Packed and Ready to Go: Brits’ Quirky Holiday Packing Habits, Revealed

25/07/2024

When it comes to going on holiday, packing your suitcase is a fine art. Whether you're heading to a sunny beach in Spain, the picturesque hills of Tuscany, or simply enjoying a staycation in the Lake District, packing your suitcase is all part of the fun.
Whether you are part of the 37% who can't travel without their own teabags or the 32% who insist on bringing cleaning products, it seems that suitcases are often packed with weird and wonderful items.

And it seems on social media, people are certainly getting prepared for their travels. On TikTok, there are a whopping 54.3 million posts related to ‘holiday essentials,’ showing just how much thought goes into packing. And it’s not just the Tiktok-ers that are itching to get away, with Google searches for ‘holiday packing’ having surged by 64% over the last three months.

To find out what home comforts Brits can’t live without on holiday, this survey of 2,000 holidaymakers looked at the most amusing and surprising items Brits take on holiday. Delving further, the study revealed where in the country is home to the biggest over packers and exactly what are the nation’s ‘most forgotten’ items.

What’s in the Bag? These are the Weirdest Items Brits Take Abroad

The survey sheds light on the quirky packing habits of Brits when preparing for a holiday, revealing some fascinating insights.

When looking at the weirdest packed items, it seems that over a third (37%) of respondents can’t go without their favourite brew, and pack teabags when going on an abroad getaway.

A dedicated one in ten (10%) even bring their own mug to recreate the perfect cuppa, with a further one in ten (10%) taking it one step further by packing a kettle! 

Fancy a biscuit with that? A further 21% of British tea-lovers even bring their favourite biscuits along too. 

The biggest tea packers hail from Belfast (50%), Cardiff (49%), Liverpool (45%), Bristol (44%), and Nottingham (43%), proving that these cities truly cherish their tea-time traditions, even while on holiday.

Another unexpected item that Brits love to bring on their travels is cleaning products, because who doesn’t want to keep things spick and span even while away? It turns out a third (32%) of Brits like to roll their sleeves up even when they’re away on holiday and take cleaning products with them in preparation.

Bedding comes in at a surprising third place (29%), as many prefer their home comforts and take their own sheets, pillows, or even a duvet to help them drift off in peace. Slippers are also a must-pack item for 25% of holiday-goers, proving that comfort is always key. 

Coffee (24%) rounds off the top five, highlighting that, alongside a love for tea, Brits’ caffeine fix knows no bounds.

The Home Comforts That Can’t Be Left Behind

It seems that Brits love their home comforts, with a whopping 86% – equating to about 46.1M people – admitting they miss these familiarities when on holiday. 

The top home comfort that respondents missed the most is their own pillow, with one in four (43%) longing for this whilst abroad. Close behind, over a third (38%) miss their own mattress, emphasising the importance of a good night’s sleep. 

Using your own toilet comes in fourth (31%), highlighting a preference for personal space and hygiene. 

Spending time with pets is also a significant comfort missed by 29% of British holiday-goers, and it's no surprise – furry friends undoubtedly hold a special place in people's hearts.

British TV is also sorely missed by almost a third (29%) of travellers, proving that even while exploring new destinations, many crave the familiarity of their favourite shows. 

It's clear that while Brits love to travel, there's no place quite like home!

The top ten most missed home comforts:
1.    Your own pillow (43%)
2.    Your own mattress (38%)
3.    Spending time with pets (29%)
4.    Using your own toilet (31%)
5.    British TV (29%)
6.    Your own duvet (28%)
7.    British teabags (27%)
8.    Sitting in your spot on the sofa (19%)
9.    British food (18%)
10.    Drinking out of your own mug (16%)

The Art of Forgetting

The study also revealed that two-thirds of the British population (66%) forget to take at least one important item on holiday every time they go away. 

The most forgotten item? Suncream (32%), which is ironic given its essential status for an abroad holiday. Following closely behind are plug adaptors (20%), crucial for powering all gadgets and electronics. 

The other, most-forgotten items included a hairbrush (18%), phone charger (17%), and books (16%). 

When looking at the differences between how men and women answered, it seems men are more likely to forget essentials like suncream, chargers, and even their passport, than women. In fact, almost 50% more men than women admitted to forgetting their passport when packing for an abroad holiday!

So, next time you're lounging on a sunny beach without a hairbrush, phone charger, or your favourite read, just remember you likely won’t be the only one.

