New booking data from Virgin Trains Ticketing has revealed the UK destinations that saw the biggest spike in train arrivals during summer 2025, with the data pointing to four clear seasonal travel trends: sporting events, airport journeys, seaside escapes and tourist towns.
Ascot in Berkshire saw the biggest uplift, with bookings up 158% compared with the rest of the year, likely boosted by visitors travelling to Royal Ascot, while Henley-on-Thames was up 58%, 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 94%, while Heathrow Terminal 5 was up 75%, suggesting more travellers used the train as part of their summer getaways.
Seaside destinations also performed strongly, with bookings to Margate in Kent increasing by 74%, Portsmouth Harbour in Hampshire by 67%, and both Ramsgate in Kent and Scarborough in North Yorkshire by 55%. Other coastal hotspots seeing notable summer increases included Christchurch in Dorset (48%), and Southend Central in Essex (45%).
Classic tourist towns and countryside destinations also saw a summer boost. Bookings to Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire rose 60%, while Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire saw a 57% increase, and Totnes in Devon recorded bookings 50% higher than the average quarter.
The top 10 Virgin Trains Ticketing arrival destinations with summer booking uplifts of more than 50% in 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 could be even more rewarding. Virgin Trains Ticketing and Virgin Red are helping travellers make their staycations go further, with bonus Virgin Points available on train travel through Virgin Trains Ticketing and stays through Booking.com.
Customers who book a train ticket through Virgin Trains Ticketing between 15 June and 13 July 2026 will earn six Virgin Points for every £1 spent, instead of the usual three points per £1. For an added points boost, Virgin Red members can earn up to 10 Virgin Points for every £1 spent when they book a Booking.com stay in the UK or Europe through Virgin Red in the same period, up from 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 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.”