A famous Edinburgh landmark has just been dubbed the biggest 'tourist trap' in the UK.
A study by holiday specialists and short-term rentals site Casago revealed the places that attract many tourists and where food, drink, and entertainment are typically more expensive than normal.
And when it comes to the UK, there was a clear winner – and it was Edinburgh's Royal Mile which takes the crown.
It beat out other popular spots such as the London Eye, Land's End Landmark in Cornwall, and Shambles in York.
The Royal Mile, 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.
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To find the top 5 in the UK, the team at Casago took to TripAdvisor to count the number of reviews that mention the phrase 'tourist trap'.
The Royal Mile was found to be way out in front with 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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