ABTA estimates that up to 13 million UK holidaymakers will be heading overseas in July and August. Ninety per cent of these will be heading to countries around the Mediterranean where many British holidaymakers are also benefiting from cheaper prices due to the Eurozone troubles and a strong pound which has increased in value by 10 per cent against the Euro in the last 12 months.

Of course fair weather isn’t the only reason to holiday at home and with the Olympics rapidly approaching, ABTA research earlier this year found that three million people in the UK are intending to attend Olympic events in London and around the UK with a further 1 million foreign visitors attending the games. Nine per cent said they would also be looking to take a holiday in the UK when the Olympics are on.

Tour operators and travel agents are clearly seeing the silver lining in Britain’s grey clouds with Thomson seeing a 20 per cent increase year on year in online searches last month and an independent study for Thomas Cook earlier this year finding that bad weather makes one in five Brits think about booking a holiday.

Victoria Bacon ABTA Head of Communication said: “The UK is a beautiful country with exceptional holiday appeal but the weather this year has been setting records for all the wrong reasons and it is no surprise that millions of us are looking to head off overseas for more reliable weather and high temperatures. British holidaymakers will also get a pleasant surprise in their favourite Eurozone destinations with the pound 10 per cent stronger than last year. It’s important that people book sooner rather than later as late offers are proving popular.”