Fantastic Leisure Activities and Cheap Days Out

We would like to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Below we have some fantastic cheap days out and Leaisure activities you can take advantage of in the next few months.

Ripley's Believe It or Not 2 for £29Print voucher

Get two tickets for £28.80 to Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Piccadilly Circus, London.
Tickets are normally £22.95 each for adults and £20.95 for children, and this offer includes two Mirror Maze passes and guidebooks.
How do I get it?
Print off this Ripley's voucher and hand over at the ticket office. One voucher is valid for up to six people.
What is Ripley's Believe It or Not?
It's a museum which exhibits lots of bizarre displays (i.e. a Tower Bridge replica made from matchsticks), as well as lots of strange events and facts that are almost unbelievable.
The deal: Two tickets for £28.80. Valid: Mon-Sun. How: Print voucher. Expires: Sun 6 Feb. Excludes: Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year's Eve & Day. Offer from: Ripley's Believe It or Not. Restrictions: Six people per voucher.

Free 6 week golf beginner's courseRegister online
Get a free £60 six week golf beginner's course at four UK locations with World Of Golf, as well as a free 7 iron golf club worth around £15. The courses are available at the Glasgow, New Malden, Croydon & Sidcup centres and run from January to end of February but more dates will be added later.
To book a course, simply visit the World Of Golf booking page, select your centre and then the date you wish to start the course. The course comprises of 6 x1 hour lessons, which are to be on the same day and time every week for six consecutive weeks. You will receive an email confirming your place on the course two weeks before it is due to start.
There are over a 1,300 places for adults and 345 places for children, and it's on a first come first served basis, so it's advised you book as soon as possible. For every lesson, you'll need to hire a medium bucket of golf balls, which is £4.20-£4.50, depending on the centre.
The deal: Free 6x 1hour beginner's gold lessons at 4 UK locations. Valid: 01 Jan 2011 - late Feb '11, though more dates will be added. How: Pick a venue and book online. Expires: Mon 28 Feb, though will be extended. Excludes: N/A Offer from: World Of Golf. Restrictions: You need to hire a bucket of golf balls for every lesson. Lessons will take place on the same day each week at the times indicated for 6 consecutive weeks, unless otherwise stated. Limited to one course per customer. Subject to availability.

50% off Shakespeare housesClick 'n' print voucher
Get a 50% off ticket for The Shakespeare Houses, Stratford-Upon-Avon, with this instant click 'n' print Shakespeare's Houses voucher. The deal's available until 31 Jan 2011.
There are five different 'houses' and you can use this voucher to visit them all.
The houses include:

• Shakespeare's Birthplace
• Dig for Shakespeare at New Place (closed until April 2011)
• Hall's Croft
• Anne Hathaway's Cottage
• Mary Arden's Farm (closed from 1 Nov - 21 March 2011)

The ticket usually costs £19.50 so this'll make it £9.75, plus it gives you unlimited entry for a year. The deal: 50% off. Valid: 12 months. How: Print voucher. Expires: Sun 31 Jan. Excludes: Family tickets. Offer from: Shakespeare's Houses & Gardens. Restrictions: Not valid with other offers.

OR...

2for1 Shakespeare HousesClick 'n' print
Get 2for1 entry into The Shakespeare Houses, Stratford-Upon-Avon, with this instant click 'n' print Shakespeare Houses voucher. The ticket'll give you unlimited entry for 12 months.
There are five different 'houses' and you can use this 2for1 voucher to visit them all.
The houses include:

• Shakespeare's Birthplace
• Dig for Shakespeare at New Place (closed until April 2011)
• Hall's Croft
• Anne Hathaway's Cottage
• Mary Arden's Farm (closed from 1 Nov - 21 March 2011)

As usual, buying one full price adult ticket will get someone else in for free. An adult 'five houses' ticket usually costs £19.50, so it's a good saving if two adults attend.
The deal: 2for1 entry. Valid: On the day. How: Print voucher. Expires: Sun 31 Jan. Excludes: Family tickets, special events/exhibitions. Offer from: Shakespeare's Houses & Gardens. Restrictions: Not valid with other offers.

