Friday 23rd October 2026

New Airtasker and Thomas Cook research reveals Brits spend almost seven hours on household chores around a holiday, with a quarter finding the preparations more stressful than a job interview or moving house. 

London, UK, October 2026: British families heading abroad this October half-term could clock up a whopping 6.6 million hours of holiday housework, according to new research from Airtasker, the local services marketplace, and package holiday provider Thomas Cook.

With half-term offering just one precious week off school, and for many families a final chance to catch some sunshine before winter, the pressure is on to make every hour count. But before Brits can put their feet up by the pool, it seems there's an awful lot to get through at home.

The new research of 2,000 UK adults reveals Brits spend an average of three and a half hours doing household jobs before a holiday, followed by another three hours getting their homes back to normal when they return. That's almost a full working day of housework around a well-earned break!

And, the pre-holiday rush is enough to send stress levels soaring. Six in ten (60%) find the 24-48 hours before going away stressful, while a quarter (25%) say getting ready for a holiday is more stressful than a job interview. A third (33%) even reckon it's worse than moving house.

It's causing trouble at home too, with one in three Brits admitting they've had a pre-holiday row. Among those who've argued, almost half have clashed over what time to leave for the airport, while a quarter have fallen out because someone insists on doing 'one last job' before heading out the door.

BEFORE THE BEACH COMES THE BLEACH!

It seems Brits can't bear to leave their homes without giving them a good going-over first. Two-thirds (67%) make sure the bins are out before jetting off, while six in ten (60%) empty the fridge. More than half (51%) even give the bathroom a final scrub before heading for the sun.

And some holidaymakers take their preparations a step further. One in six (16%) put their houseplants in the bath to keep them watered while they're away, while more than half (56%) avoid wearing certain clothes before a holiday so they're clean enough to pack.

Meanwhile, more than a third (36%) print travel documents they've already got on their phones, and almost a third (29%) make a spreadsheet or detailed checklist to keep everything on track.

For those who really can't switch off, one in 25 (4%) even photograph their oven or hob so they can check they've turned it off while lying on the beach.

But, all that last-minute faffing can mean the getaway gets off to a rather frantic start. One in five (21%) have left home later than planned because they're still getting organised, with the same proportion admitting they've had to make a mad dash to the airport or station. Some have cut it even finer, with 12% nearly missing a flight or train and one in 50 (2%) actually missing one.

Younger Brits are feeling the pressure too. More than three-quarters (76%) of 25–34-year-olds find getting ready for a holiday stressful, compared with fewer than half (48%) of over-65s. 

And the household jobs don't disappear when the holiday is over. Almost a quarter (24%) of Brits put a load of washing on as soon as they get home, while one in five (21%) admit they often return feeling like they need another break.

MORE HOLIDAY, LESS HOUSEWORK

With October half-term offering families a chance to enjoy some precious time together, Airtasker and Thomas Cook have teamed up to help Brits spend less time on the household to-do list and more time enjoying their holidays.

And it seems plenty would welcome a helping hand. Almost half (46%) would consider paying someone to tackle at least one pre-holiday job, with respondents estimating they could save an average of 4.1 hours by handing jobs over.

From tackling that last-minute deep clean and sorting the garden to packing suitcases, assembling holiday essentials or getting the house ready for your return, Airtasker connects holidaymakers with skilled local Taskers who can take those jobs off their hands. So instead of spending the final hours before a holiday working through a never-ending to-do list, families can focus on the getaway ahead.

Meanwhile, Thomas Cook offers families the chance to make the most of the October break, whether that’s soaking up the sunshine on an all-inclusive holiday in the Canary Islands, heading further afield to the USA or discovering somewhere a little different, such as Albania

CEO and Founder of Airtasker, Tim Fung, comments: "Going on holiday should be exciting, but there's always a million and one things to do before you can actually leave. Suddenly you're cleaning the house, sorting the garden and remembering all those little jobs you've been putting off for weeks. And, the last thing anyone wants is to start their holiday feeling exhausted.

