{"id":445643,"date":"2025-09-23T11:07:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/445643\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T11:07:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:07:40","slug":"whats-new-for-travelers-heading-to-great-britain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/445643\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s New for Travelers Heading to Great Britain"},"content":{"rendered":"

With U.S. visitors contributing 7.2 billion pounds to the United Kingdom\u2019s economy this year, the United States is Great Britain\u2019s most important inbound tourism market. And the three-day Destination Britain Americas trade event (previously Destination Britain North America), hosted by VisitBritain<\/a> from September 11-14, 2025, provided opportunities for nearly 50 buyers to meet with more than 50 British tourism industry suppliers to broaden their destination knowledge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a huge commitment to the American market \u2026 but the size of our delegation shows the enthusiasm from British suppliers to hear firsthand about the motivations and trends driving travel to Britain,\u201d said Patricia Yates, VisitBritain CEO.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what\u2019s new for clients heading to the region in 2025 and beyond.<\/p>\n

\"NearlyNearly 50 buyers and more than 50 British tourism industry suppliers participated in over 1,000 one-on-one meetings during the three-day trade event.
Credit: 2025 VisitBritain\/Timeless PhotographyThe Set-Jetting Trend Continues With VisitBritain\u2019s \u201cStarring Great Britain\u201d Campaign<\/p>\n

The event\u2019s overarching theme reinforced VisitBritain\u2019s global “Starring Great Britain” campaign, which launched in January to showcase the television and film locations across Britain that inspire travelers to visit.<\/p>\n

Starring Great Britain also aims to inspire visitors to discover \u201cmore of Britain,\u201d an extension of the \u201cLondon Plus<\/a>\u201d messaging that has been VisitBritain\u2019s priority for several years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are shining the spotlight on the fantastic products and experiences across Britain,\u201d Yates said. “Building product and destination knowledge broadens travel itineraries, so visitors can explore more of Britain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Building product and destination knowledge broadens travel itineraries, so visitors can explore more of Britain.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Yates points to the upcoming \u201cPeaky Blinders,” filmed in the West Midlands; \u201cWuthering Heights,” set in Yorkshire; and \u201cFrankenstein,” set in Scotland, as new drivers for screen tourism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe strength of the campaign is that the destination is center stage,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it\u2019s the emotional connection that makes people want to come and be a part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""Starring“Starring Great Britain” showcases television and film locations across Britain that inspire travelers to visit.
Credit: 2025 Samantha Davis-FriedmanPromoting Under-the-Radar Destinations<\/p>\n

New experiences are allowing clients to see familiar destinations differently and discover under-the-radar regions, such as the Peak District<\/a>, which has eluded many American travelers despite being only 90 minutes from London by train.<\/p>\n

“The Peak District is a relatively undiscovered destination, but that means visitors get a really authentic English experience,\u201d said Amy Noton, public relations and travel trade manager for Visit Peak District and Derbyshire. \u201cIt\u2019s like the real England, and you get a little taste of everything \u2014 countryside, culture, heritage, beautiful towns and villages.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ChatsworthChatsworth House in The Peak District was the inspiration for Mr. Darcy\u2019s country estate of Pemberley in \u201cPride and Prejudice.\u201d
Credit: 2025 VisitBritain\/Tomo Brejc<\/p>\n

Among the area\u2019s highlights is the opportunity to craft jewelry with Blue John (also known as Derbyshire Spar), a unique semi-precious stone that isn\u2019t found anywhere else on Earth.<\/p>\n

\u201cDerbyshire is known for its limestone landscapes,\u201d Noton said. \u201cIn one of the ice ages, the limestone combined with something else to create this purply-blue mineral, and the Blue John mine has been in the same family for 150 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Peak District also has a strong connection to author Jane Austen, with the nearly 500-year-old Chatsworth House<\/a> as the inspiration for Mr. Darcy\u2019s country estate of Pemberley in \u201cPride and Prejudice.\u201d Chatsworth even portrayed Pemberley in the 2005 film adaptation of Austen’s novel, starring Kiera Knightley, but the new six-part Netflix series is also filming in the area, Noton notes, extending \u201cPride and Prejudice\u201d-themed activities into 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n

RELATED: A Traveler\u2019s Guide to Northeast England<\/a>Noteworthy Tours<\/p>\n

The London Transport Museum<\/a> recently launched a collection of 75-minute tours, offering exclusive guided access to no-longer-used London Tube stations.<\/p>\n

These “Hidden London<\/a>” tours include Baker Street: The World’s First Underground, taking clients into the station that launched the then-revolutionary idea of carrying passengers under Victorian London\u2019s streets, and Charing Cross: Behind The Silver Screen, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a filming location for \u201cSkyfall\u201d and \u201cPaddington.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe London Transport Museum offers exclusive guided access to no-longer-used London Tube stations.
Credit: 2025 London Transport Museum<\/p>\n

