As gloomy weather drags on, thoughts are turning to sunnier skies. In the UK, searches for “beach resort” reached an all-time high in January, peaking on 11 January and rising by 100% over the past 30 days. This appetite for sunshine shows no sign of slowing, with searches for “sunny destinations in February” up 70% over the last three months, according to Google Trends. But which city in the UK is craving the sunshine the most?
We’ve answered that question in our latest Sun-Seeking Cities report, revealing the UK’s biggest sun-seekers.
The Holafly research team analysed Google search data from the top UK cities, examining popular winter sun–related terms such as “beach holidays,” “where is hot in February,” and “winter sun destinations” between 2022 and 2025.
The UK’s top sun-seeking cities are:
1. Leeds
Leeds takes the crown as the UK’s biggest sun-seeker. Over the past three winters, residents made more than 14,000 searches for winter sun getaways, the highest rate per 100,000 people at 2,617. With one of the UK’s largest student populations, it’s perhaps no surprise that many in Leeds are eager to escape the busy city for a relaxing winter break.
Even though the city enjoys a respectable 150 hours of winter sunshine, Leeds’ long, grey winters and famously rainy weather are clearly driving residents to pack their bags in search of sunnier skies.
2. Belfast
Belfast comes in a close second, with residents making more than 16,000 winter sun-related searches between November and February over the past three years. This works out at 2,457 searches per 100,000 people.
With just 120 hours of sunshine during the winter months, Belfast is one of the darkest cities in the rankings, thanks largely to its north-westerly location and closeness to the Atlantic. It’s no surprise, then, that many residents are looking to escape the gloom, with thousands searching for warmer, sunnier destinations during the colder months.
3. Edinburgh
Edinburgh ranks third, with residents making 1,931 winter sun searches per 100,000 people during the winter months. While the city is a popular destination in its own right and enjoys a reasonable 150 hours of sunshine between November and February, locals are clearly still keen to chase brighter skies.
With Edinburgh bursting into life each summer thanks to its many festivals, including the iconic Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winter sun holiday may be the perfect option for residents who want to escape the cold without missing out on the summer buzz at home.
4. Bristol
Bristol, known for its rich maritime history, ranks fourth on the list. Over the past three years, residents made 1,783 searches per 100,000 people for winter sun destinations. Interestingly, Bristol experiences the most winter sunshine of any city in the top five, with 160 hours, showing that even sunnier UK cities can still leave people craving to escape the winter blues.
5. Coventry
Rounding out the top five is Coventry, with 1,641 winter sun-related searches per 100,000 people. While the city records fewer total searches than some larger cities, its smaller population means Coventry ranks among the UK’s strongest sun-seekers on a per-person basis.
The rest of the top 10 sun-seekers
Just outside the top five, London takes sixth place, with more than 155,000 winter sun-related searches in total, equal to around 1,563 searches per 100,000 people. With packed tube stations and a fast-paced work culture, it’s easy to see why many Londoners are dreaming of swapping tube lines for tan lines.
Derby follows closely in seventh place, with 1,460 searches per 100,000 people for warmer escapes. With its industrial background and cold winter weather, it seems many residents would rather plan a sunny break than face another chilly commute.
In eighth place is Hull, showing that living by the sea doesn’t always cure the urge for sunshine. Exposed to harsh North Sea weather and often grey winter skies, residents still made 1,459 searches per 100,000 people.
Leicester comes ninth, with around 1,380 searches per 100,000 people, while Bradford rounds out the top ten. Bradford recorded 1,286 searches per 100,000 people and also has one of the lowest winter sunshine totals in the top ten, with just 231 hours of winter sun, making it clear why people are keen to escape.
Enjoy your winter sun trip without worrying about a thing
With plenty of stunning places to soak up the sunshine, there’s no better time to catch some rays and top up your vitamin D. Plan ahead by packing sunscreen, bringing a portable charger, and setting up your Holafly UK eSIM so you can stay connected and share the moment as it happens.
Methodology
To identify the UK’s biggest sun-seeking cities, we analysed Google Search data from the largest UK cities, focusing on winter sun-related terms such as “beach holidays,” “where is hot in February,” “winter sun destinations” and more. Data was limited to winter months (December to February) from 2022 to 2025 with search volumes indexed per 100,000 people to account for population size.
