With the credit crunch really affecting the pound in everyone's pocket, and predictions of a full-blown recession only months away, people throughout the region are turning to the past as a solution to low-cost days out - or more specifically, to English Heritage!
The British Lifestyles Study has shown that 20% of people cut holidays as one of the first ways of reducing their household expenditure - particularly in the face of a strong Euro and extra fuel duties hitting long-haul travellers. One consequence of this is an increase in people looking for holidays and days out closer to home. And this, according to English Heritage's marketing manager for the West, Lucy Dhiman, is leading to more and more people buying memberships of organisations like English Heritage to take advantage of cheap days out closer to home.
"When we look at our sites like Stokesay Castle, we've found this year that the majority of memberships we are selling are to those living within an hour's drive of the site, which suggests that people are looking at places on their own doorstep before heading further afield," says Lucy. "People are starting to take an interest in their carbon footprint, and this, combined with high fuel costs, is actually encouraging people to stay closer to home when planning days out - and not even the appalling British summer weather will stop them!"
Indeed, many people seem to be preparing for a rough year ahead. Over the last month, membership sales at Stokesay Castle are up thanks to a 15-month for the price of 12 offer, which means that people can effectively prepay for their days out right through to Summer 2009, whilst they still have a few leisure pounds to spend.
"The 'Martin-Lewis effect' means that people are now more savvy at planning their expenditure, right down to their leisure spend and looking at longer-term value when organising days out" adds Lucy. "When they are shopping around, they see that it costs £55 for a family to get into Warwick Castle, or £118 for a family day out at Alton Towers, but only £73 for a couple's annual membership of English Heritage, which currently provides 15 months of free entry for two adults and up to six accompanied children over 200 sites, and the largest events programme in the country to provide thrills and spills all year round!"
The '15 month for the price of 12' offer is currently available at all of English Heritage's sites in the West Midlands when visitors sign up with direct debit. Prices start from £30 for a 15-month membership for a senior citizen, or £42 for an adult. Children go free to all English Heritage sites when accompanied by an English Heritage member.
For more details of English Heritage's sites in the West Midlands, please visit http://www.blogger.com/www.english-heritage.org.uk/westmidlands or call 0870 333 1181 for a leaflet.
The British Lifestyles Study has shown that 20% of people cut holidays as one of the first ways of reducing their household expenditure - particularly in the face of a strong Euro and extra fuel duties hitting long-haul travellers. One consequence of this is an increase in people looking for holidays and days out closer to home. And this, according to English Heritage's marketing manager for the West, Lucy Dhiman, is leading to more and more people buying memberships of organisations like English Heritage to take advantage of cheap days out closer to home.
"When we look at our sites like Stokesay Castle, we've found this year that the majority of memberships we are selling are to those living within an hour's drive of the site, which suggests that people are looking at places on their own doorstep before heading further afield," says Lucy. "People are starting to take an interest in their carbon footprint, and this, combined with high fuel costs, is actually encouraging people to stay closer to home when planning days out - and not even the appalling British summer weather will stop them!"
Indeed, many people seem to be preparing for a rough year ahead. Over the last month, membership sales at Stokesay Castle are up thanks to a 15-month for the price of 12 offer, which means that people can effectively prepay for their days out right through to Summer 2009, whilst they still have a few leisure pounds to spend.
"The 'Martin-Lewis effect' means that people are now more savvy at planning their expenditure, right down to their leisure spend and looking at longer-term value when organising days out" adds Lucy. "When they are shopping around, they see that it costs £55 for a family to get into Warwick Castle, or £118 for a family day out at Alton Towers, but only £73 for a couple's annual membership of English Heritage, which currently provides 15 months of free entry for two adults and up to six accompanied children over 200 sites, and the largest events programme in the country to provide thrills and spills all year round!"
The '15 month for the price of 12' offer is currently available at all of English Heritage's sites in the West Midlands when visitors sign up with direct debit. Prices start from £30 for a 15-month membership for a senior citizen, or £42 for an adult. Children go free to all English Heritage sites when accompanied by an English Heritage member.
For more details of English Heritage's sites in the West Midlands, please visit http://www.blogger.com/www.english-heritage.org.uk/westmidlands or call 0870 333 1181 for a leaflet.
Source: Shropshire Tourism
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