"The good news is you don't have to do everything yourself. From those last-minute jobs before you leave to getting the house ready for your return, there are skilled people in your local area who can take care of it. That's exactly what Airtasker is for - giving people back their time so they can spend less time worrying about their to-do list and more time looking forward to getting away."

Ryan Cotton, Chief Marketing Officer at Thomas Cook, adds: "October half-term is a brilliant chance for families to escape for some last-minute sunshine before winter sets in.

"But with just one week off school, every hour counts. Nobody wants to spend the days before their holiday worrying about whether they've cleaned the house or got everything done.

"We've teamed up with Airtasker to help take some of that pressure away. Holidays are about making memories and enjoying time together, and we want families to make the most of every minute."

Customers booking with Thomas Cook can choose from over 20,000 hotels across 72 destinations throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, and enjoy flexible travel options available through more than 190 airline partners. All package holidays are ATOL protected, giving customers peace of mind and enhanced financial security, as well as the reassurance of ABTA's Code of Conduct.

And, while Thomas Cook takes care of the holiday, Airtasker can help take care of everything else, from unpacking suitcases and cleaning the house to sorting airport transfers, tackling last-minute jobs and getting the home ready for your return. Find our more at www.airtasker.com/uk.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

For further information, please contact Cherish PR:

T: 07513 721 611 E: Airtasker@thewilful.com

Research conducted among 2,000 UK adults who have previously travelled abroad, October 2026.

6.6 million hours calculation: According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK had approximately 19.9 million families in 2025, of which 42.8% had dependent children, equivalent to around 8.5 million families.

ABTA reported that 12% of families with children planned to travel abroad during October half-term in 2025. Applying this proportion to the ONS family population estimate gives approximately one million families.

Applying the Airtasker and Thomas Cook survey average of 6.5 hours of household chores around a holiday to one adult in each of these families produces an illustrative estimate of approximately 6.6 million hours.

This is a hypothetical estimate, not a measured total for October half-term 2026. It assumes the 2025 travel intention rate applies in 2026 and that one adult per travelling family spends the survey average on household chores. The underlying family definitions may also differ.

Sources:

• Office for National Statistics, Families and households in the UK: 2025
• ABTA, October half-term travel research, 23 October 2025
• Airtasker x Thomas Cook consumer research, October 2026

About Airtasker

Airtasker Limited (ASX: ART) is an online marketplace for local services, connecting people and businesses who need work done with people who want to work. With a mission to empower people to realise the full value of their skills, Airtasker aims to have a positive impact on the future of work by creating truly flexible opportunities to work and earn income. In 2025, Airtasker entered into the world of Formula 1 Racing, becoming an official team partner of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Team (VCARB). Since launching in 2012, Airtasker has put more than £650m into the pockets of workers (payments made after all fee revenue is deducted) and served 1.8m unique paying customers across the world. For more information, https://www.airtasker.com/au/lp/vcarb/

About Thomas Cook

In September 2020, Thomas Cook, one of the most recognisable names in travel, returned as an online-only travel business. It is now part of the Polish-based travel company eSky Group, which owns and operates brands like eSky and eDestinos in 50 markets across the globe.

Thomas Cook offers ATOL-protected package holidays and city breaks, giving customers the flexibility to design trips around their budget, needs and preferences, with the reassurance of ABTA’s Code of Conduct. Customers can choose from more than 20,000 hotels across 72 destinations, with flexible travel options through more than 190 airline partners, as well as bookable experiences including attractions, tours and activities. They can also add extras such as transfers and travel insurance, with both comprehensive cover and cancellation protection available, while families can take advantage of free kids’ places across a wide selection of package holidays.

Combining the reassurance of one of travel’s most recognised names with the technology and scale of eSky Group, Thomas Cook is aiming to be at the forefront of AI-powered holiday planning. Its next-generation AI travel assistant, MAIA, helps customers discover tailored holiday options faster and more intuitively, reflecting the brand’s ambition to pioneer smarter ways to plan and book holidays.