2for1 'Big Wheels' ticketsClick 'n' print
Get 2for1 adult tickets for 'Big Wheel' rides at Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester and Weston-super-Mare.
Simply print off this 2for1 voucher from moneysupermarket.com and hand it to the ticket office at any of the locations. It cannot be redeemed with online ticket purchases.
The Manchester Wheel and Liverpool Wheel usually cost £7.50 at the gate for standard adult tickets, whilst Sheffield and Weston-super-Mare cost £6.50, so it's not a bad little saving. Click the links for individual opening times.
The voucher is valid till Feb 2011 for Manchester and Liverpool, Oct 2010 for Sheffield and Sept 2010 for Weston-super-Mare.
The deal: 2for1 adult tickets. Valid: On the day. How: Print voucher. Expires: Various, see above. Excludes: Online bookings. Offer from: moneysupermarket. Restrictions: Adult tickets only.

Playgolf free £10 ball credit at HarrowSign up to newsletter
Get £10 free golf ball credit at Playgolf Northwick Park (Harrow), on the driving ranges.
Just sign up to the Playgolf Northwick newsletter to get the offer.
After registering you'll be sent an email (check your junk box) with the offer to print off and take to the ticket office to redeem.
It applies to new newsletter registrations only, and you can only use the £10 ball credit once and within a month of the email.
The offer is pretty good, as 100 balls on the driving range normally costs £7.50, meaning with this deal you'll get them free and have credit left over.

Rileys free memberships for 12-18 year oldsIn store offer
Rileys is giving out 147,000 free memberships (usually £5) for 12-18 year olds to join its pool and snooker clubs.
To get the offer, just visit your local Rileys and ask for 'Ronnie's giveaway offer' (the promo's being lead by Ronnie O'Sullivan). Memberships last for one year.
There are 120 Rileys clubs throughout the UK. Find your nearest Rileys.

Free swims with Schweppes Abbey Well waterGrab selected bottle tops
Get free swims Mon-Fri at c.500 UK pools with Scwheppes Abbey Well water bottle tops.
All 500ml/750ml bottle tops are valid for the promotion. A 500ml bottle costs anything from around 40p - 70p (currently 43p at Tesco), depending on where you get it.
For your free swim, just take the bottle top (it should say Sch...wim cap on the top) to your nearest participating pool during valid free swim sessions (see below). Sportscaps on 750ml still bottles don't have Sch...wim cap on the top but are still valid for a free swim.
Each pool has its own set of T&Cs on the offer, so once you’ve selected your pool, click on 'opening times & more info' and the next page will show you what times you can swim for free at that pool.
The bottle caps are valid until 02/02/2011 and they can't be used with any other offers.
The deal: Free swims. Valid: See individual pool T&Cs. How: Hand Schweppes Abbey Mills Sch...wim cap bottle tops to ticket office. Expires: 02/02/2011. Excludes: Weekends. See individual pool T&Cs. Offer from: Schweppes. Restrictions: Mon-Fri only. See individual pool T&Cs.

Free football coaching for kidsBook online or by phone

The FA Tesco Skills Programme runs at 36 venues across England during school holidays, excluding Christmas. You don't need to buy anything - just book online or by phone at least two days in advance. Each session lasts two hours, from 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm, over one or two days.
The deal: Free football coaching. Valid: During school holidays, 5-11 year olds only. How: Find venue, book online / by phone. Expires: Ongoing. Excludes: Christmas holidays. Offer from: FA Tesco Skills. Restrictions: Subject to availability. Max. 1 session per day. Kids must be signed in by a parent / guardian.

York Castle Museum 2for1 kids go freeJust turn up!

Up to ten kids (under 16s) can go free with one paying adult at the York Castle Museum. No need for vouchers, you just need to turn up on the day (no advance bookings available). Child entries are usually £4 so if you're lucky enough to have ten kids, then this could save you £40. Adult entry is £8. It’s valid on the day until at least 31 Mar 2011. The offer isn't valid for organised groups. Check out the York Castle Museum site for opening times.

The deal: Up to 10 free child entries with a paying adult. Valid: On the day. How: Just turn up! Expires: 31 Mar '11. Excludes: Organised groups. Offer from: York Museum Trust. Restrictions: 16s & under must be accompanied by a paying adult. Organised groups excluded.

Yorkshire Museum 2for1 kids go free
Kids go free with one paying adult to Yorkshire Museum when it re-opens on Sun 1 Aug. Standard adult tickets cost £7.
This doesn't require any voucher, it is an offer put on by the museum after a refurbishment and will last until at least the end of the year. The child tickets used to be £4.
Children are classed as under 16.
The deal: 2for1 kids go free with paying adult. Valid: On the day. How: Just turn up. Expires: Dec 31. Excludes: Organised groups.Offer from: York Museums Trust. Restrictions: Children must be accompanied by full paying adult.