“When you go into Aldwych [station], it’s like stepping back in time,” explained Alexandra Rocheteau-Hason, the museum\u2019s groups and travel trade manager. \u201cIt was used for refuge for Londoners during World War II, but the National Gallery and British Museum also kept their artwork there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additional tours coming soon include Down Street: Churchill’s Secret Station, providing a look at the station that covertly transformed into the Railway Executive Committee’s bomb-proof headquarters, and where Prime Minister Winston Churchill secretly took refuge during the Blitz.<\/p>\n

Silverstone Circuit<\/a> in Northamptonshire provides the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive a supercar around the U.K.’s only Formula One track. No driver\u2019s license? No problem. Drivers as young as 6 years old can experience Europe\u2019s biggest outdoor go-karting circuit, which opens at Silverstone on Dec. 1, 2025. Visitors of all ages can walk the circuit for a unique view of the home of the British Grand Prix, and a newly-launched tour takes clients to filming locations for “F1” starring Brad Pitt.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone wants to drive the Grand Prix F1 circuit,\u201d said Haley Smith, head of sales for Silverstone Circuits Limited. \u201cYou can drive an Aston Martin, a MacClaren or a Ferrari, but North American clients want a Ferrari \u2014 and they want it red \u2014 so we\u2019ve done it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SilverstoneSilverstone Circuit provides the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive a supercar around the U.K.’s only Formula One track.
Credit: Silverstone Circuit<\/p>\n

The 184-room residence-style Escapade<\/a> allows clients to spend the night just meters from the iconic track.<\/p>\n

New Regenerative Tourism Initiative<\/p>\n

In his keynote presentation, Gavin Landry, international director for VisitBritain, announced that an all-new Tourism Cares<\/a>\u00a0Meaningful Travel Map<\/a> is being developed for England, which will launch during U.S. Tour Operator\u2019s Association<\/a>\u2019s Annual Conference in December. The collaborative project builds on the Meaningful Travel Map <\/a>developed by VisitScotland<\/a>, and aims to inspire a similar map for Wales, creating a “three-nation story to tell when it comes to regenerative tourism.”<\/p>\n

\"GavinGavin Landry, VisitBritain international director, announced a Meaningful Travel Map is being developed for England.
Credit: 2025 VisitBritain\/Timeless Photography<\/p>\n

Landry described regenerative tourism as the next step after sustainable tourism \u2014 or, doing the least harm\u2014to doing the most good. In other words, he said, regenerative tourism is the \u201cbetter looking and more intelligent sister of sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: Tourism Cares\u2019 Global Meaningful Travel Summit Wraps in Thailand<\/a><\/p>\n

VisitBritain is working with destinations, attractions and experiences at the forefront of sustainable tourism, with 10 partners already onboard, including The Eden Project<\/a> in Cornwall, The National Forest<\/a> in Leicestershire, Strawberry Field<\/a> in Liverpool and the International Dark Skies Reserve<\/a> in Northumberland, all approved by Tourism Cares, an organization dedicated to advancing meaningful travel in the tourism industry.<\/p>\n

\"AmongAmong the ten partners already participating in England\u2019s Meaningful Travel Map is Strawberry Field in Liverpool.
Credit: 2025 Visit Liverpool<\/p>\n

Advisors can support VisitBritain’s regenerative tourism efforts by encouraging travel outside peak seasons, highlighting products and destinations that have a positive impact and incorporating lesser-known experiences and hidden-gem destinations into client itineraries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Henry Ford was asked why he was making an automobile, he said if he asked his customers they would have asked for faster horses,\u201d Landry said. \u201cSo, in our case, let\u2019s anticipate our customers\u2019 needs, let\u2019s go where the future is going, and let\u2019s be part of this regenerative space.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With U.S. visitors contributing 7.2 billion pounds to the United Kingdom\u2019s economy this year, the United States is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":445644,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5018,3,4],"tags":[748,393,299,126,4884,24565,24566,1144,712,182,65048,3695,150344,16,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-445643","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-britain","8":"category-uk","9":"category-united-kingdom","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-europe","13":"tag-features","14":"tag-great-britain","15":"tag-home-top-carousel","16":"tag-landing-top-carousel","17":"tag-northern-ireland","18":"tag-scotland","19":"tag-social-media","20":"tag-storyports","21":"tag-sustainability","22":"tag-tourism-cares","23":"tag-uk","24":"tag-united-kingdom","25":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115253297051748489","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}