With the uncertainty about travelling abroad this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, staycations were favoured by more people trying to enjoy the warmer weather.

Although summer is now drawing to a close there is still an interest for people to carry on this trend into the autumn.

According to the holiday rentals marketplace HomeToGo.co.uk, in comparison to 2020 the site has registered a search increase of 376 per cent for autumn holidays in England this year.

Taking a deeper look into the data they have revealed the ten best counties where people can find a combination of the best weather and lower accommodation prices.

This was reached using four factors, which were the median nightly price for a holiday rental, average maximum temperatures, hours of sunlight and rainfall.

Using that method Bedfordshire came out on top, with a ‘Sun for your money’ score of 66.0 out of 70.

The median price per night for a holiday rental was also £94.59.

Norfolk and Northamptonshire ranked as joint second, followed by Hertfordshire in fourth place and Essex in fifth spot.

Surprisingly, Cornwall missed out on the top ten entirely.

Eleanor Moody, UK Market Manager at HomeToGo, commented on this surprise. She said: “While Cornwall remains the most-searched staycation destination for autumn, we have seen an increase in the interest for alternative coastal spots and more inland locations this season.

“In comparison to 2020, searches for autumn holiday accommodation in Sussex, Essex and Hampshire via HomeToGo.co.uk have seen increases of 40%, 87% and 242% respectively, while searches for the landlocked counties of Surrey, Rutland and Cambridgeshire are up by 84%, 121% and 196%.

“As the results of HomeToGo's ‘More Sun for Your Money’ ranking suggests, venturing outside of England's most popular staycation spots can be a great way to find some top bargains.”

What were the top ten counties that had the best combination of sun and cost of rentals?

1. Bedfordshire

Sun-for-your-money score: 66.0 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £94.59

2 (tie) Norfolk

Sun-for-your-money score: 65.0 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £107.49

2 (tie) Northamptonshire

Sun-for-your-money score: 65.0 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £110.93

4. Hertfordshire

Sun-for-your-money score: 64.9 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £115.22

5. Essex

Sun-for-your-money score: 64.8 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £108.35

6 (tie) Surrey

Sun-for-your-money score: 64.1 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £128.12

6 (tie) Rutland

Sun-for-your-money score: 64.1 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £121.24

8. Cambridgeshire

Sun-for-your-money score: 64.0 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £128.12

9. Sussex

Sun-for-your-money score: 63.9 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £122.96

10. Hampshire

Sun-for-your-money score: 63.5 out of 70

Median price per night for a holiday rental: £123.82