One in five Brits are swapping mate holidays for memory-making ‘Bonding Trips’ with Mum

According to new research from Heathrow Express¹ (the direct 15-minute service from Central London to Heathrow), over one in five UK adults (30%) have taken a holiday with a mum, parent or carer in the past three years. 

With more adults prioritising meaningful time together, almost a fifth (16%) are already planning a holiday with their mum in the next year - fuelling the rise of so-called “Bonding Trips”: holidays centred on connection. 

And for many, the emotional motivation is clear.

Almost three in five (59%) worry they’re not making enough time for their mum, parent or carer as they get older, while two in five  (39%) admit they don’t spend enough quality time together in everyday life.

To help make it easier for families to spend that time together, Heathrow Express is offering a special 20% Mother’s Day discount code (HEXMARCH)², available between 14 – 21 March.

And for those who do travel together, the benefits are clear. Two in five (38%) say travelling with their mum, parent or carer feels more relaxed than travelling with friends, while over a third (37%) say these trips create lasting memories, three in ten (29%) say they strengthen the relationship, and 28% say they help them reconnect.

When it comes to where they’d go, the top choice is a UK staycation (21%), followed by a sunshine beach break (18%), with countryside escapes and European city breaks also proving popular.

Mother’s Day is fast becoming a key moment to celebrate time together too. While flowers remain the most common gift (21%), more than a third of Brits (35%) say a shared experience or trip away together would be the gift their mum would appreciate most - suggesting many are now prioritising memories over traditional presents.

To help make those plans easier, travellers can take advantage of Heathrow Express’s 20% Mother’s Day discount code (HEXMARCH) between 14 - 21 March. 

And for those travelling over Mother’s Day weekend (14 - 15 March), the celebrations don’t have to wait until landing. Heathrow Express has partnered with Plane Food Market by Gordon Ramsay at Heathrow Terminal 5 for the first time, offering customers travelling together a complimentary dessert with the purchase of a meal before take-off at the acclaimed restaurant, known for bringing Gordon Ramsay’s signature modern British dining to the airport.

Aoife Considine, Business Lead at Heathrow Express, said: “Travel has this wonderful way of pressing pause on everyday life. When you’re away together, there’s space for conversations you don’t normally have and moments you don’t always make time for at home.

“For a lot of adults, a trip with their mum or parent figure isn’t just another holiday - it’s a chance to reconnect, laugh about old stories and create new ones. Those are the kinds of memories people carry with them long after they’ve returned home.

“At Heathrow Express, we wanted to make it easier for people to travel together this Mother’s Day weekend. If we can help families and loved ones start their journey feeling relaxed and a little bit treated before they’ve even stepped foot on the plane - whether that’s through our Mother’s Day offer or advance fares starting from just £10 - then we’ve done our job.”

With a fast, spacious and reliable 15-minute journey from London Paddington to Heathrow, Heathrow Express offers a smooth and comfortable start to any trip - helping loved ones begin their holiday feeling relaxed from the very first moment.

Because sometimes, it’s not about where you’re going - but who you’re going with.

Discounted tickets can only be purchased during the promotional period. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Heathrow Express website here.

Travellers looking to save beyond the Mother’s Day promotion can also take advantage of Heathrow Express advance fares from just £10 when booking at least 30 days in advance, with children aged 15 and under travelling free with a paying adult.