Tourists love Yorkshire! County sees England's biggest rise in visitor numbers

Yorkshire had the biggest rise in the number of visitors across the country last year.

Visit England say attractions in the region had a 7 percent increase on 2016.

Leeds City Museum and Kirkstall Abbey were among the most popular free places to go.

Yorkshire also saw the highest increase in local/day trip visitors at 9% on 2016, as well as a 7% spend increase across the county’s paid attractions.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is magnificent news for Yorkshire and confirms the many positive results our members have individually reported over the past 18 months.

"Through events like the Tour de Yorkshire which have showcased the county on a global scale, as well as high profile national marketing campaigns taking Yorkshire across the country, it’s great to see everyone’s hard work paying off and our attractions reaping the benefits.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a diverse range of leading world-class attractions throughout the county to suit all ages and interests, including culture, heritage, activity, science, nature and wildlife. With something for everyone, Yorkshire is a must-visit destination for people all over the world.’’

VisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: “Visitor attractions are an important part of our tourism landscape, driving visitors to discover more of England. It is great to see people are getting out and exploring the huge variety of attractions and places of interest on offer across the country, boosting tourism and distributing the benefits across local economies.”