Nostalgia travel is on the rise. Whether it’s chasing the adrenaline of theme park rides, or stepping back into a pixelated arcade that looks exactly as it did in the ‘80s, there’s something comforting about travel that unlocks lost memories.
In fact, nearly one in five Brits say nostalgia plays a part in where they travel, with some choosing the same hotel, the same beaches, and the same meals year after year, according to a recent easyJet survey.
The study of 2,000 adults found that almost three-quarters (72%) are influenced by nostalgia when choosing where to holiday, with 71% heading back to places they visited as a child.
For over a quarter, it’s more than sentimental; 29% say nostalgic getaways boost their well-being, while 24% say revisiting familiar places helps them reconnect with simpler times.
From favourite film locations to cities that celebrate retro pop culture, vintage aesthetics and timeless traditions, this trend invites travellers to embrace joyfully familiar experiences in new – or old – ways.
For clients looking to indulge their inner child, here are a few destinations perfect for a dose of nostalgic magic:
1 Blackpool
Think donkey rides on the beach, the smell of vinegar-soaked chips, and the recognisable jingle of 2p arcade machines echoing across the piers. Many Brits grew up visiting Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach, home to vintage thrill rides like The Big Dipper, where shrieks of joy mirror those from childhood.
Take a tram along the seafront or climb Blackpool Tower for iconic views and a hint of old-time glamour. Kids today can chase stuffed toys in arcade claw machines while their parents chase the same thrill they did decades ago.
It’s a throwback trip that doesn’t require a passport, just a tolerance for bracing sea air and a love for all things loud, colourful, and fun.
2 Orlando, Florida
There’s nowhere quite like Orlando when it comes to childhood nostalgia. Home to Disney World and Universal Studios, it’s the ultimate throwback trip for anyone raised on Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter, or rollercoaster thrill rides.
Many travellers are revisiting the parks they experienced as kids, this time with friends, partners, or even their own children. Recent additions like Universal’s Super Nintendo World bring childhood dreams to life as younger years are relived and the faces of loved ones light up with the same colour-fuelled high that brought so much joy all those years ago.
These new attractions layered alongside beloved classics create an indescribable thrill with a modern upgrade.
3 Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is a neon-lit time machine for fans of retro gaming and old-school pop culture. The city’s arcades, from Akihabara’s SEGA buildings to Shinjuku’s Taito Station, buzz with pixelated nostalgia.
Walls lined with vintage machines let visitors play classics like Pac-Man, Street Fighter, and Space Invaders just as they did decades ago , only now, surrounded by locals and tourists on the same nostalgia trip.
Retro game bars like 8bit Cafe or the Anata no Warehouse (modelled on Kowloon Walled City) offer immersive settings that double as shrines to the golden age of gaming. And for those raised on Pokémon or Sailor Moon, these fandoms are given life through themed cafés and stores ranging from cute and colourful to delightfully disturbing.
Blending old-school fun with high-tech cool, there’s no better way for nostalgic thrill seekers of the ‘90s to press “continue”.
4 The Cotswolds
For travellers searching for an escape into cozy cottagecore nostalgia, where honey-hued stone cottages and winding cobbled streets evoke a simpler, slower way of life, the Cotswolds deliver exactly that.
Whether it’s sipping on tea in an old fashion tearoom, or visiting antique shops, vintage bookshops, and old village churches from a past life, these thatched roofs and cobbled streets are the perfect setting for playful pint-sized adventurers to name wild bunnies after Beatrix Potter characters and create their own storybooks.
The ideal place to disconnect and escape from modern life, the quiet villages seem frozen in time.
5 Los Angeles, California
For those who grew up quoting Cher from Clueless, the neon lights and bright nights of LA might be for them. Stroll through Melrose Avenue or Silver Lake, where racks of butterfly clips, low-rise jeans, and bold windbreakers take visitors right back to their roots.
Grab a milkshake at retro hangouts like Mel’s Drive-In or glide under disco lights at Moonlight Roller way, a time capsule of pastel skates and 2000s pop hits. Music lovers can dig through vinyl gems at Amoeba Music, while cinephiles can catch a classic at Electric Dusk Drive-In.
With 90s-style making a huge comeback, LA’s vintage heart is beating louder than ever. Whether fans grew up obsessed with Fight Club or dreaming of Venice Beach sunsets, LA delivers a double-dose of nostalgia and sunshine.
6 Romania
Nostalgia travel in Romania invites visitors to step back in time and reconnect with the country’s storied past, from the cobbled streets of medieval towns like Sighișoara and Brașov to the pastoral rhythms of Maramureș, where horse-drawn carts still rattle along country lanes.
Clients will savour traditions that have survived centuries, from handwoven textiles and hearty farmhouse cooking to folk dances passed down through generations, while immersing themselves in landscapes untouched by modern sprawl.
Visitors can linger in faded yet elegant Belle Époque cafés in Bucharest, ride slow trains through rolling countryside, or explore Saxon villages where fortified churches stand as they did hundreds of years ago.
7 Route 66, U.S.
Once dubbed the “Main Street of America,” this legendary highway stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, winding past retro motels, vintage gas stations, and neon-lit diners that remain the same since the 1950s.
Travellers can sip root beer floats in chrome-plated booths or snap selfies beside roadside oddities like the Muffler Men and Cadillac Ranch. Whether chasing the freedom of an open road or sharing memories of childhood car trips with a Walkman, Route 66 delivers big on nostalgia. For many, it’s a living movie set, all dusty roads, pastel signage, and jukebox soundtracks.
And when lost in the chaos of modern-day technology, it’s a rare chance to disconnect, slow down, and embrace the romance of getting a little lost.
8 Vienna, Austria
Vienna is a timeless escape into 19th-century grandeur, offering visitors a chance to step away from the digital noise and immerse themselves in classical elegance. With its magnificent baroque architecture, grand palaces like Schönbrunn and the Hofburg, and the soothing sounds of Mozart and Strauss echoing through concert halls, Vienna feels like a journey back to a more refined era.
Visitors can wander cobbled streets lined with traditional coffee houses, where time seems to slow down over a steaming cup of Melange and a slice of Sachertorte. For those seeking nostalgia beyond technology, the city’s museums and galleries showcase art and history from a period when life was marked by intricate craftsmanship and cultural flourishing.
Whether attending an opera or exploring the gardens of Belvedere Palace, Vienna offers a chance to relive the charm and sophistication of a rich cultural past that feels both timeless and warmly familiar.
