The Most Profitable UK Airbnb Locations Right Now in 2026

By Mirko Zara | 17 March, 2026

High-Performing Airbnb Locations Across the UK

Every website you land on will tell you that the UK’s Airbnb market is booming – offering ample opportunity for investors looking to earn high returns through growing demand that won’t settle. But what’s the data really telling us? And just how booming are certain markets in 2026?

Because if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that not all markets are created equal – and when you dive into the numbers and into the real growth, as our property managers have, you just might be surprised which markets are actually performing the best.

Overview of our analysis

The UK holiday market highlights that performance isn’t dictated by a single metric; rather, it’s a balance among occupancy, nightly rate, and consistent demand that determines a good, steady return. Cities like Edinburgh and London stand out for driving high nightly rates and revenue, but are more constrained by regulation.

Whereas locations like Bristol, Dorset, and Cornwall show how lower nightly rates, paired with stronger occupancy and seasonal demand, can produce more competitive annual returns. New, emerging hotspots like Bournemouth stand out for rapid growth in both revenue and listings, signalling strong, rising investor interest in the area in 2026.

Area deep dive

London

Occupancy rate: 74%
Nightly rate: £152
Annual revenue: £32,000-£42,000 a year (+4.3% last year)
Total active listings: 47,023 (-2.7% last year)
Peak month: June through August
Top submarkets: Islington, Bloomsbury, Wembley
Regulations: 90-day rule & tourist tax
Guest type: 47% international

Brighton

Occupancy rate: 64%
Nightly rate: £132
Annual revenue: £24,000-£32,000 a year (+6.1% last year)
Total active listings: 3,040 (-4.1% last year)
Peak month: July (peak earnings month)
Top submarkets: Littlehampton, Shoreham, Worthing
Regulations: Planning permission
Guest type: 18.2% international

Bristol/Bath

Occupancy rate: 70%
Nightly rate: £114
Annual revenue: £27,561-£30,000 a year (+6.9% last year)
Total active listings: 4,106 (+3.8% last year)
Peak month: May through September
Top submarkets: Bradley Stoke, Easton Ward, Westbury
Regulations: Planning permission possible
Guest type: 12.3% international

Liverpool

Occupancy rate: 55%
Nightly rate: £106
Annual revenue: £19,838-£22,000 a year (+6.9% last year)
Total active listings: 3,920 (+3.8% last year)
Peak month: May through September
Top submarkets: St Helens, Sefton, Cheshire
Regulations: Planning permission possible
Guest type: 30.1% international

Manchester

Occupancy rate: 61%
Nightly rate: £115
Annual revenue: £19,092-£26,000 a year (+4.6% last year)
Total active listings: 5,994 (+8% last year)
Peak month: August
Top submarkets: Stockport, Trafford, Wigan
Regulations: Planning permission possible
Guest type: 40.4% international

Cornwall

Occupancy rate: 62%
Nightly rate: £140
Annual revenue: £26,832-£32,000 a year (+9.6% last year)
Total active listings: 9,154 (-3.7% last year)
Peak month: July and August
Top submarkets: Isle of Scilly, Plymouth, Penryn
Regulations: Planning permission possible
Guest type: 19.9% international

Dorset

Occupancy rate: 63%
Nightly rate: £142
Annual revenue: £28,430-£33,000 a year (+9.2% last year)
Total active listings: 5,951 (+4.1% last year)
Peak month: July through August
Top submarkets: Totton, Fordingbridge, Brockenhurst
Regulations: Dorset Council mandates registration of holiday lets
Guest type: 8% international

Bournemouth

Occupancy rate: 61%
Nightly rate: £131
Annual revenue: £27,000-£30,000 a year (+16.5% last year)
Total active listings: 2,268 (+20.3% last year)
Peak month: July & August
Top submarkets: Town centre, Boscombe, Wallisdown
Regulations: Planning permission
Guest type: 18.9% international

Edinburgh

Occupancy rate: 84%
Nightly rate: £180
Annual revenue: £41,058-£56,000 a year (+6% last year)
Total active listings: 4,885 (+7.7% last year)
Peak month: August
Top submarkets: Midlothian, Wester Hailes, Old Town
Regulations: STL Licence
Guest type: 61.8% international

Glasgow

Occupancy rate: 75%
Nightly rate: £128
Annual revenue: £25,083-£36,000 a year (+9.1% last year)
Total active listings: 2,023 (+4.5% last year)
Peak month: May through September
Top submarkets: North Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City Centre
Regulations: STL Licence
Guest type: 33.7% international

Belfast

Occupancy rate: 64%
Nightly rate: £118
Annual revenue: £21,285-£28,000 a year (+0.5% last year)
Total active listings: 1,605 (-7.3% last year)
Peak month: August
Top submarkets: North West, South East, Belfast Centre
Regulations: Mandatory certification from Tourism Northern Ireland
Guest type: 55.4% international

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Data collected from AirDNA & Airbtics in March 2026.