UK's tourist traps catch fewer visitors

Visits to tourist attractions in the UK were down 2% last year, according to a new report.

Just under 401 million visits were made during 1998, compared with 409 million in 1997, says the survey from the English, Scottish, Wales and Northern Ireland tourist boards. Poor weather, the strong pound and the World Cup were blamed for the fall.

Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, regained its place as the UK's most popular attraction that charges for entry, after being overtaken last year by Madame Tussaud's waxworks in London. The amusement park recorded 2.782 million visitors, beating Tussaud's by just 9,500.

Westminster Abbey had an estimated three million visitors, despite introducing an admission charge in March. The Tower of London had more than 2.5 million visitors.

In Scotland, Edinburgh Castle had 1.22 million visitors.