Tourism > Tourism in England

Tourism plays a significant part in the economic life of England.

Many British people travel abroad, which takes money out of the country. However, many other people come to England as tourists, and this is economically beneficial. There is significant economic benefit from American tourists, as well as other tourists from European countries.

In the UK as a whole, tourism contributes 76 billion pounds to the British economy, and it employs 6.1% of the working population, making it the 6th largest industry [1].

Table of contents
1 Cultural and heritage tourism
2 Ecotourism
3 See Also

Cultural and heritage tourism

Britain's tourist industry is principally "cultural" and "heritage" based, and many tourists are attracted to England because of its history, particularly in London (see Tourism in London).

Heritage Cities in England

  • Oxford : now a busy commercial town, which also has a famous university.
  • Cambridge: a famous university town.
  • Bristol: Brunel's Clifton suspension bridge is a famous landmark, and the ship, the SS Great Britain is another of Brunel's famous constructions, which is now in dry dock in Bristol.
  • Bath: A spa, famous for its Regency architecture and crescents, and also for its Roman baths.
  • Salisbury: Salisbury cathedral is well known, and has the tallest spire in the country. Nearby is the pre-historic site of Stonehenge, which is administered by English Heritage.
  • Portsmouth: Portsmouth is a naval dockyard, and has some famous ships on display, including the Mary Rose, and HMS Victory.
  • Brighton: Brighton is a seaside resort, with piers, and has also the Brighton Pavillion.
  • Haworth, where the Bronte Sisters lived, is very popular with Japanese tourists, as Wuthering Heights has a cult following in Japan.
  • York: Famous for York Minster.
  • Canterbury: Famous for its cathedral.
  • Dover: A major port with access to the continent. Also well known for its white cliffs, and to a lesser extent for its castle.

Other places in England are also of historical interest, but may not feature so significantly for foreign tourists. Many foreign tourists also visit Scotland and Wales, see tourism in Scotland, tourism in Wales).

Domestic tourists, and foreign tourists who have specific interests in art, music, history etc, also visit the following:

Ecotourism

Britain also has some unique natural environments, and has a significant "Ecotourism" industry:

See Also