DEVON’S popularity with staycationers is booming as more people decide to holiday in Britain.

The picturesque county was rated as the third most popular holiday destination for Brits holidaying in the country in a survey conducted by national budget hotel Travelodge.

In top spot was Cornwall, with the nation’s capital London voted as second.

More than half, 58 per cent, of Britons will holiday or take a mini break to the coast this summer, making it the biggest year for a jaunt to the seaside since the study began.

The report, which surveyed 3,000 people, also shows that Britons will spend more than ever on their UK holidays this year – splashing out £729.80 on their breaks to give the UK economy a welcome boost of almost £20 billion.

The study also reveals that 70 per cent of people from Devon are taking a staycation break this, which is slightly above the national average of 67 per cent. The average family nationally and locally is taking a one-week holiday supported by four short breaks throughout 2016.

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokeswoman, said: “Rooms across our 512 UK hotels are selling fast for this summer, especially at our coastal locations.

We have become a nation of savvy value shoppers and we want our holiday to work hard for our pound.

A new trend we are seeing is more Britons are taking a three-in-one holiday.

This includes taking a city, rural and coastal break as part of a one-week holiday.

You need to be clever to plan your route but it is easily achievable as Great Britain has so much to offer."

“It’s also great news that 2016 is going to be a bumper year for our traditional seaside resorts. “A jaunt to the seaside is going through a revival as parents yearn for their children to enjoy a traditional British seaside holiday.”

City locations dominate the list of most popular destinations among Devon residents, with 48 per cent getting away on a city break this year. The second most popular type of UK holiday – at 44 per cent for locals – is the rural break, followed by the seaside break (13 per cent).