RESIDENTS ONLY LEAVE THE CAPITAL SIX TIMES A YEAR AT THE WEEKEND – AND EVEN THEN ONLY GO 42 MILES FROM HOME
Weary Londoners fed up with the hustle and bustle of the city may be promising themselves they’ll escape this weekend – but new research reveals that people who live in the capital only manage to go beyond the M25 an average of six times a year.
The findings by train companies show that while Londoners love nothing better than to move around within the city in their leisure time, they rarely travel outside the M25 – with the average city dweller making a weekend trip away just once every two months.
And even when they do get away for the weekend, they only go 42 miles on average, which wouldn’t even get them to the capital’s nearest beach at Southend, Essex – which might explain why nearly half of Londoners (45%) haven’t even been there.
The survey also reveals:
· Camden residents are the least likely to travel outside London at weekends, at just five times a year – while those in Wandsworth are the most likely (eight times)
· People in Haringey travel the furthest, journeying 135 miles when they get away at weekends
· Over half (56%) of the capital admit they should make an effort to get out of London more
· North Londoners get away from the capital more than South Londoners
· The London celebrities people would most like to travel out of London with is Stephen Fry followed closely by Lily Allen…while they would LEAST like to travel away from the capital with Peaches Geldof
· 60% of Londoners say the main reason for getting out of London would be to visit friends and family they haven’t seen in a while
· The main reason for not leaving London is due to cost (45%) and 20% said they simply can’t be bothered
Train companies, in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL), are running a special promotion to encourage Londoners to explore Great Britain this summer by offering Oyster card holders huge savings on Off-Peak rail fares to over 500 selected destinations in the South East and beyond, from 26th June – 25th July inclusive.
Cardholders simply need to download their chosen voucher offer at www.daysoutguide.co.uk/oyster and present it at a London mainline station ticket office along with an Oyster card to enjoy a trip out of London – including destinations such as Brighton, Chichester and Southend-on-Sea all for just £5 Off-Peak return (or £10 First Class).
David Mapp, Commercial Director at the Association of Train Operating Companies, on behalf of National Rail, said: “Londoners are great at planning busy lifestyles – but occasionally forget the simple things, like getting away from it all for the weekend.
“Train companies understand that while the country might technically be out of recession, many people are still feeling the pinch.
“We hope that this promotion helps people to get out and about to enjoy Britain’s many wonderful destinations this summer, perhaps with rather more spending money in their pockets.”
Kulveer Ranger, transport adviser to the Mayor of London, said: “Now that Oyster is available on both TfL and National Rail services, all that Londoners need to do to take advantage of this fantastic offer is to download a voucher from the website, travel to the relevant mainline terminal using Oyster to get their discounted ticket from the ticket office and hop on the train.”
The research into city dwellers’ leisure travel habits also identified different types of ‘London tribes’, depending on what they do and where they go at weekends:
1. Commoners: These are outdoor types such as ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, who likes to visit London parks for picnics, playing sport, walking and general fresh air – and are the most likely to leave the city to get away from their stressful jobs.
2. Perkies: 20-30-somethings like Daisy Lowe, in a tight social clique with whom they spend all their leisure time – like a constant episode of TV classic ‘Friends’ (‘Perkies’ are named after ‘Central Perk’, the meeting place coffee shop in their favourite sitcom).
3. Pubwallers : Like fun-loving Johnny Vaughn, Pubwallers are those who spend most of their time propping up the bar, watching the match and putting the world to rights.
4. Westies: Bargain hunters such as fashion conscious TV favourite Fearne Cotton, whose urge to shop is stronger than any addiction; they spend their days combing Oxford Street and Westfield for an outfit to wear that evening.
5. Sohoistas: Fashionable types who like to spend their days in Soho coffee shops and restaurants watching the world go by, such as London’s very own Jude Law.
6. Twitterati : Media types whose lives depend on tweeting every action of the day, no matter where they are or what they are doing, much like celebrity DJ, Chris Moyles
According to the research, Sohistas are the least likely to leave London at the weekend with an average of just five times a year and nearly two thirds (63%) of the Twitterati London tribe admit that they should get out of the capital more. The London celebrity that Pubwellers would most like to get out of the capital with is Lily Allen – while Perkies would prefer to be accompanied by Stephen Fry and Westies would much rather hop on a train out of the city with Prince William.