To think UK tourist attractions should stay open later in summer?

[PianoThirty]

In the UK, most tourist attractions are closed by 5pm or 6pm, even in the height of summer. AIBU to think they should stay open a lot later?

For comparison, Disneyland Paris is open until 11pm; Port Aventura theme park in Spain is open until midnight! Legoland Billund (Denmark) closes at 8pm in the height of summer, but Legoland Windsor closes at 6pm. Even minor theme parks like Plopsaland in Belgium stay open until 7pm.

This applies to all sorts of tourist attractions: thr British Museum (5:30pm), Windsor Castle (5:15pm), the Tower of London (5:30pm), Alton Towers (6pm), Gulliver’s (5pm), Peppa Pig World (5:30pm), and so on. Honourable mention for Stonehenge which manages to stay open until 8pm.

Why can’t UK places stay open later, so that we don’t have to rush around like headless chickens?

"What gets me is all the tea shops and cafés that close at tea time! "

I couldn't agree more. How many times have I finished work at 4, just wishing I could meet a friend for a coffee or something to eat : dozens of such places in our nearest touristy town but they all shut at 4!

It's been ages since I lived in the UK (I visit at least once a year, though) and I had totally forgotten this. I'm used to coffee shops being open 6 am to 11 pm, and attractions are open 10 am to 11pm. In winter ski slopes stay open for twilight, reduced hours to encourage people to stay (and it's incredibly cold then).

Small places that have just a few staff running them I get, but bigger places should be able to open for longer. You would think that with how much land/rates cost businesses would want to recoup as much as possible - they still have to pay those fees whether they're open or not.

It's probably go force us to come back another day and spend more money!

It is annoying though I agree.

We have a small theme park in Wales, Oakwood that is open "after dark" some evenings a week, I'm not sure if you pay again though or what is open.

Legoland sometimes stays open an hour or 90 mim extra. Staff have to stay and work overtime on minimal notice.