Do you live in a tourist hot spot?
Discussion
Business is really booming in the Lake District.
International visitors have increased massively over the last few years.
As an example, numbers of Chinese tourists have increased by 286% since 2016.
84% of businesses in the Lakes have reported an increase in international visitors, and spending by those visitors since 2016.
There are now over 47 million visitors per year, and the number is growing faster than ever.
The Lakes used to be a place where British people turned up between May and September, camped or stayed in a B&B, ate sandwiches and went walking.
The place was deserted during October to April, and people used to joke that it was only during the winter that locals used to come out of hibernation.
That has all completely changed now.
Tourists are pouring in all year round now, coming here for winter and Christmas etc.
The spending habits have changed as well. We now have numerous Michelin starred restaurants, loads of absolutely top end Spa and Boutique hotels, and absolutely terrific bars, pubs and other eateries.
The food, drink, accommodation, shopping and entertainment in the Lakes has improved beyond words in probably around the last 15 years.
Money is pouring in.
In summer, take a seat on the terrace out the front of the bar at Low Wood Bay, looking over lake Windermere, the Marina and lakeside road, and watch Ferrari’s and other exotica burble past.
There will always be someone moaning that it’s too busy, but the advantages of tourism absolutely outweigh the disadvantages.
International visitors have increased massively over the last few years.
As an example, numbers of Chinese tourists have increased by 286% since 2016.
84% of businesses in the Lakes have reported an increase in international visitors, and spending by those visitors since 2016.
There are now over 47 million visitors per year, and the number is growing faster than ever.
The Lakes used to be a place where British people turned up between May and September, camped or stayed in a B&B, ate sandwiches and went walking.
The place was deserted during October to April, and people used to joke that it was only during the winter that locals used to come out of hibernation.
That has all completely changed now.
Tourists are pouring in all year round now, coming here for winter and Christmas etc.
The spending habits have changed as well. We now have numerous Michelin starred restaurants, loads of absolutely top end Spa and Boutique hotels, and absolutely terrific bars, pubs and other eateries.
The food, drink, accommodation, shopping and entertainment in the Lakes has improved beyond words in probably around the last 15 years.
Money is pouring in.
In summer, take a seat on the terrace out the front of the bar at Low Wood Bay, looking over lake Windermere, the Marina and lakeside road, and watch Ferrari’s and other exotica burble past.
There will always be someone moaning that it’s too busy, but the advantages of tourism absolutely outweigh the disadvantages.
Johnnytheboy said:
Grew up in a village by Chesil Beach in Dorset and still visit at weekends.
It's got busier since ~2000 but the tourists have changed from bucket-and-spade families from up country to weekenders/second-homers from London. Known locally as the "Fearnley Whittingstall effect".
Usually, around March I'll be out in the front garden doing something and I'll hear the raised voices before I see them, then they come in to view: the first Townies of the season!
Signs include:
- shiny wellies in stupid colours, and a labrador that doesn't seem to recognise them as owners
- weird clothes that look like what someone in a colour supplement fashion shoot shot on a hillside would wear.
- All talking at once at approx 50% higher volume than everyone else
- walking in line abreast, only grudgingly moving out of the middle of the road for traffic.
- Making no attempt to speak to people they pass by. This last one cracks me up as they will sometimes talk about my family home in front of me without speaking to me: "Oh look at that lovely house Giles, I wonder how old it is?"
Finally, rather than simply gentrifying the area they are Townifying it. One or two nice, albeit traditional, restaurants have been replaced by places specialising in fancy burgers in brioche buns, and 'relaxed brunches'; that apparently being what people down for the weekend want.
I assume a "relaxed brunch" means "sit round eating some godawful avocado concoction washed down with flat whites, while your seemingly inumerable kids run round between tables screaming in a sort of falsetto Joyce Grenfell, in the faint hope they'll sleep in the back of the Discovery at least as far as Basingstoke."
