Sweltering heat fails to inspire tourism boom
Visitors are staying away from Britain’s leading tourist attractions, despite last summer’s scorching hot weather.
According to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester saw a major drop in custom, down by more than 50 per cent year on year.
Kensington Palace lost more than 30 per cent, the Eden Project in Cornwall almost 20 per cent, and the Tate Modern 16 per cent.
Blackpool, the UK’s number one tourist destination, also suffered a similar fate.
Despite nearly six million people visiting the northern resort, figures were 10 per cent down year on year.
Legoland in Windsor, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London, saw marginal falls of less than five per cent.
Visitors also stayed away from London Zoo and London’s Tate Modern and Tate Britain.
Kew Gardens and the Science Museum saw small rises.
ALVA’s director Robin Broke said 2003 was something of “a mixed year”.
However, he was “quietly optimistic” about the prospects for 2004.
The UK’s most visited attractions were as follows:
1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach
2. British Museum
3. Tate Modern
4. Natural History Museum
5. Science Museum
6. Victoria & Albert Museum
7. Tower of London
8. Eden Project
9. Legoland Windsor
10. National Maritime Museum
