Town & Country

Come out, wherever you are

THE Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) is calling for an extra Bank Holiday this year, in September, after last week’s release of dismal 2020 figures. Over the past 14 months, most visitor sites have been closed for every Bank Holiday and there were 45.4 million total visits to ALVA’s top 294 sites in 2020, down 70% compared with 2019’s 151.3 million.

Outdoor attractions have fared well in the rankings, such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which moved up seven places to become the fourth most-visited attraction of the year, and RHS Garden Wisley, which leapt 21 places to seventh. Kew’s Wakehurst in Sussex jumped 86 places to 28th and Longleat, Wiltshire; Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire; and Horniman Museum, London SE23, didn’t do badly either. Sadly, visits to Royal Museums Greenwich declined by 96% and Edinburgh Castle 87%. ALVA director Bernard Donoghue points out that, although the extension of the furlough scheme and 5% VAT has been hugely helpful, the latter may need extending beyond the current September deadline.

‘Although many of our members are still physically closed, they have been digitally open. Via innovative “virtual” activities, our members have continued