After a rain-battered start to this year, many families are planning an Easter escape. KAYAK, a leading travel search engine, has analysed data to reveal the best dates to avoid the crowds and potentially save hundreds of pounds.
KAYAK data insights show that shifting the departure date by just one week could save international travellers more than £500.
For last-minute bookers with a little flexibility, dodging the peak Easter rush for popular holiday routes could be the difference between paying top prices and securing a much better deal.
Domestic breaks: Smaller gaps, smart savings
Price differences are narrower for domestic travel, but timing still matters. Good Friday (3 April 2026) is the busiest departure day averaging £100, whilst Easter Monday (6 April 2026) is the most popular return date, averaging £103.
For better value, travellers could consider Easter Sunday (5 April 2026), when departure fares fall to £82 on average, or 31 March 2026 for returns from an early break at £89 on average.
According to KAYAK’s data, Edinburgh stands out for offering the best value for money, with average return flight prices of just £75. Belfast follows with average prices of £86 over the holiday period.
Key domestic dates:
- Most expensive departure: 8 April 2026 – £108
- Cheapest departure: 5 April 2026 – £82
- Most expensive return: 2 April 2026 – £104
- Cheapest return: 3 April 2026 – £83
- Busiest departure date: 3 April – £100
- Most popular return date: 6 April – £103
International trips: dates to avoid and the dates to book
For international departures, 28 March 2026 is the busiest and most expensive travel day, with average return fares hitting £621 as Easter getaways begin. For the UK return leg, 11 April 2026 is seeing the biggest rush, with prices averaging £569.
However, shifting the holiday to either side of Easter week could help secure significant savings. 11 April 2026 is the quietest day to depart, with fares dropping to just £111, while 30 March 2026 is the cheapest return date at £114 (29 March 2026 follows at £125).
Key international dates:
- Most expensive departure: 28 March 2026 – £621
- Cheapest departure: 11 April 2026 – £111
- Most expensive return: 11 April 2026 – £569
- Cheapest return: 30 March 2026 – £114
- Quietest return date: 29 March – £125
For those travelling during the peak period, KAYAK UK Travel Expert, Rachel Mumford, advises:
“Flexibility is your friend when it comes to cutting travel costs. Stopovers can sometimes unlock cheaper tickets, and with a long enough layover, you can even explore another destination.
“You also shouldn’t overlook an early-morning or late-night departure, as they’re often cheaper and the airport can be less busy.
“Exploring alternative airports is also worthwhile, as many low-cost airlines are based in airports that are a bit further out of town. Not only can they offer cheaper airfares, but often more affordable car rental options too.”
Notes to Editors:
Methodology For Flights
Based on flight searches made on kayak.co.uk and associated brands in the period between 2025-10-01 and 2026-02-15 for flights with departure between 2026-03-28 and 2026-04-12 from any UK airport. They were compared to searches made in the period between 2024-10-10 and 2025-02-24 with the travel period between 2025-04-06 and 2025-04-21. All prices are average prices for economy, return tickets. Prices may vary and savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages for changes in searches are approximate.
All prices are average prices for economy, return tickets. Prices may vary and savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages for changes in searches are approximate.
About KAYAK
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is a leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. Trusted by millions of travellers, the KAYAK app makes travel planning seamless on iOS and Android, and we also support business travellers with our corporate travel solution.
