The UK’s summer heatwave through July and August has had a noticeable effect for hotels and attractions with a sizeable boost in tourism, according to Visit England.

Statistics released by Visit England showed that more than half of the country’s accommodation options (55 per cent) and two thirds of visitor attractions (66 per cent) witnessed an increase in visitor numbers from mid-July to the end of August.

“The unexpected heat wave of 2013 has certainly given English tourism a shot in the arm,” with operators and destinations throughout the country reporting soaring figures,” said Visit England’s James Beresford. “What is especially encouraging is that the improvement in visitor numbers has boosted optimism in the industry, with the majority of our business predicting 2013 to be better than 2012.”