Destinations on the Rise: Biggest, Fastest & Hidden Gems

Some popular destinations are only increasing in popularity as time goes on. In this section, we will delve into the top TrainPal spots that are seeing significant increases with tourists. Take a look at our top 5 below and the best things you can do there:

Salford 

• CuppaPug – The ultimate pug café where you can enjoy a wonderful selection of drinks and snacks while hugging an adorable pug.
• Peel Park – A historic park filled with relaxation spots and events fun for the whole family.
• Ordsall Hall – A manor steeped in history and culture, Ordsall Hall is one of our number one picks thanks to its accessible history tours and ghost walks. It’s also considered the oldest building in Salford!

Hatfield 

Located in Hertfordshire, roughly 20 miles north of London, Hatfield is a town and civil parish that ranks as TrainPal’s second biggest rising spot. In Q1 of 2026, this destination saw average YoY growth over the past 6 months that was close to a doubling.

But what is there to do in Hatfield? Take a look at some of the hottest tourist attractions below:

• Hatfield House – This Jacobean mansion is one of the most visited spots in all of Hatfield. Surrounded by acres of woodland and beautiful gardens, visitors can spend all day here taking in the scenery and the historic architecture.
• Old Hatfield – This historic place is covered in landmarks, including the Old Palace where Elizabeth I grew up.
• The Galleria – A great place filled with a stunning range of shops and dining areas. Perfect for anyone wanting to splash a bit of cash and have a hearty meal along the way.

St Albans 

St Albans is a cathedral city also found in Hertfordshire. This place is so popular due to its surplus of year-round events and its historic lineage. The average YoY growth in this destination for the last 6 months nearly doubled, and the average MoM change over the last 6 months gained in the high single digits.

• St Albans Cathedral – This cathedral has one of the longest naves in England and is a popular tourist attraction all year round.
• De Havilland Aircraft Museum – This heritage centre is one of Britain’s first aviation collections and has the only original World War Two prototypes.
• Verulamium Park – Named after the Roman city of Verulamium, this park is 100 acres of lush woodland with a wide range of facilities.

Uttlesford District

This town in Essex posted strong YoY growth over the last 6 months, nearing a doubling. Take a look at some of the attractions that make this destination rank fourth for best rising spots:

• Audley End House – This is a great place if you want an authentic vision of the past. You can explore the state rooms, the great hall, and intimate apartments to see how people in the sixteenth century lived.
• Bridge End Gardens – A beautiful garden perfect for family picnics or lazy afternoon strolls.
• The Snug at High Easter – A cosy little café for when you need a relaxing sit-down and a great cup of coffee.

London

It’s no surprise London is in the top 5 rising spots. It has always been a popular destination, and that popularity only continues to rise. 

In Q1 of 2026, bookings to London were well into the millions,  with strong, mid-double-digit average YoY growth over the last 6 months. It’s the capital city, so of course it’s going to be a tourism hotspot. With so much history, culture, and shopping to experience, London is without a doubt one of the strongest tourist destinations in the UK.

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We have listed below some of the best things to do and see when in London. Take a look:

• The West End – For lovers of theatre, London is the best place to be. With so many wonderful musicals and plays happening at the same time, sometimes it’s harder to figure out what you don’t want to see!
• Big Ben – One of the most famous landmarks in London, many people come from all over just to see this huge clocktower in person.
• The Tower of London – This fortress once housed some of the most famous royals in history, and those stories still live on in immersive tours and guides. 

This section will cover the destinations in the UK that are seeing a rapid increase in popularity. Whether they started popular and are now growing at an impressive rate, or if they were overlooked and now have become trendy places for tourists to visit. See our top five ranking destinations and some of their highlights below:

Huddersfield 

This town in Yorkshire is one of the fastest rising destinations from our data. With strong double‑digit YoY growth over the last 6 months, Huddersfield is clearly a destination that is seeing a spike in visitors. 

But why is this city becoming such a trendy place to visit? Check out our top picks for things to do in Huddersfield, which might explain why it’s becoming such a hotspot for tourists right now:

• Kirklees Pride – In June, Huddersfield hosts one of the most popular Pride celebrations in the UK. This includes a large parade and parties that go on all night long. If you want to celebrate love and fancy an all-day street party, then maybe Kirklees Pride is just the thing you’re looking for.
• The Turntable – This café and vinyl shop is the perfect place for music lovers. The vibes are immaculate, and the food and drink is even better!
• Parish Pub – This pub books a whole range of indie bands. If that sounds like your thing, then maybe a night at the Parish Pub is just the thing you’re looking for.

Hatfield 

Hatfield was already mentioned in the biggest rising spots portion of this guide, and it also ranks as the second fastest rising spot. Thanks to its historical landmarks and a town filled with culture, it is quickly becoming one of the trendiest places to visit in the whole of the UK. 

Uttlesford District

Much like Hatfield, Uttlesford has already appeared in this guide, but it also ranks at the third fastest rising destination from our data. It has become such a trendy spot for tourists thanks to its cute cafes and gorgeous historic buildings.

Cheltenham 

This destination is a historic spa town located in Gloucestershire. Home to countless well-known events from literature festival to horse racing, it’s no surprise that Cheltenham ranks fourth for fastest rising spots. 

From our data, we found that this town had a strong, mid-double-digit YoY growth and a steady, high single‑digit MoM increase over the last 6 months. It is clear that Cheltenham is gathering pace fast and is a prime example of how tourist demand can change over time. 

