A list of the five biggest tourist traps in the UK has been revealed, and a popular spot in Edinburgh has taken the top spot.
The Royal Mile in Edinburgh is the biggest tourist trap in the UK, according to research carried out by vacation and short-term rental site Casago. It beat out other popular spots such as the London Eye, Land's End Landmark in Cornwall, and Shambles in York.
A tourist trap refers to a place that attracts many tourists where food, drink, and entertainment are typically more expensive than normal. They are usually located at or near famous landmarks.
The Royal Mile, based in Edinburgh's historic Old Town, is the capital's most iconic street, and runs from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. In 2019, the Edinburgh World Heritage charity warned that the historic road was "losing its local character", with many of its attractions today primarily catering towards visitors.
To rank the biggest tourist traps in the UK, Casago took to TripAdvisor to count the number of reviews that mention the phrase 'tourist trap'. The Royal Mile was found to have 505 mentions, while the London Eye and Covent Garden in second and third place were found to have 334 and 156 mentions respectively.
One visitor took to the travel website to write: "As expected, this is a tourist trap mile trying not to swallow the history where it sits. Take time to identify the "local" shop owners and historical connections."
Meanwhile, a more positive review stated: "An absolute must-do in Edinburgh. A bit of a tourist trap, but it is so quaint and historic, you can forgive the fact that it is replete with tourists and pricey souvenir shops.
"Souvenir shops are so numerous that it feels as if you can pick up just about any momento of your visit to Scotland. If you're lucky enough to be there while the Fringe Festival is going on, there are lots of street performances to watch. Really fun atmosphere."
Casago also shared suggestions on how to avoid tourist traps, including shopping around for discounts and researching the quietest times to go, and avoiding places with long lines, crowded areas and gift shops, and attractions that are popular on Instagram.
The team also recommended steering clear of restaurants with employees outside trying to draw you in, and stated that the best way to have an authentic experience is by going off the beaten track and taking suggestions from locals.
The top five biggest UK tourist traps according to Casago
- Royal Mile, Edinburgh — 505 'tourist trap' mentions
- London Eye, London —334 'tourist trap' mentions
- Covent Garden, London — 156 'tourist trap' mentions
- Land's End Landmark, Cornwall — 140 'tourist trap' mentions
- Shambles, York — 120 'tourist trap' mentions
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