The EV Holiday Hotspot Index, developed by Gridserve, a leading UK EV charging provider, will help EV-driving travellers looking to holiday at UK tourist attractions this year.
New data shows over half (57%) of British families are planning a ‘staycation’ this year, embarking on journeys averaging 100-200 miles. With around half of the UK’s tourist attractions unreachable by public transport, the vast majority of holidaymakers will be travelling by car. With just one in 10 of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions currently offering on-site EV charging, the EV Holiday Hotspot Index provides an easy-to-use ranking of the top 10 UK tourist attractions that have convenient and reliable charging infrastructure nearby for EV owners, giving them the confidence to enjoy and explore.
To create the Index, Gridserve analysed the most popular tourist attractions across the country and calculated an overall score out of 100, based on the proximity to a Gridserve Electric Super Hub or Electric Forecourt. It also considered the number of DC connectors available per visitor, the number of AC chargers per visitor - that support longer dwell charging at stops such as supermarkets and shopping centres - plus the availability of EV charging at nearby hotels, B&Bs, caravan parks and other accommodation.
An overall top 10 list of EV-friendly tourist attractions was created, as well as a top five list for each region of the UK, providing an ‘at-a-glance’ overview of the best destinations in each of 11 regions throughout the UK. Gridserve plans to release an updated EV Holiday Hotspot Index biannually to keep drivers updated on the best places to staycation in an EV every year.
The UK’s top EV-friendly tourist attractions are:
1. Beamish, the Living Museum of the North – This immersive museum tells the story of life in the North East during the 19th and early 20th century.
2. Midlands Arts Centre – This pioneering arts complex in Birmingham hosts theatre, dance, music and comedy performances.
3. Durham Cathedral – This Norman cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a key filming location for the Harry Potter films.
4. Hampton Court Palace – Famously home to Henry VIII, this palace is a Grade I-listed building near Kingston-upon-Thames.
5. Eden Project – This botanical garden and tourist attraction in Cornwall uses huge glass domes to house different ecosystems, showcasing the interactions between plants and animals.
6. National Railway Museum – This museum located in York tells the story of the development of rail transport in Britain.
7. Pugneys Country Park – A large wildlife park located in West Yorkshire including activities like a light railway, a castle, and two lakes.
8. Millennium Gallery – This art gallery is Sheffield's top destination for arts and design.
9. The Bodleian Library – This impressive hub of knowledge in Oxford is one of the oldest libraries in Europe.
10. Stonehenge – A prehistoric monument made up of a ring of iconic standing stones in Salisbury.
