About England’s Historic Cities
England’s Historic Cities is a partnership of destination organisations (DMOs) brought together by common product and interests. Its purpose is to share knowledge, benchmark performance, develop evidence, work with partners involved in managing the historic product of England and facilitate joint activity, all with the intention of supporting tourism businesses and maximising the potential of the cities’ visitor economies.
Consortium background
The consortium has existed in different forms for over 20 years and has been known also as Britain’s Heritage Cities. It has been operating in its current form since 1 January 2013 as a common interest group with a set of shared strategic objectives that is engaged in action-learning. Its geographical footprint is England outside Central London and it has 13 members: Bath, Cambridge, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Greenwich, Lancaster, Lincoln, Oxford, Salisbury and Stratford upon Avon and York. The consortium operates under Chatham House Rules.
Destinations
The consortia destinations are some of the most high-profile in England with many enjoying an international reputation for the quality of their heritage and culture. They all have an historic city or town as the prime focus of their offer combined, in most instances, with a large rural hinterland. The value of their combined visitor economies is valued conservatively (Feb 2020) at £7.7bn supporting around 113,000 direct and indirect jobs. Many consortia members operate membership or partnership schemes and through these directly support over 3000 businesses the majority of which are SME and micro in nature.
Objectives
The consortium has six strategic objectives:
- 1. To raise the profile of England’s Historic Cities and their contribution to the economy with wider stakeholders including Government and the private sector.
- 2. To share best practice to help members improve their performance as destination managers and find solutions to common challenges and aspirations including organisational resilience.
- 3. To share and interpret trends and data to the benefit of the organisations and the destinations they represent.
- 4. To provide a coherent voice for England’s Historic Cities in national discussions.
- 5. To work effectively with Visit England and Visit Britain and other strategic partners.
- 6. To provide a platform for working collaboratively.
Membership criteria
1 – Common aim
Member organisations must have as a main aim to maximise economic return to the destination they serve from welcoming visitors whilst managing the associated environmental and social impacts of tourism.
2 – Geographical location
Member destinations must be situated in England and regard VisitEngland as their national tourist body. They should also be located outside Central London.
3 – Visitor numbers
The destinations should receive a minimum of 4 million tourist trips per annum to the destination (the city and its immediate surrounding area), including short breaks and day visits, as measured using an economic impact model recognised by the UK tourism industry e.g. Cambridge/STEAM.
4 – Value of tourism
The destinations should reach a threshold of £200 million per annum spent by visitors, measured using an industry-acknowledged model.
5 – Product compatibility
Members must have a historic city or town as the prime focus/major component of their destination. The destination should have product supporting at least four of the following themes:
- Cathedrals
- Castles
- World Heritage Sites
- A built environment that reflects one or more specific periods of English history
- Architectural ‘must sees’ for national and international visitors originating in a period of English history
- Visitor attractions/assets that animate the relevant period of English History
- Festivals and events that are designed to attract out of area visitors.
6 – Endorsement
The Consortium has been confirmed as a viable and desirable grouping by national tourism organisations and through informal feedback from public-facing and trade-facing agencies involved in tourism. It is anticipated that the inclusion of new partners would be subject to advice from these same agencies.
Governance and management of England’s Historic Cities
England’s Historic Cities is a self-governing and self-managing consortium. Representation at meetings is through the Chief Executives/senior officers of the destination organisation of each city, many of whom have a wider geographical remit.
The group has an independent chair who leads and facilitates meetings. Its vice-chair is drawn from the membership. A senior staff member from the England team within VisitBritain is an observer on the consortium.
Members are expected to actively participate in the work of the group.
The group meets between 3 and 5 times a year.
Contact: Melanie Sensicle, chair
t: 07920 447665 e: melanie@melaniesensicleconsulting.co.uk