UK short-term rental guest nights rise 10.2% to 104.6 million

UK: The number of guest nights spent in UK short-term rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia Group increased 10.2 per cent during the year to June 2026, according to new government data.

Figures published today by the Office for National Statistics [ONS] show that short-term rentals generated 104.6 million guest nights between July 2025 and June 2026, rising 22.9 per cent over two years.

The platforms recorded 36.4 million occupied property nights and 10.5 million stays during the latest 12-month period.

England accounted for 81.1 million guest nights, representing 77.5 per cent of the UK total. Scotland recorded 13.3 million, followed by Wales with 7.7 million and Northern Ireland with 2.5 million.

Demand was concentrated across a relatively small number of destinations. Almost a quarter of all guest nights, 24.5 per cent, were spent across nine of the UK’s 361 local authorities.

The United States remained the largest international source market for UK short-term rentals, followed by Germany and France. Guests from the three countries generated 35.6 per cent of all international guest nights.

The ONS figures cover short-term rental accommodation booked through Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia Group. Hotels and campsites are excluded from the dataset.

Highlights:

• UK short-term rentals generated 104.6 million guest nights between July 2025 and June 2026.
• Guest nights increased 10.2 per cent year on year and 22.9 per cent over two years.
• Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia Group recorded 10.5 million UK short-term rental stays.
• England accounted for 81.1 million guest nights, or 77.5 per cent of the UK total.
• Scotland recorded 13.3 million guest nights, Wales 7.7 million and Northern Ireland 2.5 million.
• Nearly a quarter of UK guest nights were concentrated across nine local authorities.
• The United States was the largest international source market, followed by Germany and France.
• The ONS figures exclude hotels, campsites and bookings made outside the three included platform.