These picturesque UK cities want to charge you to visit

LocalTravel
16 Jul 2025 • 7:42 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Bath and Cambridge are urging the government to allow them to introduce visitor levies, commonly known as tourist taxes.
  • The cities have written to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, highlighting the increasing pressure tourism places on local infrastructure and services.
  • They propose a modest visitor levy, similar to those in Wales and Scotland, to support sustainable tourism and benefit both residents and visitors.
  • Leaders of both councils emphasise the need for tools to manage tourism effectively and address its negative impacts on local communities.
  • This initiative follows a growing trend among English destinations, including Brent and Oxford, seeking powers to implement similar visitor charges.

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