Two deck chairs set on a pebbly beach and a silhouette of a couple standing in the distance.

The August bank holiday is nearly here and so is the last long weekend of summer. From city breaks to beach escapes, British travellers are weighing up their options. KAYAK data reveals the top travel destinations, where bargains are still available and how much it really costs to get away. Whether you’re flying from Edinburgh or London, we’ve pulled together the best priced flight routes to help you squeeze the most out of your long weekend.

HIGHLIGHTS SUMMARY


8%↑

UK flight searches

August 2025 vs August 2024

4%↓

average flight prices

August 2025 vs August 2024

£187

average flight price

Bank holiday – August 2025

Brits looking locally, but Europe remains a bargain.

4%

average flight prices

Late August 2025 vs 2024


With average flight prices 4% cheaper than last year, the August bank holiday weekend offers British holidaymakers a perfect opportunity to sneak in one more getaway before autumn sets in.


Durdle Door, Dorset, UK

More Brits are eyeing holidays in their own country for late August travel this year, with searches for flights to UK destinations up by 8% compared to last year. Yet domestic airfare averages at £101, which is 17% higher than in 2024 – proving domestic travel doesn’t always offer the biggest savings.

In contrast, international travel is bucking the trend. Flight prices abroad have dipped by 4% year-on-year, with many much-loved southern European spots seeing even bigger drops – making them a tempting late-season escape.

Top destinations: Deals in the south.

British travellers seem to be chasing a bit of both this August: sunshine and city breaks. Flight searches for Alicante and Rome – both in the top 10 most searched long weekend destinations – have increased, while airfares are heading in the opposite direction.

Edinburgh remains a firm favourite closer to home, with searches up 5% year-on-year, although prices have also risen.

And for those after one last burst of sunshine before summer fades, Spain’s tried-and-tested hotspots are showing the biggest price drops compared to 2024.

How travel plans are shaping up across the UK cities.

Flight search and price trends ahead of the August Bank Holiday vary across UK departure cities. Glasgow saw the largest year-on-year increase in searches at 42%, despite a 17% increase in average fares. 

Birmingham and Edinburgh also recorded double-digit growth in search interest, with both cities benefiting from lower average return fares than in 2024. 

Manchester saw marginal increases in both searches and average price. London is the only major departure city showing a slight decline, with searches down 4% year-on-year and fares broadly unchanged.

Woman packing travel bag for summer vacation. Tourism and objects concept, suitcase for summer holidays

These deals take off from UK airports this August.

Flight prices can rise quickly, especially before bank holidays, but travellers’ wanderlust doesn’t have to be put on hold. KAYAK has crunched the numbers to uncover some of the cheapest flights departing from the UK’s airports, powered by our travel insights, to help stretch summer budgets further.

Money-saving tips from KAYAK’s travel expert.

rachel-mumford

As summer draws to a close, the August Bank Holiday offers one of the last opportunities for a short summer break. Staycations are gaining traction, but they’re also getting pricier. International spots often offer better value for money. Whether it’s Spanish beaches or Edinburgh’s festivals, a bit of flexibility can go a long way in stretching your holiday budget.

KAYAK’s UK travel expert Rachel Mumford

Rachel’s hacks for saving money during this August bank holiday:

#1 Move fast

Prices climb closer to departure, especially for weekends. Snap up your deal before others do. 

#2 Time your staycation right

Thinking of turning the long weekend into a proper break? Set off a bit earlier and you could save a tidy sum. A five-night stay in the UK with a check-in on 20 August costs £81 per night on average, whereas a four-night stay with a check-in on 23 August costs £112 per night on average. Stay longer and spend less overall.

#3 Catch the first flight out

Morning flights are often cheaper and less likely to be delayed. Win-win.

Methodology

All data is based on searches made on KAYAK.co.uk and associated brands between 01/01/2025 and 29/07/2025 for travel between 22/08/2025 and 27/08/2025 and were analyzed and compared with searches made between 01/01/2024 and 29/07/2024 for travel between 23/08/2024 and 28/08/2024. Flight searches and prices represent round-trips on economy class. Prices are on average and may vary, savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages are approximate.

The cheapest and most expensive dates to depart were based on KAYAK flight data from searches between 20/08/2025 and 27/08/2025.

The presented deals are based on flight searches made on KAYAK.co.uk in the last 60 days accessed on the 20th of July for travelling in August from the defined UK airports. Prices were then compared to flight searches from the same search period for travelling in the period between September 2025 and January 2026 to estimate the price differences in percentage. KAYAK’s cheapest routes are based on the averages of our cheapest (featured as cheapest on KAYAK) round-trip flight prices on economy class.Prices may vary, percentages for changes in prices are approximate. Route exclusions may have been applied in cases of insufficient data or according to the official travel advisory at the time when the data analysis is conducted.

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