I

England's South Coast Has Much To Offer Tourists

By Mark Walters

There are many incredible places to visit and sights to see on England's South Coast. But before we get to that, let's discuss what England's south coast is comprised of. Southern England includes the southern counties of England bordering on the English Midlands. The government of the UK divides Southern England into South West England, South East England, Greater London and the East of England. So now that we know where we are, here are some attractions and places to visit on England's South Coast:

- Beachy Head: 5km or 3 miles south of Eastbourne is a snowy white cliff at the end of the South Downs. It has popular views and is reached by a lovely footpath. It is known for its striped lighthouse. The cliff path that passes through Cuckmere, Haven and Seaford is 3.5 miles or 6km long and provides a great hiking opportunity.

- Bramber Castle: is an English Heritage Property set on the west side of Bramber village. The original gatehouse was built by the Normans, although all that remains are the ruins.

- The Kent Battle of Britain Museum: is in Hawkinge. It's an old armory that contains the Luftwaffe Room, the Aircraft Armaments Room, the R.A.F. room and an art gallery.

- The Eurotunnel: is not to be missed. It crosses under the channel between France and Folkestone in Kent. It was complete in 1994 and is the fastest and newest transport system on the British coast. The visitor center is in Folkestone. There is also The Exhibition Centre in Cheriton which is west of Folkestone. This Centre explains the construction of the Eurotunnel.

- Borde Hill Gardens in Haywards Heath: is set on 200 acres of Sussex woods and parkland. It is a renowned botanical garden and displays a fabulous variety of colour through all seasons.

- Romney Marsh: extending from Hythe along the coast, is the beginning of almost 50,000 acres of area devoted mainly to the growing of flowers. It is especially beautiful in the spring.

- Mermaid Street: in Rye offers a historical stroll. You will want to see the home of Henry James, who wrote "The Wings of the Dove" and "The Golden Bowl" while living at Lamb House on Mermaid Street. Don't miss The Mermaid Inn, a 15th century pub distinguished by its reputation as a meeting place of smugglers. And then there's the Old Hospital, a triple-gabled, half timbered 15th-16th century building.

This is just a small sampling of the many things to do and see on England's South Coast. Be sure to learn about the many other attractions of this beautiful area of England.

About the Author:

Now Try : Cheap Hotels Brighton

Day Trips & Activities

 Summer Camp for £49

Update: Now ANYONE in England booking tickets for Summer Camp will get them for £49 - whether they are on any kind of benefits or not. The YHA charity is trying to flog its last few remaining places so has opened the discount up to everyone. There are still places remaining but at this price they may go fast.

Unfortunately the camps are for England residents only. If you're from Scotland, Wales or N.I you may have to pay the original £299 price.

'Looked After Children' (those children who are who are in care) are excluded from this reduction and are still required to pay £299 per place.

How do I get the offer?

Application forms can be filled in online via the YHA website Do it 4 Real (click on the red 'Book Now' logo) where you can also find details of how to book over the phone.

What is Summer Camp?

An adventure-lead getaway for young people, offering activities such as watersports, football, street dance, survival and more. See the Do it 4 Real website for full details of all the different types of camp on offer.

Chester Zoo 30% off

Click 'n' print

Get 30% off admission to Chester zoo with this printable voucher.

You can use the voucher every day until Fri 16 July, just give it to the ticket office on arrival for the discount. It's only valid for one transaction, for up to four people.

The deal: 30% off. Valid: On the day. How: Print voucher. Expires: Fri 16 July. Excludes: Online bookings Offer from: moneysupermarket.com. Restrictions: Not valid with other offers, family tickets, concessionary, educational and group rates.

Enjoy England 2for1s, kids go free & more


Click 'n' print a voucher

Visit England’s official tourism website, Enjoy England, and you’ll find a feature that allows you to search offers on attractions and accommodation across the country by region. There are a variety of vouchers that you simply need to print out and bring with you to the attraction.

Past offers on the website have included 2for1 skating and skate hire at Bristol ice rink, and kids go free at Cadbury World.

Make sure you check the terms and conditions, exclusions and use by dates on each voucher, as whilst some are undated, others are valid for a specific period. It’s also worth checking with each attraction before you go.

