TORONTO — VisitBritain’s latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show solid growth from Canada with visits up 9% in 2015 compared to 2014, for a total of 708,000. Spending was up 7% to $926 million.

Canadian overnights also increased 11.5% to 6.8 million nights, for an average of $1,308 per visit. The average length of stay was up 2.17% to 9.6 nights. The busiest period of the year for Canadians travelling to Britain is July to September (with 36% of visits), closely followed by April to June (with 30% of visits). The main reasons for Canadians to visit England, Scotland and Wales last year were visits to relatives and friends (41%) and leisure trips (38%).

“These strong numbers show how much Canadians enjoy exploring the culture, heritage, cities and countryside of Britain. Even with the fluctuations in the exchange rate, Canadians see value for money,” said Paul Gauger, Interim Director for the Americas.

Canadians can save on their travel budget with discounts on tours, transportation, attractions and theatre tickets available on the VisitBritain online shop (www.visitbritainship.com), he added, along with free admission to galleries and museums in all the major British cities. “London is a world-class city and a favourite of Canadians, who also know there’s tremendous value to exploring beyond London to other cities and the beautiful countryside.”