Britain’s seaside destinations had a surge in popularity during summer 2025, with coastal towns dominating new analysis of rail booking trends.The data, which compares bookings made for June, July and August 2025 against the average quarterly bookings across the rest of the year, showed the most popular places last year, that could be worth adding to your 2026 holiday list.While Ascot topped the rankings with a 158 per cent increase in summer bookings, the Berkshire town’s position is widely attributed to visitors travelling for Royal Ascot rather than leisure holidays, according to the data from Virgin Trains Ticketing.Excluding event-driven destinations and those booked for necessity – such as trains to Heathrow Airport – coastal resorts featured heavily among the biggest hitters. Kent’s Margate is a classic holiday destination which recorded a 74 per cent increase in bookings.Kent’s Margate is a classic beach destination, which recorded a 74 per cent increase in bookings | GETTY The popular seaside town continues to attract visitors with its sandy beach, vibrant arts scene and attractions such as Dreamland and the Turner Contemporary gallery.Portsmouth Harbour followed with a 67 per cent rise in bookings. The Hampshire destination combines a rich maritime heritage with waterfront attractions, including the Historic Dockyard, making it a popular choice for summer travellers looking for both culture and coastal scenery.Ramsgate and Scarborough each recorded a 55 per cent increase in bookings. Ramsgate is a favourite for traditional seaside breaks thanks to its marina, beaches and Regency architecture, while Scarborough has a dramatic coastline, historic castle and family-friendly attractions that make it a hit.Top 20 destinations by summer booking upliftAscot (158%)Scunthorpe (99%)West Drayton (94%)Heathrow Terminal 5 (75%)Margate (74%)Portsmouth Harbour (67%)Stratford-upon-Avon (60%)Henley-on-Thames (58%)Beverley (57%)Ramsgate (55%)Scarborough (55%)Totnes (50%)Hassocks (49%)New Pudsey (49%)Christchurch (48%)Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 (46%)Southend Central (45%)Benfleet (43%)Clacton-on-Sea (41%)Crews Hill (41%)Portsmouth Harbour made the list | GETTYOther coastal destinations seeing strong summer growth included Christchurch in Dorset (48%), Southend Central in Essex (45%) and Clacton-on-Sea in Essex (41%).Beyond the coast, several established tourist towns also experienced notable increases. Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, recorded a 60 per cent rise in bookings, while Beverley in East Yorkshire saw bookings increase by 57 per cent. Totnes in Devon, known for its independent shops and historic character, showed a 50 per cent uplift.Spokesperson for Virgin Trains Ticketing Mark Plowright said: “Summer is one of the best times to explore more of Great Britain by train, whether that’s a seaside escape, a countryside break, or a day out somewhere new. “Our data shows just how varied the UK’s most popular summer rail destinations can be, and that the journey itself can be part of the adventure.“With double Virgin Points on train tickets and boosted points available on stays with Booking.com, travellers can make their summer plans go further, earning rewards on both their journey and their stay to put towards future trips.”