A History of British Tourism
Dr Peter Robinson
- Region:
- Anywhere
- Notice Period:
- Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £150 plus travel expenses at 50p/mile for a journey of more than 10 miles.
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 11th July 2026
- Tagged:
- British Tourism | British Seaside Holidays | Staycation | Holiday
Tourism has transformed Britain more than almost any other industry. It has shaped our towns and coastlines, influenced transport, created employment, and changed the way we spend our leisure time. Yet holidays, day trips and sightseeing are relatively recent inventions.
This lively and engaging talk traces the extraordinary story of British tourism from its earliest beginnings to the present day. Beginning with spa towns and fashionable resorts, we discover how the railways opened the countryside and seaside to millions of ordinary people before exploring the development of holiday camps, package tours, heritage attractions and the modern visitor economy.
Along the way we encounter entrepreneurs, innovators and eccentric characters whose ideas transformed the way Britain travels.
Based upon Peter's book, A History of British Tourism, this talk combines academic research with entertaining stories, historic photographs and surprising facts that explain why tourism became such an important part of British life.
Views: 10 | Enquiries: 0About Dr Peter Robinson
Peter is Head of Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University. Peter’s expertise covers visitor attractions, transport operations, heritage, visitor experience, tourism landscapes, urban and rural regeneration and placemaking, business development and Cold War tourism. In 2021 Peter was Awarded the Victor Middleton Prize for Education and Scholarship by the Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE).
He is also an award-winning author and has published both academic books and peer-reviewed journals, as well as books covering a range of transport, tourism and landscape histories. He is also a features writer for a number of publications and has appeared on several television and radio programmes discussing the travel and tourism industry. Peter has been involved with policy work with DCMS, the Department for Education, the Department for Transport and VisitBritain. Peter owns a consultancy business that delivers work for organisations across multiple industry sectors worldwide. He has owned businesses in photography, travel, ICT, waste management, and publishing, and owns a toy and collectables retailer - Midland Models.
Peter is a Fellow of the Tourism Management Institute and the Yorkshire and Humber representative, a Fellow of the Tourism Society, a Fellow of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is Co-Chair of The Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE), a Director of The Institute of Travel and Tourism and he represents ATHE on the Tourism Society Board. He is Chair of the Tourism Consultants Network and is also part of the ABTA Working Group on skills and qualifications. Peter is regularly invited to speak at conferences about education policy, placemaking and heritage management. He is Chair and Founding Director of The Cold War network, Chair of The Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust and a Trustee for the 131st Derby Scouts.
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