visit after hearing about a destination or region enjoyed by family or friends.

David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “We’re proud to serve so many must-see destinations between London and the Scottish Highlands and it is great news that leisure travel is high on people’s agenda for 2023. We know our services deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits to the towns, cities and wider regions we serve and next year we will be continuing to work with tourism organisations across our route to further enhance the visitor economy.”

The new research also looked at whether people travelling on LNER’s 956-mile network also look to explore a region further after they’ve arrived at their planned destination. The findings indicate there are regional differences, with half of leisure travellers to North East England visiting the surrounding areas, compared with just over one third in Scotland, Yorkshire and South East England.

Travelling by rail is seen as quick, cost effective and convenient for the 40 per cent of people choosing the train to travel for leisure, while more than half see the rail journey as part of the overall travel experience.

Bernard Donoghue OBE, Director, ALVA - The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, said: "2023 looks like being a great year for domestic tourism. Travel, short breaks and days out are the last thing that people are sacrificing as they prioritise spending special time with special people in special places. Whether it's a museum or stately home, art gallery or cathedral, heritage property or country park or garden, all of our research reveals that people want to spend time in places that are really important to them, and are looking at the best value ways to do that, including booking in advance and making travel plans now."

Greener travel also remains important with 54 per cent of LNER Customers agreeing the idea of train as being a more sustainable option. LNER’s new Azuma fleet continues to deliver several benefits, including emitting just 4kg of carbon per passenger between Edinburgh and London, compared with 132kg for aeroplanes and 114kg of carbon for a car.

The Ipsos research comes after recent data published by the Office of Rail and Road shows that LNER has continued to welcome more customers onboard than compared with pre pandemic times, with passenger journeys now at 105 per cent when compared with the same period for 2019.   

The East Coast Main Line has some spectacular scenic highlights and the stretch between Newcastle and Edinburgh, which sweeps along cliffs that rise above the Northumbrian coast, has been identified by the Guardian as one of the most scenic rail journeys in Britain.

Maureen McAllister, Head of Tourism at Visit Northumberland, said: “It’s great to see domestic leisure travel is high on the agenda among travellers for 2023 and I’m sure these research findings will be  welcomed by colleagues at all Destination Management Organisations in the UK. This also comes on the back of VisitBritain publishing its 2023 Forecast for inbound tourism which shows continued strong recovery predicted in overseas visitor spending, so we really do have lots to look forward to in the New Year.”

Customers can already book ahead and plan their Easter escape with tickets for LNER services available up to and including Sunday 16 April 2023. The best value fares are available when booked direct on the LNER website or app. There is no booking fee and customers can receive live journey alerts, select their preferred seat as well as receive £5 credit when they sign up for LNER’s loyalty programme, LNER Perks with a further two per cent on all future purchases. Customers can sign up to LNER’s ticket alerts, to be kept up to date as new dates are released, at www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-later/early-bird-ticket-alerts.