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Royal Attractions Boosted Following the Harry and Meghan Effect
TripAdvisor Reveals Top Travel Experiences in the UK this Summer Historical and Heritage Tours Continue To Climb Quickly In Popularity

LONDON, UK, August 1, 2018 – Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace experiences have seen bookings on TripAdvisor boosted by over 200% since last year, according to the Seasonal Experiences Trend Index unveiled by TripAdvisor today.

The Seasonal Experiences Trend Index, announced by TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest provider of bookable tours and activities, reveals the must-visit attractions for summer, based on year-over-year booking activity on the site.

Royal attractions are seeing a huge surge in interest year-over-year, perhaps not surprising given the global excitement around the now Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s engagement last November and the wedding that followed in May. A Windsor Half Day Tour Including Entry to Windsor Castle – the location of the royal wedding – has seen bookings rise by a whopping 248% year-over-year. This is closely followed by A Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle Day Trip which has risen in popularity by 217%.

Beyond London, experiences seeing the greatest increase in traveller bookings over last year are two in Scotland – a Loch Ness, Highlands and Whisky Distillery Tour and a Skip the Line Ticket for Edinburgh Castle which have seen an increase of 479% and 260% respectively.

“Harry and Meghan’s engagement news last year and the wedding this spring certainly seems to have sparked a renewed interest for travellers in experiencing some of the most iconic royal attractions, in particular the very venue that played host to the couple’s nuptials,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Hayley Coleman. “As this year’s Summer Trends Index reveals though, the experiences seeing the biggest rise in bookings are not just limited to London and Windsor, with Edinburgh, Oxford and Belfast all featuring in the top 10.”  

 

Top Trending UK Experiences for Summer 2018

UK Travel Experience

Experience Overview

YoY

Bookings

Increase

1. Loch Ness, Highlands and Whisky Distillery Day Tour from EdinburghEdinburgh, Scotland

This full-day excursion takes travellers to the stunning Scottish Highlands, Glencoe, and Loch Ness. Departing from Edinburgh, travellers aboard the coach will experience some of the area's top sights and attractions including, Mary Queen of Scots' birthplace, Deanston Distillery and sample its whisky, and learn the fascinating history of Glencoe—a village made modernly famous as a setting for James Bond and Harry Potter films.

479%

2. Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour – Edinburgh, Scotland

Travellers can save up to two hours of waiting with a skip-the-line admission ticket to Edinburgh Castle, one of the Scotland’s most recognisable monuments. On a guided tour, visitors will discover secret histories and hidden details as a guide brings the fortress’ history to life.

260%

3. Windsor Half Day Tour Including Entry to Windsor Castle from London – London, England

This half-day tour takes travellers from London to the historic town of Windsor, including round-trip transfers and entrance to the lavish Windsor Castle, the Official Residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth - and where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently wed. Travellers will have the chance to explore the castle, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, peek into the royal bedchambers and see Queen Mary’s doll house, as well as stroll through the beautiful gardens and enjoy free time in Windsor.

248%

4. Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle Day Trip from London – London, England

 

This tour takes visitors to two of England's grandest royal residences, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, in a day. Traveling from London by air-conditioned coach, travellers will first visit Windsor Castle, exploring the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel, and, depending on the day, the Changing of the Guard. On the way back to London, the coach passes through Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed in 1205, ending with an audio-guided tour of the magnificent State Rooms and treasures of Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s main London residence.

217%

5. River Thames Sunset Sightseeing Cruise – London, England

The enchantment of London at night comes to life on this two-hour evening cruise along the historic River Thames! Aboard the glass-encased boat, travellers will enjoy the city’s main attractions at dusk, including the Shard, Big Ben and the Cutty Sark ship, whilst sipping on sparkling wine and munching on canapés as the cruise heads down the river as night falls.

209%

6. Oxford, Stratford Upon Avon and Cotswolds Tour from London London,
 England

 

This tour takes travellers to some of England’s top destinations outside London, including the Cotswolds, the university city of Oxford and the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Travellers will enjoy some free time to explore Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, as well as some of Oxford’s top sights including Christchurch College and the Bridge of Sighs.

208%

7. Churchill War Rooms Entrance Ticket – London, England

 

A visit to the Churchill War Rooms, part of London’s Imperial War Museum is the perfect way to learn about the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. Leading Britain to victory in World War II, the former prime minister made use of a wartime bunker beneath the streets of Westminster. With this entrance ticket travellers may explore the historic rooms at their leisure, and visit the on-site Churchill Museum where multimedia exhibits bring the story of the great leader to life.

205%

8. 1-Hour Real Mary King's Close Underground Tour in Edinburgh – Edinburgh, Scotland

On this 1-hour tour of the Royal Mary King’s Close travellers will discover the secrets that lie beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Accompanied by a costumed guide, visitors will experience Edinburgh’s past, exploring the underground streets, hearing stories about real-life residents, and learning about life in Edinburgh during the 17th century.

200%

9. London Royal Parks Bike Tour including Hyde Park – London, England

London’s Royal Parks are great places to escape the crowds that surround the capital’s top attractions. Travellers can cover more ground in less time on a bike tour of Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, and St. James Park; an active way for travellers to enjoy London’s greenery.

188%

10. Game of Thrones and Giant's Causeway Full-Day Tour from Belfast – Belfast, Northern Ireland

This full-day tour from Belfast combines a comprehensive Game of Thrones–themed tour with a visit to the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The navigation and driving are left to the driver while travellers enjoy the scenic ride and listen to behind-the-scenes gossip and filming facts from your guide.

178%

 

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest online provider of tours, activities and attractions, offering more than 100,000 bookable tours, activities and experiences to help travellers unleash the full potential of their trips.

 

Methodology

The Experiences Trend Index rankings were determined based on the percent increase in bookings on TripAdvisor between 2017 and 2018 for experiences from May 1 - August 31. Experiences were required to have at least four out of five bubbles on TripAdvisor Experiences to qualify.

 

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, enables travellers to unleash the full potential of every trip. With over 630 million reviews and opinions covering the world's largest selection of travel listings worldwide – covering approximately 7.5 million accommodations, airlines, attractions, and restaurants -- TripAdvisor provides travellers with the wisdom of the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to do and where to eat. TripAdvisor also compares prices from more than 200 hotel booking sites so travellers can find the lowest price on the hotel that's right for them. TripAdvisor-branded sites are available in 49 markets, and are home to the world's largest travel community of 455 million average monthly unique visitors**, all looking to get the most out of every trip. TripAdvisor: Know better. Book better. Go better.

The subsidiaries and affiliates of TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) own and operate a portfolio of websites under 20 other travel media brands:

www.airfarewatchdog.comwww.bookingbuddy.comwww.citymaps.comwww.cruisecritic.comwww.familyvacationcritic.comwww.flipkey.comwww.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.comwww.eltenedor.comwww.iens.nl and www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.comwww.holidaylettings.co.ukwww.holidaywatchdog.comwww.housetrip.comwww.jetsetter.comwww.niumba.comwww.onetime.comwww.oyster.comwww.seatguru.comwww.smartertravel.comwww.tingo.comwww.vacationhomerentals.com and www.viator.com.

* Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, November 2017
** Source: TripAdvisor log files, average monthly unique visitors, Q3 2017

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SOURCE TripAdvisor

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