As I sit atop the mountainous hill of Alexandra Park with the ancient city of Bath sprawling out for miles all around me, I’m enraptured and humbled by the abundance of weathered stone, the sporadic smudges of ancient oaks, and the mystical rolling hills that have inspired everyone from the Romans to Peter Gabriel to flock here for healing and peace. It’s what I’m doing here too, I suppose. Escaping from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to get some quiet – and some culture too. There’s more than enough of it here, with mediaeval castles, Roman baths, and the many homes of Jane Austen easily taken in in just a long weekend.
My trip is one of many I’ve made this year, all to UK hotspots to see the culture of the cities rather than the nightclubs that would’ve drawn me in a few years ago. And I’m not alone in this shifting perspective.
Visiting party spots like Magaluf and Ibiza may have long been a rite of passage for young people, jetting off to drink in excess and dance until the sun comes up. But new research is showing that Gen Z are increasingly prioritising culture over partying when it comes to their getaways now, often staying in the UK. It’s a fact that’s obvious after spending just a few minutes scrolling through TikTok’s envy-inducing travel vlogs and tip-sharing videos.
Louisa Hone is an avid traveller, often setting off solo to walk the UK’s most beautiful trails and see the more underrated side of the landscape. She shares her trips, as well as her tips, on TikTok. “I started posting videos just for my own memories but then people started commenting asking where I was and that they wanted to visit there too. I thought, ‘Wow, if I’m inspiring people to do something I love, I’m going to keep going.’ Now people are actively saving everything I post which is amazing.
“There’s something so wholesome about getting out and making memories and enjoying nature,” Hone adds. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the occasional night out but the memories I’ve made exploring the UK have been so much more worthwhile.”
It’s not just Hone’s followers who share her enthusiasm for more low-key getaways. According to SkyParkSecure’s Young People’s Travel Report, only 5% of Gen Zers said party holidays ‘appeal to them’, with a surprisingly small amount even just caring about the bars and clubs in the area they’d want to visit. In fact, 23% of the young people they surveyed said they would ‘never’ choose a destination known for its partying, preferring instead to enjoy a relaxing beach holiday or break in a city known for its famous landmarks.