Port Isaac in Cornwall, made famous as the filming location for ITV’s Doc Martin, has been crowned the UK’s best ‘destination dupe’ thanks to its likeness to Italy’s Amalfi Coast

• Derwentwater in the Lake District, St Ives in Cornwall and Elgol on the Isle of Skye also feature in the top five, with holidaymakers comparing them to Lake Como, Spain’s Cadaqués and the Norwegian fjords
• 94% of holidaymakers would consider staying in the UK if they were going somewhere that offered scenery comparable to a well-known international destination
• Air travel disruption is fuelling an uptick in staycations, with airport queues (70%) and flight delays or cancellations (61%) prompting many Brits to explore UK getaways.

LONDON, UK: A Cornish seaside town best known as the filming location for ITV’s Doc Martin has been named the UK’s top ‘destination dupe’ for summer 2026 in a new poll, as holidaymakers increasingly swap European escapes for strikingly similar locations closer to home.

Port Isaac in Cornwall has been crowned the UK’s number one thanks to its likeness to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, while Derwentwater in the Lake District has been named Britain’s answer to Lake Como, and Canterbury has been compared to the medieval charm of Bruges.

Budget hotel chain Travelodge polled 10,000 people* to crown the location that best resembles a European getaway. Elgol on the Isle of Skye, which bears a striking resemblance to the Norwegian fjords, and Kendal, which draws parallels with the alpine village of Grindelwald in Switzerland, made up the top five. 

The ‘destination dupes’ trend sees holidaymakers swapping long-haul or European breaks for UK locations that offer a similar look and feel – from turquoise coves and harbour towns, to historic streets and dramatic mountain backdrops.   

Almost half (44%) have swapped an overseas holiday for a UK break in the past 12 months, while the vast majority (94%) of respondents said they would consider holidaying in the UK if it offered scenery comparable to a famous overseas destination. 

It comes as holidaymakers grow increasingly frustrated with aspects of international travel, with just over half (56%) put off going abroad by rising costs. This is leading to many travellers actively looking for ‘destination dupes’ which boast the scenery, atmosphere and charm of iconic overseas hotspots but much closer to home.

Airport queues (70%), flight delays and cancellations (61%) and overcrowded destinations (40%) were cited as the top travel hassles, prompting British holidaymakers to seek UK alternatives to some of Europe’s best-loved holiday spots.

The findings suggest Britain’s coastlines, islands, historic cities and countryside are increasingly competing with some of Europe’s most sought-after destinations.

The top 10 UK destination dupes, according to over 10,000 UK residents, are: 

Number	UK Dupe	European Destination	Similarities	% of customers who agree
1	Port Isaac, Cornwall	Amalfi Coast	Dramatic cliffs, pastel cottages, turquoise coves and winding coastal roads reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast	37%
2	Derwentwater, Lake District	Lake Como, Italy	Elegant lakeside scenery, mountain backdrops reminiscent of Lake Como	36%
3	St Ives, Cornwall	Cadaqués, Spain	White-sand beaches, pretty harbour views and a relaxed coastal feel reminiscent of Cadaqués	35%
4	Kendal, Lake District	Grindelwald, Switzerland	Dramatic landscapes and alpine-style scenery, offering the feel of a Swiss mountain escape closer to home	32%
5	Elgol, Isle of Skye	Norwegian fjords, Norway	Like the Norwegian Fjords, Elgol is cinematic, remote and weather-driven; ideal for wild beauty without the flight	30%
6	Llandudno, Wales	Nice / French Riviera, France	The Victorian promenade and seaside setting give it a Riviera-style atmosphere without leaving the UK	29%
7	Cambridge	Venice, Italy	Waterways, bridges and punts make Cambridge a natural British alternative to Venice	27%
8	St Davids, Pembrokeshire	Dubrovnik, Croatia	Compact, coastal and historic, St Davids offers a peaceful city-break feel reminiscent of Dubrovnik	27%
9	Staithes, North Yorkshire	Positano, Italy	A steep harbour village with postcard cottages and dramatic coastal views, offering a Positano-style escape at home	26%
10	Canterbury	Bruges, Belgium	A walkable cathedral city with heritage streets and historic charm reminiscent of Bruges	24%

When asked what matters most when choosing a destination dupe, holidaymakers ranked value for money (61%), where to stay (59%) and scenery (52%) among the most important factors, ahead of ease of travel (49%) and things to do (47%). 