Check out below the main things to do when you’re in Cheltenham:

• Pittville Park – This is the largest ornamental park in town, popular for families and long walks.
• Cheltenham Racecourse – This is famous for hosting the renowned Cheltenham Festival. It is a must-see for any horse race lover.
• Holst Victorian House – See the birthplace of famous composer Gustav Holst and learn what it was like growing up in the Victorian period.

Bicester

Bicester is the fifth fastest rising spot from our data. It’s a market town in Oxfordshire, and has seen a robust double‑digit YoY growth in the last 6 months, and in Q1 of 2026. It is clear that this town is quickly becoming one of the hottest spots for tourists to visit, but why is it becoming such a trend? Well, take a look at some of the sights Bicester has to offer below and find out:

• Bicester Village – This is a renowned luxury shopping outlet with over 160 unique boutiques to peruse through.
• Garth Park – A beautiful park filled with outdoor play areas and perfect spots for family picnics.
• Saint Edburg’s Church – This church dates back to the 12th century and is known for its genius architecture and peaceful churchyard.

Now we have gone over the most popular and the fastest growing destinations, it’s time to cover the hidden gems of the UK. These destinations are visited less frequently, but are still seeing a steady rise in train ticket sales and the percentage of visitors. These are our hidden gems; the parts of the country that are less known but still offer the same magic and peace.

Gravesend 

This town in northwest Kent has seen a smaller portion of bookings in Q1 of 2026 compared to the other towns we have mentioned previously, but its average YoY more than doubled in the last 6 months, making it perfectly clear that this town is rising in popularity. This is our highest-ranking hidden gem from our data, and there are so many things to see and do here. Take a look at a few below:

• Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara – This is one of the largest Gurdwaras in Europe, and hosts fantastic facilities for both Sikhs and the wider community.
• The Cyclopark – This is a great place for kids to let off a little steam and play on their bikes.
• New Tavern Fort – New Tavern fort is a defensive fort, originally constructed in the Tudor times. There’s even an underground tunnel you can visit filled with gun cartridges and shell stores.

Tonbridge 

Tonbridge is a market town, also in Kent, and ranks as the second-best hidden gem from our data. But the average YoY growth over the last 6 months exceeded a doubling, indicating very strong momentum. This is another clear example of how trends can spike and places that appear to be less visited can become very popular over time.

Wanting to visit Tonbridge yourself? Here are some must-see spots: 

• Tonbridge Castle – This is one of the UK’s best examples of a Motte and Bailey castle, with a 13th century gatehouse to top it off. Perfect for all lovers of history.
• All Saints Church – All Saint Church is one of the only churches to have all its twelve windows decorated by the great Russian artist Marc Chagall.
• Oast Theatre – For all the thespians out there, Oast Theatre puts on a range of shows for everyone to see!

Dartford

The third best-ranking hidden gem from our data is the market town of Dartford in London. With average YoY growth close to a twofold increase and sustained mid‑to‑high single‑digit MoM growth over the last 6 months,  it’s apparent that Dartford is gaining attraction from tourists. This is a very strong sign of growth despite its lower booking base.

Here are some great things to do if you were to ever visit Dartford:

• Central Park – A lovely place for a morning stroll or somewhere to clear your head. Due to its vibrant scenery, it is very popular with the locals and tourists.
• Dartford Borough Museum – This museum is packed with local history and culture, and is a must-see for any families or history lovers.
• The Orchard Theatre – A great spot to catch a show and finish your night off with some lovely live-theatre.

Sittingbourne 

Sittingbourne is an industrial town located in Kent. Over the last 6 months, it recorded average YoY growth close to a doubling, with low single‑digit MoM increases. This is classed as a hidden gem as its booking rates are low, but its attraction is extremely high and will presumably only continue to grow. 

Take a look at some of Sittingbourne’s main attractions below:

• Doddington Place Gardens – This wonderful garden comes with topiaries, a folly, and an extensive rock garden.
• Central Park Greyhound Stadium – Watch a whole range of dog races with a cold drink in your hand!
• Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway – This heritage railway site connects the former paper mill site in Sittingbourne to Kemsley Down, offering tourists a glimpse into the past.

Solihull 

Solihull is a large market town found in the east of the West Midlands. Over the past 6 months, it has recorded high double‑digit YoY growth and mid single‑digit average MoM gains. Check out some of the things that are making Solihull the new trendy place to visit below:

• Brueton Park – A scenic park that features a lake and wooden trails, perfect for family walks.
• Blakesley Hall Museum – A Tudor-era museum where visitors can get a glimpse of the past.
• Tudor Grange Park – This is one of the largest parks in Solihull, and offers playgrounds, tennis courts, and a café.

With a variety of promo codes making sure you book cheaper tickets, and fast changes and refunds available to you, TrainPal is your best friend when it comes to rail travel. So, what are you waiting for? Your next adventure awaits!

Top Destinations: Please provide data on destinations in 2024/25/ (and 2026 if available) that have seen the biggest YoY growth in bookings, ideally including month-by-month data. 

In the dataset, we include the following:  

• Booking volume

• Year-on-year growth (%)

• Month-on-month growth (%)

 Percentage increases rather than hard numbers are preferred for YoY/MoM. 

The ‘fastest right-now' ranking ignores overall score and looks only at recent month-on-month movement to surface the quickest accelerators. 

The hidden gem ranking isolates smaller but still credible destinations, so breakout places are not buried behind the biggest markets.