Gen Z Has Quietly Fallen Back in Love With the Family Holiday - and Grandma Is Picking Up the Tab

Gen Z’s return to the family holiday is reshaping UK travel, with grandparents increasingly paying for multi-generational group breaks in the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean. New data reported by Gloucestershire Group Cottages points to a 142% surge in searches for holidays involving three generations between 2021–22 and 2024–25, citing Google data analysis by Journeyscape. The same analysis noted a 67% year-on-year booking increase for groups of six or more. According to holidaycottages.co.uk, accommodation sleeping eight or more rose by over 25% in 2025 bookings. A survey found 70% of under-25s would prefer holidaying with family rather than friends, with 58% prioritizing quality time. Travelzoo research also said over 40% of such trips are booked by grandparents, 34% of whom pay for the entire group. The trend is dated June 26, 2026.