The best British summer destinations to visit by train, according to Virgin Trains Ticketing | News

New booking data from Virgin Trains Ticketing has revealed the UK destinations that saw the biggest spike in train arrivals in summer 2025, with the data pointing to four clear seasonal travel trends: sporting events, airport travel, seaside escapes and tourist cities.
Ascot in Berkshire saw the biggest increase, with bookings up 158% compared to the rest of the year, likely boosted by visitors traveling to Royal Ascot, while Henley-on-Thames saw a 58% increase, coinciding with the Henley Royal Regatta. Together the figures highlight the importance of rail travel in helping people travel to major sporting and social events.
Airport travel was another clear theme. West Drayton, close to Heathrow Airport, saw bookings rise by 94%, while Heathrow Terminal 5 rose by 75%, indicating more travelers were using the train as part of their summer holidays.
Coastal destinations also performed strongly, with bookings to Margate in Kent up 74%, Portsmouth Harbor in Hampshire up 67% and both Ramsgate in Kent and Scarborough in North Yorkshire up 55%. Other coastal hotspots that saw notable summer increases included Christchurch in Dorset (48%) and Southend Central in Essex (45%).
Classic tourist towns and rural destinations also saw a summer boost. Bookings to Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire rose by 60%, while Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire saw a 57% increase, and Totnes in Devon saw bookings 50% higher than the average quarter.
Virgin Trains Ticketing’s top 10 arrival destinations with summer bookings increasing by more than 50% by 2025 were:
Ascot
Scunthorpe
West Drayton
Heathrow terminal 5
Margate
Portsmouth Harbour
Stratford-upon-Avon
Henley-on-Thames
Beverley
Ramsgate
And this summer, these trips can be even more rewarding. Virgin Trains Ticketing and Virgin Red help travelers take their stay further, with bonus Virgin Points available on train journeys through Virgin Trains Ticketing and stays through Booking.com.
Customers who book a train ticket through Virgin Trains Ticketing between June 15 and July 13, 2026 will earn six Virgin Points for every £1 spent, instead of the usual three points per £1. For an extra points boost, Virgin Red members can earn up to 10 Virgin Points for every £1 spent when booking a Booking.com stay in the UK or Europe through Virgin Red during the same period, compared to the usual eight points per £1, for stays on any date.
Mark Plowright, spokesperson for Virgin Trains Ticketing said: “Summer is one of the best times to explore more of Britain by train, whether it’s a seaside escape, a countryside break or a day out to a new destination. Our data shows just how varied Britain’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 increased points available on stays with Booking.com, travelers can further their summer plans and earn rewards on both their travel and stay that they can use towards future travel.”