The English countryside is one of our most valuable natural assets. Visitors spent around £8.4 billion in a single year, according to the latest survey. More than 1.2 billion day visits were made in 1998.
Countryside Agency Archive

Breadcrumbs

A Day In the Country - 27 May 2000

The English countryside is one of our most valuable natural assets. Visitors spent around £8.4 billion in a single year, according to the latest survey. More than 1.2 billion day visits were made in 1998.
Launching the research note English Countryside Day Visits Countryside Agency chief executive Richard Wakeford said today, "The countryside is very close to people's hearts. We know they are concerned for its future. By spending duting their day visits, people help local enterprise and sustain jobs and a better environment. The continuing high level of visits to the countryside demonstrates the important part it plays in satisfying people's wish for quality in their lives, and spiritual refreshment.

"The countryside is still a very popular place where people go to enjoy themselves, with a simple walk, a good lunch, some shopping in country towns or simply to sit and enjoy the view.

"66% of English people visited the countryside in 1998, which compares favourably with other leisure time activities and destinations. Nearly all of these visits were made by car - the Countryside Agency is working to demonstrate alternative ways of getting there that cause less congestion and pollution, and are available to all sectors of society." 

The research note English Countryside Day Visits is taken from Leisure Day Visits - Report of the 1998 UK Day Visits Survey. The main findings include:

the volume of trips in 1998 (1,253 million) is similar to 1996 
£8.4 billion spend in 1998 is a signifanct increase to 1996 (+25% after adjusting for inflation) 
the average distance travelled to the countryside is 17.3 miles

63% of visitors are in the ABC1 social grade 
87% of visitors own or have access to a car 
Each visitor spending over 3 hours in the countryside spends an average of £15.30 (£2 on alcoholicdrinks, £5 on food and other refreshment, £2.50 on admission charges, £1 on gifts and souvenirs, £1.90 on fuel, 50p on clothes, £1.10 on parking /fares etc and £1.10 on other things) 
The Leisure Day Visits full report (price £15), its free summary and the free English Countryside Day Visits research note are all available from Countryside Agency Publications PO Box 125, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7EP