Tourists warm to great outdoors
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Last summer's high temperatures brought a significant increase in the number of people visiting outdoor attractions, it was revealed yesterday.
Trips to country parks rose by 7 per cent in 1995 while the number of visitors to gardens went up 5 per cent, the British Tourist Authority said. Historic properties welcomed 4 per cent more visitors. Overall, visits to tourist attractions increased by 2 per cent in 1995 compared with 1994. The BTA statistics showed that last year:
Visitor centre numbers rose 4 per cent.
Visits to farm attractions were up 3 per cent and to steam railways by 2 per cent.
The number of tourists visiting museums and galleries fell 3 per cent.
Visits to workplaces were down 2 per cent, while leisure parks and wildlife attractions did as well as in 1994.
Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire was again the top admission- charging attraction.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, with 7.3 million visitors, was the top admission- free attraction, while 5.7 million visited the British Museum in London (also free).
Adele Biss, the BTA chairman, said: "Increased investment and the added bonus of a hot summer tempted more visitors to sample our many and diverse tourist attractions. World-class attractions new this year, such as the Royal Armouries in Leeds and Legoland at Windsor, should encourage more days out in 1996."
Free attractions reported a 2 per cent increase in admissions while visits to admission-charging sites rose 1 per cent.
Britain's top ten attractions
The leading fee-charging attractions last year were:
Venue Admissions
1. Alton Towers, Staffordshire 2,707,000
2. Madame Tussaud's, London 2,703,283
3. Tower of London 2,536.680
4. Chessington World of Adventure, Surrey 1,770.000
5. Science Museum, London 1,556,368
6. St Paul's Cathedral, London 1,500,000
7. Windsor Castle, Berkshire 1,212,305
8. Blackpool Tower 1,205,000
9. Thorpe Park, Surrey 1,166,000
10.Natural History Museum, London 1,064,273
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments