Sunday was the holiday company's all-time greatest sales day - with sales up nearly 20 per cent on the previous record set last June, when Boris Johnson lifted UK travel restrictions at the end of the first national lockdown.
By-the-sea breaks are proving popular, with 50 per cent of all weekend bookings featuring a coastal property. Simon Altham, Group Chief Operating Officer at Awaze, the parent company of Cottages.com, said: "These are astonishing figures. We saw a rapid increase in bookings last week off the back of the tightening of European travel restrictions, and that momentum only gathered pace over the weekend.
"People clearly want something to look forward to and a future holiday, when it is safe to travel again, is perfect for helping to get through the cold winter months during lockdown. It’s no surprise they have reacted to Mr Hancock’s comments and rushed to lock in a Great British summer break.
For those looking to go abroad, there are still some great deals to be had on foreign breaks, including lots of cheap