Birmingham, UK (July 2013) – The UK is proving popular with international tourists in 2013, as visits to the country from overseas rise by 2%.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show international visits to the UK are up by 2% year-on-year.
Published in mid-July, the figures relate to the year up to and including May, and show a 2% climb in visits to the UK by overseas residents when compared with the same period of 2012.
A large portion of this increase is due to countries that only joined the European Union in 2004 or later, which sent 11% more tourists to the UK than the previous year.
However, the ONS says the figures for June could have an impact on the year-to-date total as, in 2012, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee saw the spring bank holiday in May moved into June.
Coming back to Britain
For holidaymakers who visited London in 2012 – for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, or any other reason – 2013 is a good chance to see a different part of the country.
Birmingham is England’s second-largest city by population, and is well worth a trip if you want to see a different side of the country.
Just like London, Birmingham is rich in culture and has a vibrant nightlife; however, its location in the West Midlands means it can be easier to head out into the country to see the greenery for which England is famed.
Look online to find hotels Birmingham city centre has available, and you can place yourself at the heart of England’s ‘second city’.
Other major cities that might be worth considering include Manchester and Liverpool in the north-west, Newcastle in the north-east, and the Yorkshire cities of Sheffield and Leeds.
York and Lincoln add to the historical options, with plenty of ancient architecture on show for those interested in England’s built environment.
Or for a peaceful coastal break, the south-west is a popular destination for everything from lounging on the beach, to surfing the rolling waves of coastal Cornwall.