Easy Backpacking Camping Gear Advice

By Jason Jones

When setting out on our adventures we have to have specific backpacking camping gear items on the list, which will be highly dependent on the type of trip planned. Knowledge pays dividends before choosing essential backpacking gear for camping and hiking.

We make a few priorities before setting out on the trail, that includes choosing a suitable sleep system, cook system, tents for camping, and the important hiking and backpacking essential items. Before setting out we get this right to prevent coming home early of the trail with our tail in between our legs. We want to be heading home to tell the family what a fantastic adventure we just had, with an overwhelming desire to do it again.

System For Sleeping: The sleeping system we need will require an air mattress or sleeping pad and camping sleeping bag that will be compact enough and as lightweight as possible to use the least room possible inside our backpack. An air mattress will protect a camper from the floor, offering comfort whilst giving insulation between the floor and sleeping bag. Foam sleeping pads may provide less comfort than an air mattress, although they cost less and are lighter than others. However, an air mattress for camping provides more comfort and can be more compact. When buying a sleeping bag we choose a temperature rating and decide the shape and style we want, with the most popular being a mummy style bag. We can choose an ultralight sleeping bag, lightweight and choose various materials used that includes the warmer more compact down fill sleeping bag.

Backpacking cook system: The best backpacking stove, cookware and camping food we plan to eat will need to meet the needs for what we wish to pack, and the weight we are willing to carry whilst being efficient. There is a wide range of stoves available that include home made backpack stoves for the gramme counters to the Jetboil cooking system for those that want a rapid boil within 2 minutes. The conditions the camping stove will used in and the fuels suitable will determine a choice here. Backpacking camp food will need to be basic, and weigh as little as possible with the ability to stay fresh. Many will go with a basic food kit and use dried food or oatmeal to get the much needed energy restoration.

Backpack Tents: Our tent is the most important piece of kit we will take backpacking and hiking, so lets choose well. Some want a basic shelter that may just be a tarp shelter, bivouac or camping hammock, whilst others want comfort and room to store gear. Its kind of nice to have a vestibule to store boots and gear for camping, i must admit. Investing in a quality tent is important and will pay long term for your backpacking needs. Its a good idea to buy at the mid range price tag, which is from about $200-$300, that should get a good quality camping tent.

Essential backpacking items: The listed backpacking camping gear items above are essential and necessary. We just have to choose from what suits our backpacking needs the best. Essential items for hiking will include a camping first aid kit, map and compass, GPS for hiking and a fire lighter. The best way to determine what essential items to take is by preparing a backpacking list to check of the essential backpacking items needed and eliminate those that are not, based on the conditions and place we will be going.

Note: The backpacking camping gear we decide to take will depend on the weather conditions we will face, our budget and weight allowance. However, investing in the best backpacking gear your money can buy is highly recommended, but research, research, and research.

About the Author:

Jason J, has a wealth of camping, backpacking and hiking experience he shares on his website Smart Camping Guide that includes camping gear advice for hiking and Backpacking Camping Gear information and tips.

Inside Information On The Cheapest Times Of The Year To Travel

By Adriana Noton

During these tough economic times, many people have had find ways to cut down on the activities that give them the greatest pleasure. For many people, traveling is one activity that can often seem like a leisure endeavor which is too expensive to pursue. However, the good news is that traveling does not have to be expensive when you have a bit of travel inside information. In recent years, there have been many inside information secrets revealed that have shown that with a little knowledge, anyone can travel and stay within their budget. Knowing the cheapest times of year to travel is one of those little travel secrets.

Traveling during high season is the most expensive time to travel. Travelers will end up paying the highest price for their vacations. Not only are flights more expensive, beaches are more overcrowded, lines for attractions and activities are longer, and tropical destinations are uncomfortably hot. Tickets purchased during the low season, will be the cheapest. The weather will be more temperate, there will be fewer crowds, and hotel and resorts will be much less expensive. This season is referred to as the 'shoulder season.'

The shoulder season is the time of the year that falls at the beginning and end of the high season. During the shoulder season, flights, accommodations, and vacation packages, are greatly discounted. As well, the weather is still beautiful. An important tip to choosing the best time during the shoulder season to travel is to make sure that you pick the time that is closest to the high season. As well, avoid holidays which includes school holidays, and the other 'understandably busy' times to travel. The result will be substantial savings.

