City residents value entry discounts

A RECORD number of visitors has taken advantage of cut-price entry to some of North Yorkshire’s most prized tourist locations.

The York Residents Festival saw nearly 30,000 visits to attractions when the annual event was held from January 29 to 31.

The figure represented a 48 per cent increase compared the numbers for 2010.

The festival is organised by the tourism partnership, Visit York, for the city’s residents.

Visit York’s chief executive, Gillian Cruddas, said: “We were delighted with the turnout this year.

“The welcome residents give to York’s visitors is vitally important for the tourism economy and this is our way of saying thank you for the very important role residents play.”

New additions to this year’s programme included Penn House, which is now on the market, Castle Howard, York’s Roman Fortress tour and behind the scenes tours of York Minster.

Among the most popular destinations were Castle Howard which recorded 1,750 visitors, and York Minster which saw 4,236 visits to various activities, including trips up the tower and bookmaking workshops.