- - - - - - - - It's got busier since ~2000 but the tourists have changed from bucket-and-spade families from up country to weekenders/second-homers from London. Known locally as the "Fearnley Whittingstall effect".
Usually, around March I'll be out in the front garden doing something and I'll hear the raised voices before I see them, then they come in to view: the first Townies of the season!
Signs include:
- shiny wellies in stupid colours, and a labrador that doesn't seem to recognise them as owners
- weird clothes that look like what someone in a colour supplement fashion shoot shot on a hillside would wear.
- All talking at once at approx 50% higher volume than everyone else
- walking in line abreast, only grudgingly moving out of the middle of the road for traffic.
- Making no attempt to speak to people they pass by. This last one cracks me up as they will sometimes talk about my family home in front of me without speaking to me: "Oh look at that lovely house Giles, I wonder how old it is?"
Finally, rather than simply gentrifying the area they are Townifying it. One or two nice, albeit traditional, restaurants have been replaced by places specialising in fancy burgers in brioche buns, and 'relaxed brunches'; that apparently being what people down for the weekend want.
I assume a "relaxed brunch" means "sit round eating some godawful avocado concoction washed down with flat whites, while your seemingly inumerable kids run round between tables screaming in a sort of falsetto Joyce Grenfell, in the faint hope they'll sleep in the back of the Discovery at least as far as Basingstoke."
Yes Johnny-the-boy, and I understand that some of the loud mouths actually look up, and say 'how many holiday flats is that now ?'
SouthHamsGaz said:
the minute all the grockles descend in their caravans the place becomes grid locked.
Didn’t take long for someone to drop the ‘G’ word in. It’s rather insulting as a rule, we’re all tourists somewhere at some point, unless you’re incredibly dull and never go on holiday. Without the tourism money that these people bring to such areas they would be economically decimated, unable to function unless the likes of you paid exorbitant amounts of Council Tax.
Best just suck it up and remember who pays the piper.
Mr E said:
I now live in Swindon. We don’t know what tourists are.
Why am I not surprised?We live some 25 minutes walk from Tower Bridge, but the only hang up is getting a reservation at some of the excellent Thames-side restaurants around Butlers Wharf, or between London Bridge and Tower Bridge in the summertime.
Lord Marylebone said:
Business is really booming in the Lake District.
International visitors have increased massively over the last few years.
As an example, numbers of Chinese tourists have increased by 286% since 2016.
84% of businesses in the Lakes have reported an increase in international visitors, and spending by those visitors since 2016.
There are now over 47 million visitors per year, and the number is growing faster than ever.
The Lakes used to be a place where British people turned up between May and September, camped or stayed in a B&B, ate sandwiches and went walking.
The place was deserted during October to April, and people used to joke that it was only during the winter that locals used to come out of hibernation.
That has all completely changed now.
Tourists are pouring in all year round now, coming here for winter and Christmas etc.
The spending habits have changed as well. We now have numerous Michelin starred restaurants, loads of absolutely top end Spa and Boutique hotels, and absolutely terrific bars, pubs and other eateries.
The food, drink, accommodation, shopping and entertainment in the Lakes has improved beyond words in probably around the last 15 years.
Money is pouring in.
In summer, take a seat on the terrace out the front of the bar at Low Wood Bay, looking over lake Windermere, the Marina and lakeside road, and watch Ferrari’s and other exotica burble past.
There will always be someone moaning that it’s too busy, but the advantages of tourism absolutely outweigh the disadvantages.
Yep - the line of Bowness/Windermere, Grassmere & Keswick and accompanying lakes - is a massive all year round tourist magnet, moving away from this you get less - but still increasing - the last bastion is the west coast where it's only the dedicated few and not many coach trips make it there. The other halfs Business is going well - and if only we could get a decent train service from Northern. Oxenholme and the west coast mainline is under 3 hours from Euston, Junction 36 gets hammered regularly with Yorkshire Dales and Lakes traffic (caravans/motorhomes) coming at it from opposite directions.International visitors have increased massively over the last few years.
