Hotels report increase in last-minute bookings, including from families attempting to escape hot homes
Families, including parents with newborn babies, are booking air-conditioned rooms in hotels to escape the UK heatwave, with companies reporting a surge in demand.
Data from the accommodation reservation website Booking.com shows that since 1 June, the share of searches using the “air-conditioning” filter has tripled across Great Britain coinciding with the latest heatwave in northern Europe.
Meanwhile, data from the payment company Adyen shows the UK hotel industry experienced a 34% increase in revenue between 22 and 25 June this year compared with the same period in 2025, based on authorised transactions via the platform in Great Britain.
The UK has endured one of its hottest weeks on record, with temperatures climbing into the mid-to-high 30Cs across parts of England and Wales. The Met Office issued extreme heat warnings during the week, while the UK provisionally recorded a new June temperature record of 36.9C on Friday, at Wattisham, Suffolk.
Heartwood Inns, which operates pubs with rooms across the UK, said it was running at 86% occupancy this week, with many of its sites at or near capacity. The group has also seen a noticeable shift in inquiries, with about a third of callers asking whether rooms had air conditioning before booking.
The chain said it had also seen an increase in inquiries from parents with newborn babies looking for air-conditioned rooms after struggling to keep their homes cool enough for their infants to sleep comfortably.
Dean Culpan, the general manager of the London hotel Templeton Garden, said: “With the heatwave in full swing, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in demand across the hotel and are currently operating at capacity. Guests are increasingly seeking out cool, comfortable spaces to relax, work remotely and escape the city heat, whether that’s in our air-conditioned interiors or within our private garden, which has become a real oasis during the warmer weather.”
He added: “As temperatures soar across London, we’ve also seen a significant rise in terrace dining and drinks, with these cooler, shaded areas becoming some of the most sought-after spaces in the hotel.”
Gemma Jones, the hotel operations manager at The Feathers, in Woodstock, said: “The current heatwave has had a noticeable impact on booking behaviour at The Feathers, particularly over the past week. We’ve seen an increase in last-minute bookings, with many guests looking to escape the heat and enjoy a relaxing break in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment.
“Our occupancy has risen from 74% to 81% this week, and we’ve also seen a small increase in inquiries, with several guests specifically asking whether our rooms are air-conditioned before confirming their stay.”
Jones said air-conditioned bedrooms had become “a real selling point” during the heatwave. “Guests are increasingly looking for somewhere they can unwind and enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep, and having air-conditioning has given us a clear advantage,” she said.
She added: “Several guests have told us they’re choosing a hotel stay over staying at home because they know they’ll be able to escape the heat.
“Many of these bookings have come from couples within a short drive of the hotel, looking for an impromptu getaway rather than a planned holiday. We’ve also noticed more guests extending one-night stays into two or more nights to make the most of the weather,” she said.
Source: Guardian - World News
