Recent data released by peer-to-peer property rental giants, Airbnb, has indicated a huge tourism boost in and around London and Windsor. As excitement continues to build ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle next month, it appears London rental properties are much in demand.
With little over a month until the Royal Wedding, Airbnb have reported a staggering 1,438% rise in bookings in the area. More than 40,000 guests are to descend on southern England on the weekend of May 19th, with the couple set to tie the knot at Windsor Castle. The wedding has created a huge demand for short-term property rentals in Windsor and neighbouring towns such as Reading, Maidenhead and Slough.
Airbnb’s General Manager, James McClure, explained:
“The royal wedding has provided a welcome tourism boost, putting the UK in the spotlight again. By creating an opportunity to host visitors from near and far, Airbnb is supporting economic investment into small, local communities and also helping locals to make a little extra money from sharing their homes.”
The price of ‘luxury Royal Wedding accommodation’
With massive demand for properties near the Windsor venue, local homeowners are cashing in, offering their homes at huge premiums for the weekend of the Royal Wedding. Several Airbnb listings described as ‘luxury Royal Wedding accommodation’ are believed to be fetching in excess of £2,000 per night whilst other locals are renting out rooms at inflated rates on the popular property rental platform.
Airbnb predict that the residents of Windsor will generate in excess of £126,000 in property rental income over the weekend whilst online travel agent, opodo.co.uk, has seen passenger bookings to London airports increase by 33% between 17th and 19th of May.