As an example, numbers of Chinese tourists have increased by 286% since 2016.
84% of businesses in the Lakes have reported an increase in international visitors, and spending by those visitors since 2016.
There are now over 47 million visitors per year, and the number is growing faster than ever.
The Lakes used to be a place where British people turned up between May and September, camped or stayed in a B&B, ate sandwiches and went walking.
The place was deserted during October to April, and people used to joke that it was only during the winter that locals used to come out of hibernation.
That has all completely changed now.
Tourists are pouring in all year round now, coming here for winter and Christmas etc.
The spending habits have changed as well. We now have numerous Michelin starred restaurants, loads of absolutely top end Spa and Boutique hotels, and absolutely terrific bars, pubs and other eateries.
The food, drink, accommodation, shopping and entertainment in the Lakes has improved beyond words in probably around the last 15 years.
Money is pouring in.
In summer, take a seat on the terrace out the front of the bar at Low Wood Bay, looking over lake Windermere, the Marina and lakeside road, and watch Ferrari’s and other exotica burble past.
There will always be someone moaning that it’s too busy, but the advantages of tourism absolutely outweigh the disadvantages.
As is said above - what i does do is give an incredible place to live a massive boost in terms of places to eat, and local produce that is some of the best in the world. I'm lucky enough to live close to but not on the axis of tourism and we definitely benefit, you just have to pick your times.
S.
monkfish1 said:
foxbody-87 said:
I do like Cornwall but it takes a hell of a long time to get to especially if it’s busy. Last time was 13 hours drive from the Lake District, Barbados was quicker. Plus it’s a bit like the lakes in that once you get a bit of sun it’s bedlam, the roads become infested with men in VW vans with grey pony tails and blokes in gingham shirts towing their Crusader about 
If im going to cornwall in summer, just go overnight. I leave at 2 ish in the morning. One stop on the way and in cornwall for breakfast. Nice and easy, no traffic, zero stress.Shame as I enjoy Cornwall and the lakes but find myself priced out, either that or I'm tight or not a mug.
Johnnytheboy said:
Grew up in a village by Chesil Beach in Dorset and still visit at weekends.
It's got busier since ~2000 but the tourists have changed from bucket-and-spade families from up country to weekenders/second-homers from London. Known locally as the "Fearnley Whittingstall effect".
Usually, around March I'll be out in the front garden doing something and I'll hear the raised voices before I see them, then they come in to view: the first Townies of the season!
Signs include:
- shiny wellies in stupid colours, and a labrador that doesn't seem to recognise them as owners
- weird clothes that look like what someone in a colour supplement fashion shoot shot on a hillside would wear.
- All talking at once at approx 50% higher volume than everyone else
- walking in line abreast, only grudgingly moving out of the middle of the road for traffic.
- Making no attempt to speak to people they pass by. This last one cracks me up as they will sometimes talk about my family home in front of me without speaking to me: "Oh look at that lovely house Giles, I wonder how old it is?"
Finally, rather than simply gentrifying the area they are Townifying it. One or two nice, albeit traditional, restaurants have been replaced by places specialising in fancy burgers in brioche buns, and 'relaxed brunches'; that apparently being what people down for the weekend want.
I assume a "relaxed brunch" means "sit round eating some godawful avocado concoction washed down with flat whites, while your seemingly inumerable kids run round between tables screaming in a sort of falsetto Joyce Grenfell, in the faint hope they'll sleep in the back of the Discovery at least as far as Basingstoke."
Perfect summary, especially the clothes... whole families dressed head to toe in clothes from Fatface or Jack Wills, the dads are especially obvious with the obligatory polo shirt (with collar turned up) combat shorts and sandals combo.It's got busier since ~2000 but the tourists have changed from bucket-and-spade families from up country to weekenders/second-homers from London. Known locally as the "Fearnley Whittingstall effect".
Usually, around March I'll be out in the front garden doing something and I'll hear the raised voices before I see them, then they come in to view: the first Townies of the season!
