The Americans are coming! Record number of US tourists exploring UK by train this year

American tourists are booking rail tickets to explore the UK in record numbers this summer, according to new figures released today by Trainline, Europe’s leading train and coach app. Sales of UK rail tickets to US-based customers in June are up 16% on the same period in 2019, the last year before the impact of Covid travel restrictions.

Windsor is one example of strong growth, as Americans continue their love affair with the British Royal family. Sales of train tickets to Windsor are up 8% compared to 2019, as Americans flock to see the Queen’s primary residence at Windsor Castle in her Jubilee year.

Amid increasing signs that American tourists are ready to explore beyond London, there is also good news for some of the country’s most-treasured tourist hotspots outside the capital. Quintessentially-British cities including Edinburgh, Cambridge, Oxford and York all among the Top 10 most-popular destinations. The cultural hubs of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds also feature in the Top 10, as American visitors travel further afield to explore British culture.

Mike Hyde, Chief Data Officer for Trainline, comments: “Tourist destinations across the country should be preparing for an influx of American visitors this summer. Not only is there pent-up demand from the end of Covid travel restrictions, but our US guests are also showing a desire to travel sustainably as more explore the country by train than ever before. This is a great opportunity for the benefits of tourism to be spread across the UK.”

Currently, the 10 most popular UK rail destinations for US-based travellers, as sold by Trainline, are:

Across Europe the trend continues, with US-inbound ticket sales for 2022 via Trainline up by more than 50%.