LONDON (July 15, 2025) – The UK’s leading independent travel agent, Barrhead Travel has reported a 30 percent increase in last-minute bookings with people opting to book and travel this July.

With holidays in high demand, over 40 percent of new bookings are still being made for Summer 2025, suggesting people want to travel as soon as they can.

The travel group, which is celebrating 50 years in business this year, says that the changeable weather over the last few months has helped to drive demand as people seek to guarantee sunny climes at great value-for-money pricing.

Booking data from Barrhead Travel points to UK consumers continuing to prioritise their breaks this year as the group is reporting another record-breaking year of sales. This chimes with monthly consumer spending reports from Barclays which indicate that spend with travel agents has grown every month so far this year.

The most-booked European destinations for British holidaymakers are Mallorca, Tenerife, Turkey, Alicante and cruising from Southampton while longhaul favourites include Orlando, Canada, Cancun, New York and Dubai.

Rising star destinations for this summer include Malta (up by 31 percent), Naples (up by 21%), and Krakow (up by 73%).

All-inclusive holidays remain the most popular option for Brits, accounting for more than 20 percent of new bookings, suggesting budgeting is a key priority for many.

Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, Managing Director of Barrhead Travel, said:

“Holidays are well and truly top of mind at the minute. Our weather at home has been hit or miss over the last few months so families are looking to get some guaranteed sun and escape everyday life. The uplift in last-minute bookings we are seeing shows that demand is still high and people are making spontaneous decisions to take advantage of healthy late deals.

“Value-for-money is key – which is why we’ve seen ongoing interest in all-inclusive holidays and cruises. Most people are opting for higher quality experiences and we’re seeing spend remain the same or higher than last year, with families preferring to shorten their break in order to upgrade their trip.”

“If you are still to book, we would recommend doing so sooner rather than later to secure preferred dates and locations. Booking with a reputable travel agent, such as Barrhead Travel, will guarantee the best prices and full financial protection.”

Barrhead Travel’s retail network is open seven days a week until late as well as offering evening support through their online service, call centres and social media channels. Find your nearest Barrhead Travel store by visiting https://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/storelocator  

About Barrhead Travel    

Since it was founded in 1975, Barrhead Travel has expanded from a traditional ‘bucket and spade’ travel agent to a multi-faceted travel group offering bespoke holidays and cruises to all corners of the globe.

In addition to its retail network which spans over 90 locations across the UK, the group has a number of specialist divisions including Touring & Adventure, cruise and USA.

With a focus on people development, it operates its own in-house Training Academy which provides comprehensive training programmes for its colleagues. The group is an advocate for youth employment and operates its own Modern Apprenticeship programme.

The company has won many awards over the years, the most recent including Best Travel Agency in Scotland for 24 years running and Best UK Cruise Retail Agent. For the last two years, it has also been named as one of the Best Companies to work for.

Barrhead Travel sits within The Vacation Group division of Internova Travel Group.