Signs include:
- shiny wellies in stupid colours, and a labrador that doesn't seem to recognise them as owners
- weird clothes that look like what someone in a colour supplement fashion shoot shot on a hillside would wear.
- All talking at once at approx 50% higher volume than everyone else
- walking in line abreast, only grudgingly moving out of the middle of the road for traffic.
- Making no attempt to speak to people they pass by. This last one cracks me up as they will sometimes talk about my family home in front of me without speaking to me: "Oh look at that lovely house Giles, I wonder how old it is?"
Finally, rather than simply gentrifying the area they are Townifying it. One or two nice, albeit traditional, restaurants have been replaced by places specialising in fancy burgers in brioche buns, and 'relaxed brunches'; that apparently being what people down for the weekend want.
I assume a "relaxed brunch" means "sit round eating some godawful avocado concoction washed down with flat whites, while your seemingly inumerable kids run round between tables screaming in a sort of falsetto Joyce Grenfell, in the faint hope they'll sleep in the back of the Discovery at least as far as Basingstoke."
The other giveaway is they all drive Audis in resale grey.
hutchst said:
I lived in Buckingham for a few years back in the 80s & early 90s. GP weekends we would stock up, take Friday off work and stay indoors from Thursday until Monday morning, pretending we couldn't hear the helicopters.
I used to work in a little village in Somerset called Pilton...51mes said:
I'm lucky enough to live close to but not on the axis of tourism and we definitely benefit, you just have to pick your times.
S.
I live bang centre between Windermere and Bowness, it doesn’t bother me too much in summer when the heavy traffic hits, you just have to plan travel times around it!S.
We service a lot of the higher end hotels and restaurants and things have definitely slowed slightly the last few months - all the brexit rubbish no doubt.
Personally we have just opened a small Airbnb in an unused part of our house - its not fully finished but we put it up anyway. Got 13 bookings already with May only having a few empty days - Should of done it years ago!
Northern Ireland is doing pretty well currently. General peace has seen tourism figures jump to 5 million last year, but will a small population of 1.7 million it never feels jammed the way it does when visiting the mainland. Eg unlikely to find a traffic jam outside the cities at rush hour.
Being in my 40’s now and remember some, not the worst, of the bad times, it’s good to see places flourishing. Game of thrones is hot at the minute too with plenty of coach tours and locator hunters from all over the world. Some of the places were not changed much for screen so provide satisfaction for the fans.
There’s also some absolutely superb roads.
Being in my 40’s now and remember some, not the worst, of the bad times, it’s good to see places flourishing. Game of thrones is hot at the minute too with plenty of coach tours and locator hunters from all over the world. Some of the places were not changed much for screen so provide satisfaction for the fans.
There’s also some absolutely superb roads.
Anywhere with narrow roads is awful in tourist season, the Lakes were especially bad about two years ago because they chose part of the season to close some the road infrastructure. Cornwall is a lot better than it was. The New Forest is intolerable at times.
I used to live in Ludlow in Shropshire, which has successfully reinvented itself as a foodie hotspot. It is always very busy now, even off season, which is great for business, even though it has priced a lot of the local companies out of the town centre itself due to very high business rates and rents. The best butcher in Ludlow is now situated on an industrial estate on the outskirts of town which is great because all the locals know this and go there instead and avoid trying to struggle into the town centre.
I usually go to work on my motorcycle during busy times like the Friday before Bank Holiday.
I used to live in Ludlow in Shropshire, which has successfully reinvented itself as a foodie hotspot. It is always very busy now, even off season, which is great for business, even though it has priced a lot of the local companies out of the town centre itself due to very high business rates and rents. The best butcher in Ludlow is now situated on an industrial estate on the outskirts of town which is great because all the locals know this and go there instead and avoid trying to struggle into the town centre.
I usually go to work on my motorcycle during busy times like the Friday before Bank Holiday.
I used to live in a tourist hotspot (Cambridge) and whilst it was occasionally annoying having to navigate a flock of Chinese tourists in matching rain coats and caps I can see the benefits throughout.
