Sherwood Pines and Wollaton Hall have come out on top for visitor numbers in the East Midlands during 2021 according to Visit England’s annual visitor attraction survey (published 6 September 2022), with the region’s attractions generally seeing increased visitor numbers following the pandemic.
According to Visit England’s annual attraction survey, Sherwood Pines attracted approx. 705,000 visitors throughout 2021. During the same period Wollaton Hall received approx. 651,000 visitors. The impressive visitor numbers made them the top two attractions in the East Midlands according to the survey’s data, putting them comfortably ahead of other big regional attractions.
The impressive visitor numbers at Wollaton Hall and Sherwood Pines are backed up by strong numbers across the region in 2021, with numbers increasing in the East Midlands by 22% compared to 2020, demonstrating the industry’s recovery following the pandemic. When put into more context the numbers are even more impressive, with many attractions operating at reduced capacities during 2021, and international travel still not at full capacity.
Visit England’s annual visitor attraction survey is one of the largest in the industry looking at visitor numbers. It surveyed 1,142 different visitor attractions throughout England in 2021. The survey is vital to understanding how the tourism industry is performing, general regional trends and how events such as COVID-19 impacted the industry.
Marketing and Communications Manager for Visit Nottinghamshire Kinga Kapias commented:
“Seeing Sherwood Pines and Wollaton Hall topping Visit England’s annual visitor attraction survey in the East Midlands is incredibly positive for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s visitor economy. It demonstrates their huge appeal and the power they have to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors into the region. They’re terrific attractions with both national and international draw and their visitor numbers are testament a to their great offering.
“It’s also encouraging to see that visitor numbers are slowly returning and that the industry is bouncing back following the pandemic. The data released by Visit England also demonstrates the importance of tourism for the local economy and the potential of visitor attractions to draw huge numbers of people into Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.”
A Forestry England spokesperson said
“2021 was definitely a really busy year for Sherwood Pines, and it was great to see so many people coming to enjoy everything we have on offer here. As well as providing a beautiful destination for a day out, the forest environment is also scientifically proven to have many health and wellbeing benefits, which has been important for so many of us during these unsettling times. And although things may feel more normal now, our walking trails, cycling trails, play areas and picnic spots are still a popular draw for people across the East Midlands as a place to recharge, refresh and escape the daily grind.”
To find out more about the Visit England annual visitor attraction survey and access the full results, follow the link here.
Posted on 08 September 2022
