Inbound visits to the UK 2023

In 2023, the number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom totaled 38 million, representing a growth of over 20 percent from the previous year. The figure was projected to reach 38.7 million in 2024.

Has the UK’s tourism industry completely recovered from the coronavirus pandemic?

Like in most countries, the travel restrictions put in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the UK’s tourism industry. Overseas visitor numbers dropped to 7.1 million in 2021, representing a drop of over 80 percent from 2019. While the figure reported for 2023 showed a continued recovery in terms of overseas visitors to the UK, it remained below pre-pandemic levels. However, in terms of spending among the UK’s leading inbound travel markets, most overseas visitors spent more in 2023 than in 2019, with visitors from the UK’s leading inbound travel market, the United States, spending around 50 percent more during their travels than in 2019.

What are the most visited cities in the UK?

Unsurprisingly, London consistently ranked as the most visited town or city in the UK among international tourists in recent years, drawing in 20.27 million visitors in 2023. This was around tenfold the number of the second-most visited city, Edinburgh, which received 2.32 million visitors during the same year. As the UK’s capital city, London’s tourist attractions are as varied as the city itself; however, one particularly strong draw for inbound visitors is Royal Family-related tourism. This is evident with the top two most visited paid tourist attractions in England being based in London and either belonging to the Royal Family or being run by a Royal-affiliated charity. Meanwhile, among UK residents, London ranks as the second most popular destination for a summer staycation, with the South West ranking first.

Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 (in millions)

Characteristic	Number of visits in millions
2024¹	38.7
2023	38
2022	31.2
2021	7.1
2020	11.1
2019	40.9
2018	40.3
2017	41.1
2016	39.1
2015	36.8
2014	35.3
2013	33.6
2012	32.2
2011	31.9
2010	30.4
2009	31.1
2008	31.9
2007	32.8
2006	32.7
2005	30
2004	27.8
2003	24.7
2002	24.2

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Release date

May 2024

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2002 to 2023

Method of interview

Face-to-face interview

Supplementary notes

¹ 2024 data has been forecast by Visit Britain as of May 21, 2024, based on various sources, including passenger numbers by mode of transport and figures on flight bookings. Please find here additional information related to the methodology.

Figures from before 2023 were taken from earlier reports.

Estimates based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS). Interviews are conducted with passengers arriving and departing from the country and include visits for all purposes, including for vacation, business, study, visiting friends and family, and other leisure purposes. The annual (non-forecast) results are as reported by the Office for National Statistics.

This statistic is using original data from the Office for National Statistics and includes copyright material from © Crown, licensed under the Open Government License v3.0.

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