When should I book a summer 2027 holiday from the UK?

Becky Westaway

Oct 6

4 min read

Short answer: if you want a specific hotel, room type or school-holiday week for summer 2027, the best time to book is now, between this autumn and the end of January. Summer 2027 holidays are already on sale with the big UK tour operators, and the family favourites tend to go first.

If you are flexible on dates and travelling outside the school holidays, you have a bit more breathing room. But for July and August, waiting usually means choosing from what is left rather than getting what you wanted. Here is a practical guide from Westaway Travel on when to book, what sells out first, and how we can help.

Is summer 2027 already on sale?

Yes. Jet2 and Jet2holidays put their Summer 2027 programme on sale back in October 2025, from all 13 of their UK airports, including East Midlands, Birmingham, London Luton and London Stansted, which are all handy for clients in Northamptonshire and the Midlands. TUI also has summer 2027 holidays available to book.

The trade is seeing people plan ahead, too. In early October 2026, Travel Weekly reported that travel agents were seeing encouraging early bookings for next summer, with strong forward bookings into the core July to September 2027 months.

Aerial view of a Mallorca beach and turquoise sea, a popular summer 2027 holiday destination from the UK

Who should book summer 2027 first?

Some holidays really do reward booking early. If any of these sound like you, we would start planning now:

Families tied to school holidays: everyone wants the same few weeks in late July and August, so the best family rooms and flight times go quickly.
Larger groups and multi-generation trips: several rooms, villas or interconnecting rooms in one hotel are much easier to secure early.
Specific room types: swim-up rooms, family suites and sea-view rooms are limited in every hotel.
A preferred local airport: regional airports have fewer flights, so the best days and times fill up first.
Long-haul and once-in-a-lifetime trips: Florida, the Caribbean and big multi-centre holidays need more planning, and the best-value options rarely hang around.

What sells out first?

In our experience, it is rarely the destination that runs out. It is the exact combination you wanted: the right hotel, the right room, the right departure airport and the right dates. Jet2holidays says itself that its most popular family holidays always sell out first.

Booking early can also help with family offers. TUI, for example, advises that booking early gives you a better chance of a free child place where these are available.

Hotel swimming pool overlooking the sea in Corfu, Greece, for a summer 2027 family holiday

Should I wait for Black Friday or the January sales?

There are often offers around Black Friday and in January, which is traditionally one of the busiest times of year for booking summer holidays. The catch is that choice shrinks as more people book, so a headline deal is only worth having if it is on the hotel and dates you actually want.

Our honest advice: if you have your heart set on something specific, secure it now. If you are flexible, tell us what you are looking for and we will keep an eye out and let you know when something genuinely good comes up.

Popular summer 2027 destinations from the UK

Balearics and mainland Spain: Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza remain easy, family-friendly favourites with short flights.
Portugal: the Algarve is ideal for golden beaches, golf and relaxed resorts.
Greece and the islands: Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Zante suit everything from all-inclusive family breaks to quieter couples' escapes.
Turkey: great for all-inclusive resorts and plenty of sunshine.
Further afield: Florida theme parks, the Caribbean and summer cruises are worth planning well ahead.

Algarve beach with golden cliffs and turquoise water in Portugal, a summer holiday favourite for UK travellers

How Westaway Travel can help

We are an independent travel agency based in Northampton, and we help clients right across the UK by phone, email, WhatsApp or video call, as well as in person by appointment.

Planning with us is free. We compare options across lots of trusted operators, check the details that matter (room layouts, transfer times, flight times and baggage), and stay on hand before, during and after your trip. Bookings are ATOL and ABTA protected through Not Just Travel, so you have proper financial protection as well as a real person to call.

Summer 2027 holiday FAQs

Is it too early to book a summer 2027 holiday?

No. Summer 2027 is already on sale with major UK operators, and booking early gives you the widest choice of hotels, rooms, dates and departure airports.

Will prices drop if I wait?

Sometimes, but it is a gamble. Offers do appear, yet popular dates and room types sell out, especially in the school holidays. If something specific matters to you, booking early is the safer choice.

When are the 2027 school summer holidays?

Dates vary by council and school. In England and Wales they usually run from late July to early September, while Scottish schools normally break up earlier, from late June. Always check your own school's calendar before booking.

Is my booking protected?

Yes. Westaway Travel bookings are ATOL and ABTA protected through Not Just Travel.

Do I need to live near Northampton?

Not at all. We are based in Northampton, but we plan holidays for clients all over the UK, and it costs nothing to get started.

Ready to plan your summer 2027 holiday?

Call Becky on 01604 926 464, email becky@westawaytravel.co.uk, or get in touch through our contact page for a free, no-pressure chat about your summer 2027 plans.