To the festival, with a railcard

FROM rock concerts and classical opera to food, drink, arts and literature, Britain has an eclectic festival scene with something to suit every taste. And despite popular belief, festivals aren’t just for the younger generation, with the average age of a festival goer now coming in at 39 years and eight months.

National Railcards* (which provide a third off train travel) has some festival inspiration to help you pick the best of this year’s events.

Parklife Festival, 11th – 12th June

Parklife Festival is an independent music festival in Manchester, attracting audiences of more than 70,000. An eclectic mix of house, club, electronic, and techno music.

Travel: Off-Peak Return from Edinburgh to Manchester with a Disabled Persons Railcard which provides a third off for you and a friend when they travel with you – £98.90 for two adults.

Usual cost: £149.80 

Total saving: £50.90

Glastonbury, 22nd – 26th June

Glastonbury, Somerset, is one of the UK’s biggest and most well-known festivals, attracting 175,000 people each year.

Travel: Off-Peak Return from Oxford to Castle Cary for two people with a Two Together Railcard – £69.30

Usual cost: £105
Total saving: £35.70

Henley Festival, 6th – 10th July

Henley is the perfect destination for older festival goers – a boutique cultural experience celebrating the best of international and UK music, art, food, and comedy at a quintessentially British location.

Travel: Off-Peak Return from Birmingham to Henley-on-Thames with a Senior Railcard – £37.30

Usual cost: £56.50
Total saving: £19.20

Latitude, 14th – 17th July

A festival for the whole family, Latitude offers a plethora of live music, kids' workshops, theatre, art and comedy. This year will see specific zones for children to take part in activities including music, media, technology, wildlife survival skills and even an assault course suspended in the trees.

Travel: Off-Peak Return from Nottingham to Diss for a family of four with a Family & Friends Railcard (two adults and two children) – £115.30

Usual cost: £203.40
Total saving: £88.10

V Festival, 20th – 21st August

With headline acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna and SIA, V Festival is set to be this summer’s hottest live music festival.

Travel: Off-Peak Return from London to Chelmsford with a 16-25 Railcard – £14.60

Usual cost: £22.10
Total saving: £7.50

*Railcards include the 16-25 Railcard, Two Together Railcard, Family & Friends Railcard, Senior Railcard and Disabled Persons Railcard.  

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Music tourism’s contribution to the UK economy: £3.1 billion

TOURISTS attending live concerts and music festivals in Britain generated £3.1 billion in direct and indirect spend to the country’s economy, says the UK Music lobby group.

Its Wish You Were Here 2015 economic study reports that music tourism numbers in the UK increased by 34% between 2011 and 2014, with 9.5 million people travelling to music events in 2014.

It says music tourism has been driving wealth into local economies across the whole of the UK.

‘These past four years have seen a 39% rise in overseas tourists travelling to the UK to attend our #musicevents, each with an average spend of £751 going directly to UK businesses,’ the report states. ‘This increase in music tourism provides a huge boost to employment throughout the country, with 38,238 full time jobs in 2014 sustained by music tourism in the UK. This in itself marks a 57 % increase from the 2012 figure of 24,521.’

The government’s Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, commented: ‘It’s fantastic news that our music industry drew in 9.5 million tourists last year, but it’s no surprise. British music is legendary around the world and continues to go from strength to strength, with UK artists now accounting for one in seven albums sold worldwide.

‘#Festivals such as Glastonbury hold an iconic status on the world music scene and are one of the reasons why international tourism is booming in the UK, drawing in streams of visitors to all parts of the country.’

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61656159@N07/9285706622">IMG_1034</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

How not to rough it at Glasto

WANT to go to this year’s #Glastonbury Festival (June 24-28), but don’t fancy roughing it in a tent and, perhaps, the mud?

As well as self-catering cottages in that part of Somerset, here are five hotels – recommended by LateRooms.com – not too far from Glasto:

Charlton House, Shepton Mallet: A country house hotel, a 20-minute drive from Glastonbury. From £140 a night.

The Bothy at Manor Farm, Glastonbury: The Bothy at Manor Farm is a 10-minute walk from the festival site. From £85 a night.

Beryl, Wells: In the Mendip hills, one mile from Wells, Beryl is set in 13 acres of parkland. From £130 a night.

Red Lion Inn, Babcary: A thatched country pub a 25-minute drive from Glastonbury. From £110 a night.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Glastonbury Festival 2011 by jaswooduk from UK - Glastonbury 2011. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons