Top 10 Leisure Activities: What Are They, and Can They be Targeted?

We all like our downtime. We wouldn’t cope without it. But there are countless leisure activities out there to choose from, which can create headaches for property investors looking to incorporate these preferences into their strategies.

Is it worth investing in an ice-rink, if it’s actually bowling that’s all the rage? A residential purchase near a wild swimming[1] hotspot may seem sensible but with colder days approaching, could the nation’s swimmers soon be heading to their nearest indoor pool?

We thought we’d try and shed some light here. YouGov[2], our trusted research data and analytics technology firm, tracks the most popular activities among our population. We’ve analysed the top 10 leisure activities of Q1 2025, and explored what impact they may have on the property market, and/or investors.

Of course, these are just initial observations and brainstorms. But hopefully, they may allow some property investors and landlords to better understand how they can pinpoint specific target markets.

1. Communicating with friends and family

A simple catch up. After the pandemic years, it’s understandable that many people simply want to get together and really communicate.

For property investors, there are routes for facilitating this. There are the classic businesses that people tend to head to when they fancy a catch up with their friends and family. Pubs, cafes, and restaurants come to mind.

But, as society shifts, we’re seeing new preferences in where people get together and have a chinwag. Increasingly, many young people are choosing to socialise at the gym or other healthcare hubs, as opposed to the pub[3], for example.

Also, we’re seeing many retirees downsize in the market[4], either by choice or as a result of rising costs. A sizeable portion of these downsizers are likely trying to move closer to their family members, and as grandparents long to be nearer to their grandkids, property investors may be able to help.

2. Watching movies at home

This choice ranking so highly in the top 10 leisure activities shouldn’t be entirely surprising. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV – they’re all battling it out to keep us glued to our screens as much as possible.

But we’re learning to at least make all this media consumption as palatable as possible. Obvious example: Home cinemas.

Globally, spending on home cinemas is set to rise from £20.2bn now, to £49bn by 2026[5]. Installing a home cinema, or at least making space for one, could tempt many a renter or buyer.

3. Spending time with friends

This is another obvious one to make the top 10 leisure activities list. However, it’s worth exploring where it is that people like spending time with friends. Where once we had sprawling offices and high street chains, we now often have crazy golf venues, food trucks, and rooftop bars.

Indeed, there may be new and exciting ways to target those looking for a bit of socialising in the commercial market. There may be your standard pubs and cafes. But there is also rising demand for axe-throwing, VR arcades, and E-karting[6].

4. Going to restaurants and cafes

We have become a nation of foodies. In major cities such as London, Manchester, and Liverpool – it’s quite possible to literally find cuisine from every corner of the planet. Amazingly, yet unsurprisingly, the value of the UK eating out market is set to surpass £100bn by the end of 2025[7].

Looking ahead, for those who may want to get ahead of changing market dynamics, Mintel [8]found that 72% of parents with children aged 16 and under are seeking small portions of adult dishes, 55% of under 35s would like to see the vitamin and mineral content of the food and drinks listed on menus, and the foodservice market size will reach £166 billion in 2028.

It may be worth looking into, or at least predicting, what may be the next big food trend. Will Hungarian goulash be a must-try next year? Or, could Brazilian feijoada become as commonplace as Chinese egg fried rice?

5. Spending time with family

Similar to spending time with friends, it’s clearly important to people to also get in some quality time with their family. Although, how and where they do this will likely be much different. On this, House Beautiful[9] believes there will be many dining room trends in 2025 that could bring this often-underutilised feature of a home back to the forefront.  Multifunctional dining, layered lighting, and extendable tables could all draw in potential tenants and buyers.

6. Watching TV

Top 6 of the top 10 leisure activities clearly ties in with watching movies at home. People like to be entertained, and there are plenty of TV shows to binge across the streaming services. Even here though, there is opportunity for property investors to be strategic in how they furnish their homes. According to Statista[10], the UK is experiencing a surge in demand for smart TVs, as consumers seek advanced features and connectivity options. This could give food for thought.

7. Visiting historical sites

More people appear to be taking an interest in our history. According to Visit England[11], attractions across the country reported a 1.4% increase in the volume of total visits from 2023 to 2024. The British Museum was the most visited free attraction in 2024, attracting 6.5m visitors in total, up 11% on 2023. Whereas the Tower of London was the most paid for attraction, up 4%.

These figures may only rise from here too. Analysis from Horizon[12] revealed the heritage tourism market in UK is expected to reach a projected revenue of $19,195.9mn by 2030, compared to just over $15,000mn in 2024.

Perhaps, it may be worth exploring property opportunities that may be withing commutable distance of Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey, or Caernarfon castle.

8. Watching movies on television

Number 8 of the top 10 leisure activities is similar to number 2 and 6. It can’t be emphasised enough that people value home entertainment now more than ever. For perspective, the home theatre market is expected to reach $40.55bn by 2035 according to Metatech Insights[13], growing at a CAGR of around 9.65% between now and then.

9. Travelling

This may not solely concern travelling abroad. The pandemic led to the emergence of “staycations” and there may still be a market for this in the UK.

And while it’s true that the holiday-let market has faced pressure in recent months, investors in this scene are not completely devoid of options. There has been a rise in the number of holiday let mortgages in recent months, and some investors are finding ways to limit their tax costs.

Also, as we come out of summer, staycation demand may wane. This could result in price declines in the short-term, which may allow property investors to lock in bargains ahead of next year’s prime months.

10. Listening to music

Another classic. Yet, one which has been given a new, very modern lease of life. Take smart speakers. As useful as they are, many people likely use them just to play their favourite playlists on repeat.

And chances are, plenty of residents will be doing this. In the UK, 73% of people had an Amazon Echo in their homes by 2023[14]. What’s more, the global smart speaker market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.60%, reaching $100 billion by 2032. In fact, the sales volume of the smart speakers industry worldwide has grown every year since at least 2019[15], and shows no signs of slowing down.

So, what does this have to do with property investors? Well, there may be rising demand for soundproofed homes[16]. With so many of us working from home, it may even be a necessity for some.

Hopefully, this leaves property investors with plenty to think about. Even the most obvious, perhaps even mundane of leisure activities can be factored into a property investment strategy. We cannot help borrowers with their tactics but when they have them figured out, we’ll be there with tailored funding.