All of the people complaining will surely be tourists in others cities/regions or countries? Just seems silly to act as if tourists are the worst like they are a different species...
All of the people complaining will surely be tourists in others cities/regions or countries? Just seems silly to act as if tourists are the worst like they are a different species...
Baked_bean said:
All of the people complaining will surely be tourists in others cities/regions or countries? Just seems silly to act as if tourists are the worst like they are a different species...
What it does give you is an acute awareness of how acting like a tourist could annoy the locals, and hopefully a desire to act differently when on holiday. I moved to North Yorkshire when I was about 10, I'd lived in a fairly rural area in the midlands until that point so for me it was a massive eye opener when summer rolled round and our tiny village was swamped.
A group of us would regularly play in the river next to my house but come weekends you'd not get a look in - kids fishing for minnows and messing about on the stepping stones etc so we'd be hoofed out and end up down stream on the less desirable bit.
The local economy benefits massively so most people just deal with it, I'd only get annoyed when you'd go to the local shop and not be able to get a quart of sweets because your favs had gone.
Don't even get me started on Appleby fair time..
I've been to St Ives pretty much every year for the past 11 years, varying times of year, but over the last 2/3 years it just seems to have exploded in visitors. It was busy before, dont get me wrong, but now when we go down it's not the relaxing place it used to be.
Massive shame but great for local businesses.
A group of us would regularly play in the river next to my house but come weekends you'd not get a look in - kids fishing for minnows and messing about on the stepping stones etc so we'd be hoofed out and end up down stream on the less desirable bit.
The local economy benefits massively so most people just deal with it, I'd only get annoyed when you'd go to the local shop and not be able to get a quart of sweets because your favs had gone.
Don't even get me started on Appleby fair time..
I've been to St Ives pretty much every year for the past 11 years, varying times of year, but over the last 2/3 years it just seems to have exploded in visitors. It was busy before, dont get me wrong, but now when we go down it's not the relaxing place it used to be.
Massive shame but great for local businesses.
Daily Mash, back when it was still funny:
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/anywhe...
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/anywhe...
article said:
“On Sundays we get in the pub with our little a
hole children and spread our possessions over all available seating.”
hole children and spread our possessions over all available seating.”Porcelain Ponderer said:
Lord Marylebone said:
Low Wood Bay
My best friend got married there 5 years ago, is an absolutely beautiful location. Like many of the big hotels here, it has had tens of millions spent on it in the last 3-4 years, turning it into a luxury resort hotel.
The expanding and improving of the hotels and restaurants round here has been staggering at times.
It’s all good though.
Grew up in the countryside surrounding Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, so summers were (are) very tourist heavy but at that time I loved it - worked at a local restaurant after school and first year of uni and it wasn't uncommon to take home £50+ in tips per evening during the high season.
Ended up living just off Portobello Road in Notting Hill for a year or two a few years back; every weekend was busy but it was manic over the summer and obviously during the festival; never really was an issue though. It could be quite relaxing to people watch from the comfort of your own window on a hot busy day.
Ended up living just off Portobello Road in Notting Hill for a year or two a few years back; every weekend was busy but it was manic over the summer and obviously during the festival; never really was an issue though. It could be quite relaxing to people watch from the comfort of your own window on a hot busy day.
Currently living in West Lulworth and its absolute chaos as soon as the tourists arrive. Several of the roads around here have deliberately been built wide enough for main battle tanks to comfortably pass each other however people still seem incapable of exceeding 35mph.
To make it even worse, I'm going to have to go straight past the bestival site to get to work while it's on!
I get how important tourism is to the local area but its bloody infuriating when it takes an hour and a half to get back from the supermarket in Poole or Weymouth when it should only be about 35-40 mins
To make it even worse, I'm going to have to go straight past the bestival site to get to work while it's on!
I get how important tourism is to the local area but its bloody infuriating when it takes an hour and a half to get back from the supermarket in Poole or Weymouth when it should only be about 35-40 mins
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