Meanwhile, warm weather (36%), coastal scenery (35%), beaches (25%), crystal-clear waters (24%), and outdoor dining (22%) were identified as the features most likely to make a UK destination feel as though it belonged overseas. 

When picking a location, seaside destinations (37%) are the number one attraction for Brits over city breaks (22%), the countryside (19%), and even a trip to the mountains (7%).

The research also revealed the growing appeal of Britain’s coastline and countryside, with over half of (52%) respondents admitting they have visited a UK destination that reminded them of somewhere abroad.

Family and friends are the biggest inspiration for visiting ‘destination dupes’ (60%) and a quarter (25%) admit to being inspired by online news websites and social channels. 

A quarter (26%) confessed to keeping favourite holiday spots secret, with the top reasons being that they want to keep the ‘hidden gem’ status (26%), to keep returning without it changing (34%), and to maintain the atmosphere (14%).

The findings suggest that for a growing number of travellers, the perfect holiday may no longer require a passport – just a willingness to look closer to home.

A Travelodge spokesperson said: “Why brave airport queues and flight cancellations when world-class holiday views are right here on our doorstep? From pastel coastal towns to dramatic alpine landscapes, Britain’s ‘destination dupes’ offer all the charm, beauty, and atmosphere of an overseas escape, without the travel hassle.

“When it comes to getting maximum holiday inspiration for minimum spend, you’d better get a Travelodge. With hotels in hundreds of stunning locations across the country, we’re here as your ultimate, great-value base for an unforgettable UK adventure.”

Travelodge operates more than 600 hotels across the UK. To book your next UK adventure today and get a great deal, check out Travelodge’s Best Price Finder.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact:

The Travelodge Press Office

T: 01844 358 703

E: pressoffice@travelodge.co.uk 

Notes to Editors

*Survey of 10,762 email subscribers conducted by Travelodge in July 2026.

About Travelodge 

Founded in 1985, Travelodge is Britain’s very first budget hotel chain and today is one of the largest budget hotel chains in the UK, with a portfolio of over 630 hotels and approximately 49,000 bedrooms across the UK, Ireland and Spain.

In Spain, Travelodge has an established profitable presence and has ambitious growth plans within this market and has identified the top key locations where it would like to open additional hotels in Spain.

Welcoming over 22 million guests annually across the UK, Ireland and Spain, the majority of Travelodge hotels are located in major cities, towns and holiday hotspots as well as by airports and key business hubs. With over 96% of its hotels rated 4 dots or above on TripAdvisor, Travelodge is proud to offer guests across its diverse customer base a good value experience – whether they are travelling for business or leisure.

Whether out celebrating a birthday, going to a concert or sporting event, visiting friends and family, taking a business trip, working away from home, or taking a short break, we help people to go and do their thing by Being the Brilliant Base.

Travelodge continues to invest in its ongoing hotel refit programme and has already upgraded approximately two-thirds of the Travelodge room estate to its new design. The brand is also continually evolving its quality offering to deliver a better experience for its diverse mix of business and leisure guests such as its new look Bar Café design, 85 Bar Café, which has been rolled out to selected UK hotels as part of the refit programme.

Travelodge is focusing on its environmental and social impact, with sustainability integral to its business strategy. Its Better Future sustainability plan aims to build a more sustainable future for its customers, colleagues and the planet, underpinned by three core pillars: Inclusive – ensuring we are accessible, inclusive and well-priced to our customers and colleagues; Caring – creating a caring and healthy environment for our colleagues and customers and ensuring their wellbeing; and Conscious – Travelodge is conscious of its impact on the planet, taking into account the waste it produces, the energy and other resources it consumes and the carbon emissions it generates.

For further information visit travelodge.co.uk or the Travelodge Hotels Limited LinkedIn page.