The Skysnacker Lounge officially opens in London with FREE cult snacks directly from global vending machines

Travel priorities are changing, with sightseeing and local landmarks out and flavour hunting officially in. It comes as almost half (47%) of Brits admit local food and snack options are what they most look forward to about being abroad.

New research from Skyscanner has unveiled a rise in ‘snack tourism’, revealing that nearly half of Brits (47%) seek out snacks over cultural attractions when travelling. With over half of respondents who have been on holiday abroad (51%)[1] allocating specific time to trying or buying international snacks and 45% allocating holiday budget for buying them.

The research comes as Skyscanner releases its Travel Trends 2026 report, featuring seven emerging trends, including “Shelf Discovery”, as travellers seek out the traditional food experience with 73%* of global travellers exploring local supermarkets or grocery stores abroad, viewing it as an authentic, affordable way to experience local culture.

To satisfy the nation’s intense global cravings, Skyscanner is launching The Skysnacker Lounge this half-term (from Friday 31st October until Sunday 2nd November), London’s first pop-up serving FREE snacks in vending machines from around the world.

Taste the snacks for yourself at 19 D’Arblay Street, W1F 8ED, with the doors officially opening between 11:00am – 6:00pm daily for walk-in guests.

This culinary obsession drives Brits to staggering lengths to secure their international favourites, as 13% have travelled to another UK city to track down an overseas delicacy or even travelled abroad specifically to buy it (13%)[2]. Gone are the days of fridge magnet souvenirs – as a quarter admit to packing lightly to leave room for their snack stash.

Brits can access a curated selection of over 50 global favourites from four continents through an airport favourite – the vending machine – that promises to transport their taste buds across continents. With vending machines proving to be a much-loved style of eating, with a whopping quarter of Brits (26%) preferring to have food from a vending machine than make it themselves.

When it comes to the generations, Millennials are most likely to plan their trips around trending snacks, as nearly 6 in 10 (59%)[3] of those who have been on holiday abroad choose their holiday destination based on finding certain cult foods, supermarket snacks or local delicacies and 70%[4] even allocate budget for buying unique international snacks while abroad.

Although, they aren’t the only generation of foodies, as 38%[5] of Gen-Z would rather dine on French food than visit the Eiffel Tower, when it comes to immersing themself in local culture.

Skyscanner’s Travel Expert Laura Lindsay commented: “At Skyscanner, we’ve seen travellers swap restaurant reservations for supermarket safaris, with our Travel Trends 2026 report revealing ‘Shelf Discovery’ as one of the year’s biggest emerging trends. Whether it’s a 7-Eleven Slurpee or a treat from Tokyo’s vending machines, gastro-tourism is evolving with snacking offering an authentic, affordable taste of local life and even evoking memories of destinations once you’re back home. To ‘eat like a local’ now means exploring the snack aisle, with nearly half of Brits prioritising local food and snack options when choosing a destination.”

“The Skysnacker Lounge brings that insight to life, celebrating the joy of global snacking and giving travellers a taste of the world, one vending machine at a time. We’re inviting travellers to embark on a taste adventure, rediscover their favourite holiday treats, and maybe even find inspiration for their next trip.”

The Top 10 Global Snacks list has also been revealed, with all snacks available at The Skysnacker Lounge: