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Why Aussies keep returning to the UK

It’s almost an entire day’s journey for Aussies to travel to the UK, but the long distance travel doesn’t seem to waiver their desire to return in large and growing numbers.

It’s almost an entire day’s journey for Aussies to travel to the UK, but the long distance travel doesn’t seem to waiver their desire to return in large and growing numbers.

And the figures prove it.

Between January and September last year, Australians stayed around 12.48 million nights in the UK and spent around $1.89 billion.

We’re currently in the UK’s top ten inbound visitors and the fourth biggest spenders. Click here for more stats.

Image: VisitBritain

Image: VisitBritain

In fact, Australian visitors are so grand and important to the UK, VisitBritain has dubbed it the destination’s ‘two billion pound’ market.

The tourist bureau’s local marketing manager even sees Australian visitation to the UK as a global success story.

“When you consider the markets that travel to the UK or those that are near the UK (short haul) compared to Australia being a 24-hour flight time, it is a considerable achievement for such a strong market.”

Mark Haynes, VisitBritain Australia marketing manager

It’s so successful in fact that VisitBritain doesn’t even seem bothered by local tourism bureaus pushing more Australians to visit Europe via the UAE instead of London.

“With the record visits we anticipate from 2014 figures, we’re also expecting another fantastic year in 2015.”

Joss Croft, VisitBritain global marketing director

So why do Aussies keep returning to the UK?

During his recent visit to Australia, Mr Croft highlighted two key drivers keeping Aussies coming back – culture and countryside.

Mark Haines and Joss Croft from VisitBritain.

Mark Haynes and Joss Croft from VisitBritain.

He explained that culture covers a number of things, including the local history, heritage, sports, shopping and even drinking.

2015 will be a particularly big year for the UK in terms of historical anniversaries and the biggest one is the Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary.

The Magna Carta was a peace treaty set up by King John of England and a group of rebels.

Today’s the agreement sets the basis of a number of Western constitutions, including the Australia constitution and legal system. It’s even the basis for the American system and declaration of independence.

Celebratory events will be held to commemorate the Magna Carta's 800th anniversary.

Celebratory events will be held to commemorate the Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary.

The 800th anniversary will occur on 15 June 2015 and Mr Croft expects travellers will be keen to take park in celebratory events and see one of the four existing copies of the 1215 manuscript. A copy can be found at Lindcoln Cathedral.

Sports are going to be another driver for Aussies to visit the UK this year, with the Rugby World Cup being held in Great Britain between September and October.

Tennis fans are drawn to annual events like Wimbledon, while soccer (or football) heads head to the UK to watch the English Premier League live.

Bond is still a big driver of tourism to the UK.

Bond is still a big driver of tourism to the UK.

It may not be Hollywood, but movies are another big driver of tourism to the UK from Australia.

This year, Mr Croft says he expects the new Bond film ‘Spectre’ to showcase the ‘cool’ side of Englishness.

And the recently released Paddington Bear promotes the welcoming nature of the country.

Then there’s literature. 2015 marks 150 years since Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland in Oxford.

Anything connected to Jane Austen will be a hit this year, especially her museum that houses a collection of items connected with Jane.

Anything connected to Jane Austen will be a hit this year, especially her museum that houses a collection of items connected with Jane.

It’s also been 125 years since Agatha Christie was born. She lived on the south coast near the English Riviera. The UK has opened up her holiday home for guests to visit and explore.

Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ will turn 200 this year and travellers are expected to want to take part in tours of her museum.

And of course, 2016 will be the 400th anniversary since the death of William Shakespeare.

In terms of countryside, the UK has over 20 World Heritage sites and areas that are of ‘outstanding beauty’ such as the national parks.

Mr Croft said more travellers are also being drawn to Wales, which has become the adventure capital for the UK.

Wales now has a 100 miles long zip wire – the longest in the northern hemisphere.

It’s also home to the Royal Mint, which opened its doors for the first time in 1,000 years so visitors can strike their own coins.

What are you keen to see or experience in the UK?