DORSET has been named among the top places for a staycation in 2021.

People are still planning to stay in the UK even with mass immunisation promised by spring.

Many holidaymakers say they are reluctant to commit to travelling abroad abroad due to ever-changing travel restrictions and uncertainty on the restrictions in other countries.

British residents are barred from the EU as of January 1 amid coronavirus travel restrictions and 2021 could become another year when holidaymakers opt to stay within the country.

New research from holidaycottages.co.uk reveals 84 per cent of the UK will consider a staycation in 2021, and has also revealed holidaymakers’ bucket list hotspots for the year.

Dorset features on the list, with 30 per cent of surveyed people stating they would like to visit the county for a break.

Cornwall tops the bucket list destination in 2021, with nearly half of people claiming they would like to visit the county for a staycation. The ever-popular Scottish Highlands and Devon tie in second/third place with 43 per cent and Cumbria/Lake District follow behind with 41 per cent.

From the research, it seems Brits are hoping to visit more rural, scenic locations for their staycation next year, with Edinburgh the only city featured in the top ten list.

18-24-year-olds were the age group most likely to say they would have never considered a staycation trip were it not for lockdown restrictions at 42 per cent, with more than a quarter 27 per cent claiming they only went because they couldn’t travel abroad.

This data suggests that younger people have seen much more of Britain than they ever would have been it not for lockdown and are keen to explore more of Britain’s rural beauty, rather than our bustling towns and cities.

Shannon Keary, digital PR manager at holidaycottages.co.uk, said holidaymakers are likely to be heading to rural areas in 2021.

She said: “The past year has certainly impacted our international travel plans, and it doesn’t seem to be looking up in 2021 with the EU travel ban post-Brexit.

“However, this past year has allowed more people than ever before to see the beauty of their own country, and that can only be a good thing for UK domestic travel.

“The UK has so much to offer in terms of holidays and beauty spots, and it’s encouraging to see that 84 per cent of Brits are considering a staycation in 2021.”

“It’s interesting to see that London was the most visited staycation spot of 2020 but is not high on Brits bucket list destinations for 2021.”