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With the school holidays in full swing, it is peak season for the UK attractions industry. While London remains the most popular UK destination for international travellers, there are a host of attractions outside the capital that are proving very popular with visitors this summer as well.
With that in mind, TripAdvisor can reveal the top ten most popular UK attractions outside London, based on summer booking interest1.
The most popular summer attraction outside the UK capital is Stonehenge, where entry costs range from £15.50 per adult for advance bookings to £63 for early access tours with a specialist guide, available to book on TripAdvisor.
Elsewhere in the top ten, three Edinburgh attractions are proving very popular this summer – with Arthur’s Seat attracting the most visitor attention, followed by Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Zip World in Bethesda, home of the longest ziplines in Europe, is the only Welsh attraction in the top ten.
“Schools out for summer, which means it is peak season for many outdoor attractions in the UK. But that need not mean long waits in the queue line for those who book in advance. Some attractions even offer early access tickets, so it is worth checking your booking options on TripAdvisor before you go,” commented Hayley Coleman, TripAdvisor spokesperson.
Top ten most popular UK summer attractions outside London2
is one of the wonders of the world and the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe. Its famous ring of standing stones are set in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England.
At this attraction you can see the famous stone circle, wander round reconstructed Neolithic houses to imagine how people lived 4,500 years ago, discover the story of the stones, the landscape and its people through the Stonehenge Exhibition and explore the surrounding landscape on foot or via shuttle.
Cost: Advance tickets available from £15.50 per adult, or you can book an early access tour with a specialist guide on TripAdvisor for as little as £63
This Lego themed amusement park boasts over 50 rides, shows and attractions including a driving school where kids can get their first driving license, a dragon rollercoaster, Viking boat river splash and pirate-themed live action show.
The park is split into various themed sections including Land of the Vikings, Knights Kingdom. Pirate Shored and Kingdom of the Pharaohs.
Cost: Advance tickets available to book online from £41 per person
Compton Acres consists of 10 acres of ornamental gardens. There are five main themed gardens to explore: Italian, Wooded Valley, Rock and Water, Heather and Japanese.
The garden was started in 1920 when Thomas Simpson purchased the site including the mansion and set about creating a series of themed gardens to reflect his overseas travels, with the help of Mr Middleton, the Head Gardener.
Cost: Adult tickets are priced at £8.45 each
Arthur’s Seat is the highest point of Holyrood Park, close the Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Arthur’s Seat is an ancient volcano and sits 251 metres above sea level, offering fantastic views over the city.
Cost: Admission is free, or you can book a local guide tour on TripAdvisor from as little as £14 per person
Edinburgh Castle is the ancient defender of the nation of Scotland. Housing the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the castle is situated on Castle Rock in the heart of Edinburgh and sits 260ft above the city, visible for ten miles in every direction.
Highlights at the castle include The Crown Room and Royal Palace where the nation’s treasures can be viewed, St Margaret’s Chapel – the oldest building in the city and The Great Hall, which displays medieval arms and armour.
Cost: Entry on the day is £16.50 per person, but for the same price you can bag a special skip-the-queue ticket if you book in advance online, with tickets available on TripAdvisor
This New Forest family amusement park boasts rides and attractions including the brand new Lost Kingdom. This dinosaur themed area of the park is set within four acres of Jurassic landscape with a whole host of dinosaur themed rides including two family rollercoasters: Flight of the Pterosaur and Velociraptor.
Cost: Advance tickets available to book online from £25.75 per adult
7. Alton Towers, Staffordshire
Alton Towers is a theme park, water park, and hotel complex in Staffordshire with rides including Galactica, which blasts riders through a space travel portal and into another dimension. The park also boasts themed attractions such as the Ice Age move 4D experience and a CBeebies Land section for the younger members of the family.
Cost: Advance tickets available to book online from £36.12 per adult
Here visitors can experience Europes longest ziplines including offering riders the closest experience a human being can get to skydiving without actually leaping out of a plane. It involves flying head-first, for just under a mile exceeding speeds of 100mph down a mountain and then straight over a cliff, 500ft above a quarry lake with spectacular views as far out as Ireland.
Cost: Ticket packages available to book online from £60.00 per adult
This amusement park inclues rides such as Stealth, a rollercoaster which goes from 0-80mph in under to seconds while firing its riders over 200ft in the air.
New to the park this year is Derren’s Brown’s Ghost Train – a ghost train fit for the 21st century. The ride is a 13-minute fully immersive psychological experience designed to manipulate the human mind.
Cost: Advance tickets available to book online from £27.99 per adult
The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British monarch and served the Royal Family for over 44 years. Now berthed in Edinburgh, visitors can discover what life was like onboard the floating Royal residence with access to the State Apartments, Crew’s Quarters and Engine Room.
Cost: Admission priced at £15 per adult, available to book on TripAdvisor
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1,2 Ranking based on the volume of booking interest clicks on TripAdvisor between the period 1 June 2016 – 19 July 2016. Note that the ranking does not represent traveller reviews and ratings.
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