The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released analysis of Census 2021 data on 20 June, which reveals the hotspots where second addresses are used as holiday homes across England and Wales.

The ONS reported that around 70,000 second addresses were used as holiday homes, visited by more than 200,000 people in England and Wales, according to Census 2021.

Holiday homes accounted for 4.1% of all second addresses and were mainly concentrated in coastal areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or national parks, including the Lake District, Dartmoor and Eryri (Snowdonia).

Census 2021 data on second addresses only include people who usually reside in England and Wales who said they spend at least 30 days a year at the address. The ONS says that the total number of second addresses used as holiday homes, and people who use them, are likely to be higher.

The popular holiday destination of Cornwall had the highest numbers of holiday homes and people who use them, with 6,080 holiday homes and 14,230 holiday home users.

As a proportion of the local housing supply, South Hams on the coast of Devon and Gwynedd in North Wales had the highest proportions of holiday homes. In some smaller areas, more than 1 in 10 addresses were being used as holiday homes.

And when adjusting for the local population, Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales saw the highest proportions of holiday home users travelling to their areas.