Booking.com surveyed 1,000 UK respondents who are over the age of 65 in order to find out the places around the world they wanted to travel to next year.

Other attitudes were discovered as over half (56%) of this generation are keen to dispel the myth that travelling the world is only for the young.

Additionally, 27% say they have a newfound desire for exploration that has come with age.

Booking.com added: “This shift towards more adventurous travel experiences is also being fuelled by popular TV shows and books, with a quarter (26%) of over-65s admitting they’ve been inspired to swap comfort for curiosity after watching their favourite on-screen adventure programmes.

“Others put their adventurous wanderlust down to having a deeper understanding of themselves and what they want from a trip, with 54% believing they will gain more from travelling now than when they were younger.  

Top 10 bucket list destinations for British retirees in 2025

According to the Booking.com research, the top 10 bucket list destinations for British retirees in 2025 were:

1. New Zealand – 24% of respondents wanted to travel here
2. Japan – 21%  
3. Australia – 20%  
4. India – 12%  
5. Thailand – 10%  
6. Peru – 10%  
7. Vietnam – 10%  
8. Mexico – 8%  
9. Argentina – 6%  
10. Indonesia – 6% 

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Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and CMO at Booking.com said: “We’re thrilled to see such an incredible appetite for adventure among over-65s, proving that being adventurous and travelling the world isn’t just for the young.

“At Booking.com, we believe that travel has no age limit, and it’s inspiring to see people at all ages embracing new experiences and destinations with such enthusiasm – and hope to see even more of this in 2025.

“Whether they’re navigating solo or embarking on a group adventure, our platform is designed to make planning and booking these journeys seamless, offering flexibility and a wide range of options to support every traveller, no matter their age or travel style.”