This summer’s number one destination for staycationing British tourists travelling by train is Penrith in Cumbria.
That’s according to data from Virgin Trains Ticketing, which saw bookings rise by 106 per cent to the market town in the past six weeks.
Penrith is known for its 14th-century castle and easy access to the Lake District, Pennines and the Eden Valley. It’s particularly close to Ullswater, the second-largest lake in the Lake District national park.
Whitstable saw the second-highest rise in train ticket bookings at 92 per cent.
The Kent seaside town is renowned for its oysters while there are fantastic sunset views from the Old Neptune pub on pebbly Whitstable beach.
This summer’s number one destination for staycationing British tourists travelling by train is Penrith in Cumbria. Pictured above is the town’s 14th-century castle
Penrith is close to Ullswater (above), the second-largest lake in the Lake District
Whitstable (2nd) is renowned for its oysters while there are fantastic sunsets from the Old Neptune Pub on Whitstable beach
Another seaside spot, Weston-super-Mare, saw the third-highest rise in bookings, with ticket purchases soaring by 85 per cent.
Top attractions include the town’s popular Marine Lake beach, the Grand Pier’s arcades and the world’s largest helicopter museum.
Edinburgh (4th) saw an 85 per cent rise in ticket bookings. The city’s historic castle is one of its leading attractions while many tourists head to the Scottish capital in August to join the fun at Edinburgh Fringe performance arts festival.
Penzance (5th) in Cornwall recorded a 27 per cent rise in train bookings. The coastal town has easy access to beaches and the Minack open-air theatre, which overlooks the sea, is less than 10 miles away.
Brighton (6th) saw train ticket bookings rise by 12 per cent in the past six weeks. The seaside resort’s promenade is a hive of bars and restaurants while The Lanes shopping area is jam-packed with quirky independent boutiques.
Weston-super-Mare (3rd) saw train bookings soar by 85 per cent