English Tourism Week takes place from 15-24 March 2024. This year’s annual celebration of the tourism industry is focussed on "supporting tourism, the heart of our communities", highlighting the visitor economy’s social, cultural and economic impact.
To celebrate, here are eight ways you can explore all that the English tourism sector has to offer this year.
1. Reconnect with nature in the Lake District
With two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Lake District is the perfect place to reconnect — with nature, loved ones, and yourself. This place is home to a postcard-perfect landscape of shimmering lakes, craggy hilltops, and ancient forests that have enchanted poets and painters since the late 18th century. Pack your picnic (and your paint brushes, if you’re so inclined) and enjoy the breathtaking panoramas at your leisure.
2. Stand astride time in Greenwich
See the clocks that were developed to solve the problem of longitude and stand astride the dividing point between east and west — the Meridian line — at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. With a scenic riverside setting, the Royal Borough is home to several attractions, including the awe-inspiring Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, Cutty Sark, and the National Maritime Museum.
3. Explore prehistoric history in Peterborough
Have you ever wondered how prehistoric people lived? At Flag Fen Archaeology Park — the only place in the UK where original Bronze Age remains can be seen in situ — you can do just that. Here, you can explore how people lived in the fen over 3,000 years ago, wander through a Bronze Age village, and sit within the site’s reconstructed roundhouses.
4. Immerse yourself in culture in Liverpool
Home to The Beatles, Liverpool has a thriving music scene. When it comes to culture, Liverpool has a lot to offer and visitors can take their pick from among the Tate Liverpool and its collection of modern art, The Walker Art Gallery, and the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, regarded as one of the finest galleries in Europe.
5. Catch a wave on the Cornish coastline
Located on Cornwall’s Atlantic Coast, Newquay has previously been voted as “One of the Nation’s Favourite Seaside Towns.” With some of Cornwall’s finest beaches and invitingly clear Atlantic waters, it’s the perfect place to brush up on your surfing skills.
6. Enjoy outstanding countryside in Surrey
Less than half an hour from central London, you’ll find spectacular countryside and an opportunity to explore the scenic Surrey Hills National Landscape, one of 46 nationally protected landscapes in the UK. Hike up to the top of Leith Hill — the highest point in South East England — where on a clear day, you can see out over 13 different counties.
7. Have fun in the city in Birmingham
A city at the beating heart of the country, Birmingham is a hotbed of culture. Explore the city’s majestic waterways — lined with history — or pick from among any of the area’s outstanding eateries or treat yourself to a shopping trip at the Bullring & Grand Central.
8. Discover delicious local food and drink in Gloucester
Boasting world-renowned produce — including the Double and Single Gloucester cheeses — Gloucestershire is a foodie’s paradise. The UK’s first pedigree pig, the Gloucestershire Old Spot, is quite rightly prized by top chefs across the country for its succulence and flavour. Flowing through the heart of the county, the River Severn is also famed for its rare elvers (baby eels), which fetch a high price among diners in Japan.
