The new study conducted by Hilton shows that a quarter of grandparents say they’re holidaying more with children and grandchildren than five years ago, with 69% doing so within the past year.
More British families are taking their grandparents on holiday than ever, according to new research.
The “Gran-ual Leave” trend is reshaping how families travel together, as we increasingly look to get the most out of our time away.
The new study conducted by Hilton shows that a quarter of grandparents say they’re holidaying more with children and grandchildren than five years ago, with 69% doing so within the past year.
And there are some clear benefits for the whole family. On average, grandparents spend four hours a day entertaining their grandchildren on holiday which means an additional 24 hours of kid-free time for parents on a typical week-long trip.
In addition to giving parents some downtime to enjoy sightseeing, rest, or a romantic moment, and the little one’s extra playtime while bonding with grandparents, it also gives the older generation time to connect with family members they might not see every day.
An overwhelming majority of grandparents say it deepens their bond with both their grandchildren (83%) and their adult kids (73%). Meanwhile, 59% say it allows them to create special, treasured memories.
It even helps some (34%) feel young and alive, with similar percentages reporting improvements in both their physical (34%) and emotional well-being (33%).
Other advantages include deepening family bonds as a whole (59%) and helping everyone get more out of their holiday (47%) making everyone a winner.
While most grandparents are happy to take on duties like date-night babysitting (66%) and leading games and activities (55%), nearly a quarter (23%) say they love being the rebellious grandparent while away.
In fact, 70% of grandparents admit they’re much more relaxed and fun with their grandchildren on holiday than they ever were with their own children, and 77% confess to bending the rules and making allowances for them that would never have flown when their own kids were young.
The ways that grandparents indulge include letting little ones stay up past bedtime (63%), saying ‘yes’ to extra treats (62%), playing more games (56%), and relaxing rules around mealtimes (41%).
One celebrity grandparent who is embracing the Gran-ual Leave trend and indulging his own seven grandchildren while on holiday is TV star Gyles Brandreth.
“For me, holidays together with my children and grandkids are all about maximising time and creating magical memories together – from the laughter over the breakfast buffet, to impromptu games around the hotel,” he says.
“And much to my own children’s envy, I find myself relaxing the strict rules with the grandchildren, which I once held dear with them – saying ‘yes’ more to embrace the fun, freedom, and joy that us grandparents can bring.”
Multi-gen travel is already a familiar experience for many. Hilton ’ s 2026 Trends Report found that almost half (48%) of Brits went on trips with their grandparents as a child, while one in five children (20%) travel exclusively with their grandparent, highlighting the special role grandparents play in family travel.
John Rogers, senior vice president, brand management, EMEA, said: “Family holidays create lasting memories, and our research shows that grandparents can help everyone get more from the trip – giving parents extra time to unwind and children more time to play and connect.
“Hilton simplifies multi-generational trips with confirmed connecting rooms, a diverse brand portfolio, and more than 1,000 hotels across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to suit any travel style or budget.”
Guests get 20% off stays from June 4 to September 7 in the Hilton sale, which starts on May 14.
Top 10 ways grandparents indulge grandchildren on holiday
- Let them stay up past bedtime (63%)
- Say “yes” to extra treats (62%)
- Take more photos / videos to capture memories (61%)
- Play more games (56%)
- Give them extra spending money (52%)
- Encourage them to try new experiences they wouldn’t usually try at home (47%)
- Join in activities grandparents wouldn’t normally do at home (47%)
- Let them spend longer in the pool (45%)
- Relax rules around mealtimes (41%)
- Let them make decisions (36%)
