Car-free Cotswolds
Background
One of the greatest contributors to carbon emissions in the visitor economy is the use of cars by visitors to travel to and around the area. Car-free tourism is still a relatively new concept in the UK, but it is growing fast – alongside the rise in cycling, walking and slow travel – and destinations like the Lake District and the Alpine Pearls are leading the way. 24% of households in the UK don’t have a car, and the percentage is higher in key markets for the Cotswolds, like Oxford & London, where residents choose not to have a car. The area has good rail and bus connections to London, Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol and other large cities, which are currently underutilised by visitors.
Project aim and delivery
This project aims to work with businesses to develop their offer around sustainable travel and influencing visitor behaviour, as well as enhance the overall communication and information for visitors to the Cotswolds by Cotswolds Tourism. The project meets aims set out in the Cotswolds Plus Local Visitor Economy Partnership Sustainable Business Practices and Sustainable Transport & Active Travel action plans.
Business support with Good Journey
We have teamed up with Good Journey, the UK experts in car-free leisure travel. They support destinations to grow car-free tourism and work with visitor attractions and organisations like the National Trust and RHS to get more people visiting by train, bus, bike and foot – making the journey part of the experience.
Car-free Cotswolds Campaign
Alongside our business support work we will be running an ongoing Car-free Cotswolds campaign across our marketing channels, including cotswolds.com, socials and newsletters, as well as working with key partners, such as travel companies to amplify our messaging. New car-free photography and films are being created, as well as a series of adventures from towns and villages with train stations (or nearby).
Get Involved - 20 FREE Good Journey Memberships Available
There are 20 FREE Good Journey memberships available for businesses based in the Cotswold District and West Oxfordshire District, thanks to funding from Cotswold and West Oxfordshire District Councils UKSPF funding. Businesses will get:
- A listings page on the Good Journey website for two years (until March 2027)
- Member toolkit with ideas for welcoming car-free visitors
- A comms pack full of marketing tips and resources
- Access to a car-free travel audit tool, with simple actions and ideas tailored to your business
- Opportunities to join member-only webinars
- A one-to-one support call from Good Journey
- Enhanced promotion in the car-free content within the Eco-Friendly Cotswolds section of cotswolds.com
- Inclusion in focused car-free marketing by Cotswolds Tourism.
To be considered for one of the 20 limited spaces we ask for a commitment from you to offer a reward to car-free visitors. Apply for a place today. The application deadline has been extended to Monday 16 June.
Not in either of these districts? We are working with Good Journey to create resources all businesses can use to improve their sustainable travel offer and will share these as soon as they are ready.
If you have any questions about the Car-free Cotswolds project, please email [email protected]