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Recreational activities in the United Kingdom - statistics & facts

Recreational activities can include many industries including arts & culture, gambling, sports events, sports participation, and hobbies (which can then be divided even further into things like gardening, board games, and so on). The tourism and hospitality industries can also be included in this category but will not be covered in this topic page. Consumer spending on recreational and cultural services in the United Kingdom grew by 14 percent in 2021. The previous year saw a sharp drop in consumer spending due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the total consumer expenditure on recreational and cultural services in the UK increased to 44.3 billion British pounds in 2021, this figure remained below pre-pandemic figures.

What are popular cultural attractions in the UK?

The UK boasts a wide variety of cultural attractions for tourists and residents alike. In 2021, Windsor Great Park was the most visited tourist attraction in the UK. That year, the Royal Park in Windsor, managed by the Crown Estate, attracted roughly 5.4 million visitors. Another two outdoor attractions followed in the ranking that year, the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew Gardens) and the Chester Zoo, which recorded nearly two million and 1.6 million visits, respectively. By comparison, the number of admissions to Buckingham Palace in 2021/2022 was 121 thousand. For those who prefer indoor recreation, going to the cinema is a popular alternative. In 2021, the average annual cinema spending per person in the UK was 8.16 British pounds, up from 4.37 pounds the previous year.

How many people participate in sports in the UK?

Recreation is often associated with sporting activities. In 2021, the total sports participation rate in the UK was 60.9 percent throughout the country. When looking at the number of gym and fitness club members in the UK during that same year, 9.57 million Brits had gym memberships. By 2022, the market size of the gym, health & fitness clubs industry in the UK was forecast to reach 1.8 billion British pounds. Not all recreational activities involve strenuous physical activity. Some people prefer more relaxing hobbies such as gardening. In 2020, the estimated total value sales of garden products in the UK was 4.92 billion British pounds and that figure was forecast to increase to 6.66 billion British pounds in 2025.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jan 18, 2024

Key insights

Consumer spending on recreational and cultural services in the UK
56.5bn GBP
Annual turnover of libraries, museums, and other cultural activities in the UK
1.83bn GBP
Annual revenue of the operation of historical sites in the UK
423m GBP
Get more insights

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Annual turnover of leisure, hospitality and recreation enterprises in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2016 to 2021, by sector (in million GBP)

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Average weekly household expenditure on leisure, recreational, and cultural services in the United Kingdom (UK) in financial years 2020 and 2022, by type (in GBP)

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Weekly household spending on leisure and recreation in the UK 2020-2022, by activity

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