Parents booking air-conditioned hotels to keep babies safe in UK heatwave | Extreme heat
Companies are reporting a surge in demand as families, including parents with newborns, book air-conditioned rooms in hotels to escape the UK heatwave.
Data from accommodation booking site Booking.com shows that the share of searches using the filter for “air conditioning” has tripled across Great Britain since June 1, coinciding with the latest heatwave in Northern Europe.
Meanwhile, data from payments company Adyen shows that the UK hotel industry experienced a 34% increase in revenue between 22-25 June this year compared to the same period in 2025, based on authorized transactions made through the platform in Great Britain.
England has experienced one of the hottest weeks on record, with temperatures climbing into the mid-to-high 30Cs in parts of England and Wales. The UK temporarily recorded a new June temperature record of 36.9C at Wattisham in Suffolk on Friday, as the Met Office issued extreme heat warnings throughout the week.
Heartwood Inns, which operates in-room pubs across the UK, said it was operating at 86% occupancy this week, with many of its premises at or near capacity. The group has also seen a noticeable shift in inquiries, with nearly a third of callers asking whether rooms have air conditioning before booking.
The chain also said it has seen an increase in inquiries from parents with newborns who are struggling to keep their homes cool enough for their babies to sleep comfortably and who are looking for air-conditioned rooms.
Dean Culpan, general manager of London hotel Templeton Garden, said: “With the heatwave in full swing, we have seen a noticeable increase in demand across the hotel and are now operating at capacity. Guests are increasingly looking for cool, comfortable spaces to relax, work remotely and escape the city heat, whether in our air-conditioned interiors or our private garden, which is a real oasis in hot weather.”
He added: “As temperatures rise across London, we’ve also seen a significant increase in terrace dining and drinking, with these cool, shaded areas becoming one of the most sought-after areas of the hotel.”
Gemma Jones, hotel operations manager at The Feathers in Woodstock, said: “The current heatwave has had a noticeable impact on booking behavior at The Feathers, particularly in the last week. “We have seen an increase in last-minute bookings, with many guests looking to escape the heat and enjoy a relaxing break in comfortable, air-conditioned surroundings.
“Our occupancy rate increased from 74% to 81% this week and we have also seen a small increase in inquiries, with many guests asking whether our rooms are air-conditioned before confirming their stay.”
Air-conditioned bedrooms became “a real selling point” during the heat wave, Jones said. “Guests are increasingly looking for a place where they can relax and enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep, and having air conditioning has given us a clear advantage,” he said.
He added: “Many guests have told us they choose hotel accommodation rather than staying at home because they know they can escape the heat.
“Many of these bookings came from couples who were a short drive from the hotel and were looking for an impromptu getaway rather than a planned vacation. We also noticed that more guests were extending their one-night stays into two or more nights to make the most of the weather,” he said.