There are other important points to remember when selecting a vacation time during the shoulder season. For instance, ski resort destinations will usually open near the end of November, but people do not usually begin to take their ski vacations until the week of Christmas. You will save a lot of money if you take your ski vacation early in November or in mid-December. As well, the slopes will be much less crowded, the waiting period to get a lift will be shorter, and lift passes and equipment rentals will be cheaper. As well, late March or the beginning of April is the best time to save on a ski vacation. If the Mediterranean is your vacation choice, choosing late September or early October will save you money. Whatever destination you choose, make sure you check the weather conditions to make sure you do not vacation during tumultuous weather times such as hurricane season.

Traveling to fun and exciting destinations and exotic hot spots is a popular way to relax and forget about life's stresses for a little while. There are many cheap travel sites online that will help you find a flight and offer great prices during the shoulder and off travel season. By knowing a few of the travel insider tips on the cheapest times to travel, you be able to have a fun and memorable vacation that will not break your budget.

About the Author:

Looking for information on airports, flights and flying? Cheapflights' easy-to-use online services will help you find last minute flights and cheap airline tickets to just about anywhere including flights to London and cheap flights to New York.

River Thames Sightseeing Cruise and London Eye

If you want to leave the tube to the stressed-out commuters for a more relaxing way of travelling around London, enjoying the sights on a river cruiser along the Thames. Board your city cruiser and head down the river to Greenwich.

The cruise gives you a real insight into the layers of history that have built up along the river, an amazing mixture of old and new, with great views of the Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern, St Paul's and many more London landmarks.

Any time you want, you can hop off the boat at any one of four piers, explore and then hop back on later. You can then make your way to the London Eye where you may have to queue a bit, but it'll certainly be worth it when you climb aboard your (air-conditioned) capsule. The Eye slowly turns, giving you sensational panoramic views across London from 135 metres up. Whether you're new to the capital or a born and bred Londoner, this is a fantastic way to enjoy the sights from two unique perspectives

Check out the promtional video below and we have added some Key info too

Key Info

Availability:
Operates every day of the year except Christmas Day. The London Eye is closed on Christmas Day and for annual maintenance between 10 - 21 January. The London Eye opening times April - September are 10am - 9pm daily and October - March from 10am - 8pm daily.

Participant Guidelines:
Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult. We are pleased to advise that the sightseeing boats and London Eye offer full wheelchair access.

Duration:
From Westminster Pier, the earliest departure is at 10am with others throughout the day (you are free to hop on or off the cruiser during any of the many stops). Your flight on the London Eye lasts 30 minutes and can be taken anytime during the day.

Numbers On Day:
The river cruiser carries a maximum of 250 passengers.
Spectators: Spectators are welcome to wave you off from the river bank

If your visiting London soon, we highly reccomend The River Thames Sightseeing Cruise and London Eye Tour as one of your leisure activities. Visit the link today for nore details!

Get The Best Leisure Discounts In Your City With MyCityDeal

Before you go heading off on your next leisure break, think about heading over to MyCityDeal before you go. MyCityDeal runs an innovative service that benefits businesses and consumers alike - by promising a minimum amount of customers for each deal the site can offer exclusive deals to the public with what it calls "collective buying power".

Deals range in scope and content from day to day and from city to city: Thos heading off to Newcastle may take advantage of "£10 instead of £25 for 5 express exercise classes, experiencing Hollywoods latest fitness craze at The Barre - Saving 60%" on one day while Liverpool-based users get to satisfy their caffeine cravings with a "£1 for a Costa Card worth £5". Deals do not need to be used on the day of purchase and most have an expiry date of a week or longer; however, with each offer running on the site from midnight to midnight, it's a system that keeps money-conscious punters on their toes.

For more information on MyCityDeal or to find out what deal is available in your city today please click on the link below.

MyCityDeal

Leisure could be one of UK's fastest growing industries in the next 10 years!

Recently mentioned in the Daily Telegraph, Leisure business leaders have urged the Government to back Britain's £115bn tourist industry with tax breaks and fresh investment in recognition of the role it can play in kick-starting the economy.

New research by accountants Deloitte shows that tourism could be one of Britain's fastest growing industries over the next decade, with the visitor economy expected to account for 2.9m UK jobs by 2020, up 250,000 on today. Tourism's gross value added contribution – a measure of its economic impact – is expected to rise by 3.5pc a year. That compares to 2.9pc across the total economy.