A Nation of Over-Packers

A whopping 86% of Brits admit to overpacking for a holiday, and it’s no surprise that clothes top the list, with 69% of the nation cramming extra outfits into their suitcases. Shoes (36%) and underwear (31%) follow closely behind. 

More surprisingly though, 8.5M Brits say it’s their reading material they overpack, with 16% admitting to taking books on holiday they don’t get round to reading.

The top five most overpacked items are:
1.    Clothes (69%) 
2.    Shoes (36%) 
3.    Underwear (31%) 
4.    Toiletries (20%) 
5.    Books (18%)

According to the data, it seems women are more likely to over-packer than men, as 91% of women admit to overpacking versus 80% of men.

Regionally, the cities where overpacking is an art form, with many residents admitting to struggling with overly full suitcases, include Belfast (91%), Glasgow (90%), Southampton (89%), Leeds (88%), and London (87%).

Countdown to Departure: When Do People Start Packing?

With holiday excitement sweeping the nation, the question arises... how do people get themselves organised before a trip?

On average, the holiday packing process begins 11 days before departure, with a quarter of holidaymakers starting more than a month in advance. 

It takes the average Brit around seven hours to pack, though almost a quarter (23%) can manage it in under an hour, while 10% might take over 24 hours. Interestingly, men typically spend about six hours packing, whereas women take a more leisurely nine hours.

Expert Tips for Seamless Holiday Packing

To discover the best strategies for staying organised, avoiding overpacking, and maximising luggage space, Nicki Rodriguez, professional packing expert and owner of Essex House Dolly has shared her top tips.

How to maximise luggage space and avoid overpacking

“Firstly, a common mistake most people make is folding their clothes. This not only limits the space you have, but it also creates creasing. Instead, roll them! Rolling eliminates the creases and in turn, gives you more space.  

“With your shoes, pack them together so that the front ends are touching each other, but one shoe is upside down. This then creates a brick shape which can easily be slotted into your case. Keep footwear to a minimum as, in reality, you only need a pair of flip flops, trainers and a few pairs for the evening. 

“When it comes to toiletries, buy small plastic pots and containers – you’ll find these in the likes of Superdrug and Boots – and put all your liquids and creams in these. These items are literally half the size and will not take up as much room in your case. Top tip: remember to label these too.  

“To avoid overpacking, only bring items that you actually need. The easy way to do this is to lay out on the floor or bed, clothing for each day. This way, you can then visually see what you are and are going to wear. For example, if you are staying 7 nights, you’d put on swimwear, underwear, an outfit for evening, outfit for day. You would then roll these items and place them in a carrier bag with a label of the day. These are easy to find and can be purchased on Amazon.” 

Keeping yourself organised whilst travelling 

1. Start your packing early

“I would advise to begin packing your case at least 2 weeks before to stay organised. You may find your swimwear or clothing doesn’t fit, or you don’t like how they look anymore. So, by starting your packing early, you have time to find replacements and re-order.” 

2. Write a checklist to avoid forgetting items 

“Write a list of what you think you need and cross-check with what you will be doing on your holiday. This thought process not only cross-checks, but you can visually see too. I am a huge list writer and holiday packing is definitely up there! Making a list for your travel bag is also important, so things like: passport, money, banking cards, headache tablets, phone charger, glasses, lip balm, and any makeup plastic bottles you may need.” 

3. Pack a designated dirty washing bag

“Secondly, I would also advise to put a bin liner in your case. This is for all your dirty washing for when you come back. This is also handy to have a second one for swimwear so your case doesn’t get dirty or chlorine on your clothes.” 

4. Bring a steamer to avoid unwanted creases 

“A great addition to your suitcase it to pack a clothes steamer. They are small and lightweight and ideal to hover over any dresses that you may have.” 

5. Bring some cleaning supplies with you

“Fourthly - I always pack some antibacterial wipes and a bottle of disinfectant spray to sanitise the bathroom and give the surfaces a once over. Yes, I know it is a bit much but if you have OCD like me, but it helps put your mind at ease where you are staying is clean.”

To Conclude

Whether you’re a meticulous planner or a last-minute packer, it’s clear that Brits have some wonderfully unique packing habits. 

From teabags to slippers, people certainly know how to make themselves at home, even when they’re far away. So, next time you’re packing for a trip, remember – you’re not alone in your quirky habits. 

Happy travels from all the team at tombola!

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