How is leisure changing in the UK? (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography B): Revision Note

Specification links

The notes on this page cover part 1.2.5 of the WJEC Eduqas B specification.

1.2.5 – What are the issues associated with leisure use in urban and rural areas across the UK?

• How urban and rural areas are used for leisure.

• The advantages and disadvantages of leisure use for both local residents and leisure users.

• The impacts of increasing leisure use on rural honeypots.

• Positive and negative impacts of major sporting events on localities.

Use of urban areas for leisure

• Cities offer a wide range of leisure opportunities, from parks and museums to sports arenas and shopping centres

• Leisure helps improve quality of life, but can also create challenges for space, noise, and transport

How urban areas are used for leisure

• Urban areas provide leisure for both residents and tourists because of their size, infrastructure, and accessibility

  • Sports and entertainment

    • Cities host stadiums, concert venues, and arenas that attract large crowds, such as the O2 Arena in London or Manchester’s Etihad Stadium

  • Culture and heritage

    • Museums, art galleries, and theatres provide cultural experiences for both locals and visitors, for example, the Tate Modern in London or Bristol Old Vic

  • Parks and green spaces

    • Urban parks such as Hyde Park or Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park offer outdoor recreation and help improve health and wellbeing

  • Shopping and nightlife

    • City centres provide leisure through retail, restaurants, and entertainment districts, supporting the local economy and creating jobs

Advantages of urban leisure use

• Leisure in cities creates many opportunities for people and businesses

• Generates employment in tourism, hospitality, and events

• Improves health and well-being through sport and culture

• Attracts visitors who spend money and support local regeneration

• Encourages investment in infrastructure such as transport and public spaces

Disadvantages of urban leisure use

• However, large-scale leisure use can bring problems for local residents and the environment

  • Noise, litter, and traffic from major venues or nightlife areas

  • High visitor numbers increase congestion and air pollution

  • Rising property prices near redeveloped leisure zones can force residents out

  • Event crowds can strain local transport and public services

• Example

  • London’s South Bank combines theatres, restaurants, and attractions such as the London Eye, which brings thousands of visitors but also congestion and high prices for locals

Use of rural areas for leisure

• Rural areas are increasingly popular for leisure and tourism because of their scenery, open space, and sense of escape

• Rising visitor numbers bring both benefits and pressures for countryside communities

How rural areas are used for leisure

• Rural leisure activities include walking, cycling, climbing, and sightseeing in National Parks and scenic regions

• Snowdonia, the Lake District, and the Yorkshire Dales attract millions of visitors each year for outdoor recreation

• Coastal areas such as Cornwall and Northumberland are popular for water sports, beaches, and coastal walks

• Rural festivals, farm shops, and glamping sites support leisure for both locals and tourists

Advantages of rural leisure use

• Leisure can bring many benefits to the countryside when managed carefully

• Provides income and jobs for local people through tourism and accommodation

• Helps diversify the rural economy beyond farming

• Encourages investment in roads, broadband, and visitor services

• Supports conservation projects and public appreciation of nature

Disadvantages of rural leisure use

• If visitor numbers become too high, leisure use can harm both the environment and local residents

• Traffic congestion and parking problems on narrow country roads

• Footpath erosion, littering, and damage to habitats

• Noise and overcrowding in once peaceful villages

• Rising house prices due to demand for holiday homes

• Seasonal employment leads to income uncertainty for local workers

Rural honeypots

• Honeypot sites attract so many visitors that their natural beauty and local character can be damaged if not properly managed

• These include environmental damage, increased congestion, and a strain on local resources, as well as job creation, economic benefits, and improved local services

• Negative impacts

  • Environmental 

    • High footfall can lead to footpath erosion and damage to vegetation and ecosystems

    • Increased traffic causes air and noise pollution, and litter is a common problem

    • Tourists may also cause more direct damage, such as trampling crops or disturbing livestock

    • Tourists consume large amounts of resources like food and water, potentially straining local supplies

    • Increased visitor numbers can lead to traffic congestion and parking problems, as visitors often park on verges, blocking access for locals and causing damage

  • Social and economic consequences:

    • Increasing tourism can drive up housing costs, displacing long-term residents and altering the community's character

    • Businesses catering to residents, such as local shops and services, may close as tourist-focused businesses take over

    • Tensions can arise between tourists and locals over issues like noise, access, and lifestyle differences

    • Many jobs created are seasonal and low-paid, and the economic benefits may not stay in the local area 

• Positive impacts

  • Tourism can provide a range of new job opportunities for local residents, especially in areas with declining traditional industries

  • Tourism generates revenue for the local economy through visitor spending, which can be invested back into the community

  • Some revenue can be invested in improving local amenities, public transport, and recreational facilities

  • Increased tourism revenue can sometimes be used to fund the im

Example: The Lake District National Park

• Over 15 million visitors each year, according to the Lake District National Park Authority (2024)

• Paths around Scafell Pike and Windermere show severe erosion

• Traffic congestion in summer causes air pollution and parking shortages

• Second-home ownership pushes house prices above what locals can afford

Positive impacts

• Tourism supports local shops, cafés, and visitor centres

• Entry fees and car park charges fund conservation work

Negative impacts

• Erosion, litter, and noise reduce visitor experience and harm wildlife

• Overcrowding makes traditional villages less enjoyable for residents

Major sporting events

• Hosting large sporting events can transform an area through investment, tourism, and international attention — but the benefits are not always evenly shared

Positive impacts

• Economic:

  • Events attract visitors who spend money on accommodation, food, and souvenirs, leading to direct and indirect economic boosts

  • Short- and long-term job opportunities are created

  • Hosting attracts investment and sponsorship, which can have long-term effects on the economy

  • The event can bring global attention to the host country, which can lead to more foreign investment and tourism

  Social:

  • Promotes a positive image of the host city and country

  • The creation of world-class facilities can encourage more people to engage in sports and physical activity

  • New or improved sports facilities can be used by the local community long after the event finishes

  • Social values like health, education, inclusion, and gender equality can be promoted

  Infrastructural:

  • Hosting events often leads to money being put into and improvements being made to local and national rail and road networks.

  • Building or improving world-class sports venues provides top athletes and the public with access to state-of-the-art facilities

  • Purpose-built hotels or accommodation can be adapted for other uses, like housing

• Example:

  • The London 2012 Olympic Games led to major regeneration in East London, including Stratford and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Negative impacts

• Economic:

  • Hosting events is extremely expensive and can lead to significant debt for the host nation, with costs often exceeding initial plans

  • New stadiums and other venues may end up being underused or abandoned after the event, and the costs of maintenance can be substantial

  • Local businesses may lose money because of the disruption; some may see a drop in sales as their regular customers are forced to go elsewhere

  • Investing in infrastructure may help the economy in the short term, but it's not always clear if it will pay off in the long term

• Social:

  • Building of events can displace residents and increase the number of informal housing

  • A poor performance by the host nation's team can lead to a drop in national morale and pride

  • People may feel angry and left behind because resources and attention are taken away from other cities or services

• Environmental:

  • Increased congestion and pollution during construction and competition

  • Large-scale construction and the event itself can lead to environmental damage, pollution, erosion, and destruction of local ecosystems

• Example:

  • The London 2012 Olympics in East London not only displaced local residents and businesses but also failed to deliver on promised affordable housing and brought social and cultural changes (gentrification) that benefited new arrivals more than the original community