Leading leisure companies – such as Premier Inn-owner Whitbread and Merlin Entertainments, which owns Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers and a string of leisure attractions around the world – believe the growth would be faster if there was targeted Government support and a more proactive approach from the Treasury.

Alan Parker, Whitbread chief executive, said he believed ministerial responsibility for tourism was currently in the wrong department, and urged Britain to follow the lead set in continental Europe and cut VAT to boost investment.

"We have been lumped in with sport in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. I think tourism needs to be part of a business department," said Mr Parker, pointing out that tourism was Britain's fifth biggest industry. He said the Treasury had "always been a drag because it regards everything as a cost rather than a benefit". He urged the spending department to take a more enlightened approach to taxation to boost investment in new hotel stock.

"Why is it that every other major economy in Western Europe has been cutting VAT on hotel accommodation, while we are paying 17.5pc and it's probably going up," he said. He cited Germany's cut from 19pc to 7pc and France's reduction from 19.6pc to 5.5pc. In Spain, the rate is 5.5pc.

His arguments were supported by Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin.
"The UK deserves a level playing field for tourism because the current situation puts us at a serious value disadvantage against our international competitors," he said. "Cutting VAT would boost tourism's earning power which, in turn, would allow us to create thousands of new jobs. "If the Government really wants to make a difference in these straightened economic times, our sector has a key role to play. The UK's tourism trade deficit has rocketed from £3.9bn in 1996 to £19.4bn today and is forecast to rise to £25bn by 2020.

"This means that for every five people who travel out from the UK as tourists, only two come back the other way. We believe that the Government's refusal to acknowledge our basic uncompetitive position is the key driver behind the falling tourist rates to this country and yet another example of the lack of political support for this key UK industry."
Mr Parker and Mr Varney were speaking on the eve of British tourism week – an opportunity, according to VisitBritain chairman Christopher Rodrigues, for the country to showcase the industry.

The week will see various celebrations of premier UK attractions, including last night's illumination of Hadrian's Wall – Britain's longest historic monument – where more than a thousand volunteers helped light the 84-mile path stretching from coast to coast.

Mr Rodrigues called for a "relatively modest" £10m increase in VisitBritain's £40m budget, arguing that the Treasury could make back its investment in tourism eight times over via proceeds from air passenger duty (APD) and VAT receipts alone – before even considering the spin-off benefits to other parts of the Economy. He said it cost about £40 to attract a long-haul visitor, but half of that sum came from foreign carriers that matched any promotional spending by the UK Government. "That generates £168 in VAT and APD alone," Mr Rodrigues said. "That's an eight times return on the Government's investment. If you could do a private equity deal and buy in-bound tourism revenue you would do it tomorrow." He said, however, that "last year we could not match foreign carrier desire to spend. We had the best part of £10m that we couldn't match." With the pound weak against the euro and the dollar, the strong interest in visiting Britain is likely to increase.

"In the short term, if you want to pump some adrenaline into the economy, tourism gets a lot of ticks. There is a very clear business case for a modest investment in tourism - say another £10m," Mr Rodrigues said.

However, he admitted:

"We have not yet won the battle with the Treasury. It should be a slam-dunk, but sadly it isn't."

Mr Rodrigues believed this was because "the only time people are interested in tourism is when it isn't there, such as during the foot and mouth crisis. They forget it's a huge industry. But it's sort of invisible and governments take it for granted. Those who get it big time are developing countries, like Mauritius, where tourism accounts for 25pc-30pc of the economy."

The Government, he said, could learn from such nations, particularly in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics. That's because tourism had a "Heineken effect - it refreshes parts of the country other industries do not reach".

The latest Deloitte research shows that one in 12 jobs in the UK is supported by tourism – an industry that is particularly adept at attracting workers of all skill levels, with small businesses accounting for 80pc of the 200,000 companies involved in the visitor economy.

Mr Rodrigues said 30m international tourists currently visit Britain a year, ranking it the sixth most popular destination by visitors – behind France, USA, Spain, China and Italy. International tourists spend £16bn, with tourism Britain's third biggest earner of foreign exchange. "We are an industry almost like the submarine service – run silent, run deep," he said.

"It gives the economic return on the investment a nation makes in it's social and cultural assets. This is how we monetise all of that."