A QUARTER of tourism spending in England takes place in the North.

This is according to new figures from Transport for the North.

The 25 per cent figure rises to 37 if London is excluded.

The total visitor spend across the North in 2019 is estimated to have been £21.05 billion.

Cumbria ranks second in the UK - behind only Cornwall - when it comes to the proportion of economic output which is attributable to the tourism industry. Neighbouring North Yorkshire is third.

Martin Tugwell, chief executive of Transport for the North, said: “The North has so much to offer - from stunning rural landscapes and incredible coastlines to cultural hotspots and vibrant cities - it’s no wonder that we saw more than 420 million visits in 2019."

Mr Tugwell said the figures painted 'a clear and very exciting' picture of the value of the North's visitor economy.