UK's weather appears to be driving holidaymakers abroad with three quarters of people stating they will take an overseas vacation this year, research consultancy BDRC Continental reveals.

The company's annual Holiday Trends survey reveals the number planning a 'staycation' had dropped for the first time in four years - with the poor weather being sited as the main reason the UK had lost its appeal for holidaymakers.

However, London bucked the trend with boasting an increase in the number of domestic bookings already made for 2013 compared with the same period last year.

Of those considering London for a holiday 31 per cent said last year's Olympics and Paralympics had had a positive influence on their decision.

In the 2012 survey 66 per cent of people planned an overseas holiday but this increased to 73 per cent in this year's survey.

The survey also found that review sites influenced holiday decision making with 41 per cent using the websites for most or all of the holidays they had taken. This increased to 49 per cent for people travelling with children.

Director at BDRC Continental Steve Mills said: "Following several dire domestic summers for weather, it seems that we are finally beginning to see a softening of the staycation effect and stronger consideration of trips abroad.

"With the trend towards late bookings, the market is increasingly volatile, so it will be interesting to see how these trends pan out in the coming months and the impact that the weather and current weakening of Sterling have on the market."