Is WFA (Working From Anywhere) the new WFH? Booking.com reveals the top UK destinations where Brits can make the most of working remotely
For many, working from home has become the new normal in the past few months. The added freedom that not having to spend 9 to 5 in an office brings has created a rise of people going on “workations”, including to destinations in their own backyard. As recently uncovered by Booking.com in its Future of Travel predictions, nearly a third of British travellers (29%)* have already considered booking somewhere to stay in order to work from a different destination, while 37%* would be willing to quarantine if they could work remotely.
From digitals nomads to leisure travellers looking to extend their holiday with a stint of remote working - Booking.com is making it easier for travellers to find what they’re looking for by introducing an updated search experience that includes filters for customers looking for private, whole home accommodations and properties that are laptop-friendly, with Wi-Fi and a dedicated workspace - whether that’s a desk or the dining room table.
Booking.com has also delved into its more than 28 million listings, including more than 4.5 million listings globally of places to stay with Wi-Fi and laptop friendly workspaces**, as well as traveller endorsement data, to find the local destinations where digital nomads can enjoy activities right on their doorstep. Perfect for the 43%* of Brits who want to explore a new destination within their own country where - after they are done catching up on work emails - they can enjoy quality time getting to know their home country.
For those looking to surf more than just the internet on their work laptop, Croyde is the perfect location, due to its superb sandy beaches and spectacular scenery that is also unsurprisingly Booking.com’s most endorsed surfing spot in the UK. The unspoilt village is steeped in old-world charm with a very up and coming surfing scene thanks to its laid-back atmosphere and countless surfing spots to choose from. When not catching these world-class waves, visitors can take a coastal walk along Baggy Point or visit Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In town, there are plenty of tasty options to grab a morning coffee or lunch on workdays.
Where to stay: Jamie's Georgeham is a cosy, well-equipped holiday home and its spacious rooms are filled with gorgeous antique decor. It also comes with a lovely patio and garden, perfect for visitors to take a stroll in during a break from work.
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
For those looking to combine their “workation” with a trip down the slopes, Milton Keynes is a highly endorsed UK destination amongst British travellers for downhill skiing, thanks to one of the UK’s best indoor artificial ski slopes. But adrenaline junkies don’t have to worry, as this artificial ski slope is following Government and Industry COVID-19 guidelines to keep its visitors extra safe. One of the UK’s youngest cities, this destination combines historic market town charm with picturesque countryside scenery. The ideal active day out after a busy work week that isn’t weather dependent!
Where to stay: This ultra-modern apartment in Central Milton Keynes provides fantastic views overlooking the city and consists of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and living room with both a seating and dining area. Each room has a different coloured theme, with plenty of sunlight streaming through, offering workers a great spot to catch-up on work emails.
This lively town in Highland Perthshire is perfect for adrenaline junkies looking to blow off some steam after a busy day’s work. The town is situated on Scotland's longest river, the River Tay, and is highly endorsed for rafting by Booking.com travellers. And if a knuckle-biting white-water rafting trip downstream isn't enough, there’s also abseiling, gorge walking, canyoning, as well as bungee jumping. This scenic town is great when looking to relax on slightly slower-paced work days too, with the mountain backdrop, providing a refreshing change from any laptop windows.
Where to stay: Nestled in the heart of Highland Perthshire, the charming Balnearn House is a renovated Victorian building where a delicious breakfast is prepared, giving you that fuel for work everyday along with a desk space in each room. This property also includes a beautiful large garden, and guests can put their feet up after a long day by the roaring log fire inside.
Another Scottish destination highly endorsed by Brits, this time for mountain biking, is Fort William. Famed as a mountain-biking world cup venue, with all three racecourses (DH, XC and 4X) being open to the public to ride, this town is located in the Western Scottish Highlands, sitting on the shorts of Loch Linnhe, which is known as the gateway to Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak. Those heights make it the perfect spot for those who want to go from the wheels of the office chair to two-wheels on a bike post work.
Where to stay: Located in Fort William, the trendy Sheraton Apartments boasts spectacular views of the mountains, a terrace, a large flat-screen TV in each room and a nice, large and stylish table for the ultimate ‘WFA’ set-up. The Nespresso machine also adds a nice touch, giving workers that needed boost of energy, to get them ready for the day ahead.
For those looking to spend their post-work downtime at a slower pace, it might be time to switch the commute for a more scenic amble. Popular with walkers - being in the top three of Booking.com’s UK destinations endorsed for walking - Church Stretton is a historic Market Town in the heart of the South Shropshire hills in an area known as ‘The Marches’, which sit on the England-Wales border. With natural beauty in abundance, it is great for taking advantage of the plethora of accessible paths amongst the Shropshire Hills. The area is globally renowned for its geology and some of the oldest rock formations in existence can be found here.
Where to stay: The delightful Magnolia Cottage offers a garden and sun terrace and has the hills on its doorstep for you to catch some fresh air and embark on picturesque walks. It is decorated with beautiful art painted by the owner, and the peaceful location is perfect for putting your head down to work.
With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, Booking.com is sharing travel offers for travellers to use on their next trip, as it is safe to travel. Whether planning ahead or booking last-minute, local options around the corner or further afield, discounts start at 15 percent.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who have traveled for business or leisure in the past 12 months, and must be planning to travel in the next 12 months (if/once travel restrictions are lifted). In total 20,934 respondents across 28 countries and territories were polled (including from 999 USA, 496 from Canada, 497 from Mexico, 997 from Colombia, 999 from Brazil, 499 from Argentina, 995 from Australia, 499 from New Zealand, 999 from Spain, 996 from Italy, 996 from France, 999 from UK, 996 from Germany, 498 from Netherlands, 499 from Denmark, 499 from Sweden, 498 from Croatia, 1001 from Russia, 498 from Israel, 997 from India, 994 from China, 499 from Hong Kong, 497 from Thailand, 496 from Singapore, 499 from Taiwan, 997 from South Korea, 500 from Vietnam and 995 from Japan). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2020.
**Listings that have reported facilities including wifi and dedicated workspace, such as dining table or desk.