Visits to the outdoors (national indicator)

There has been a long term increase in weekly visits to the outdoors.

Figure 3: Percentage of public visiting the outdoors at least weekly, 2012 to 2023.

The percentage of adults visiting the outdoors at least weekly increased from 42% in 2012 to 70% in 2022, with a noticeable difference before and after COVID (56% in 2019 jumping to 70% in 2022). There was a slight decrease in this figure between 2022 and 2023 (from 70% to 68%), but visits to the outdoors in 2023 are still markedly higher than pre-COVID-19.

Weekly visits to the outdoors are most likely for 35 to 44 year olds and least likely for over those over 75.

Figure 4: Percentage of adults visiting the outdoors at least weekly, range by selected characteristics, 2023.

Figure 4 shows the range in the percentage of adults visiting the outdoors at least weekly in 2023, according to differences in selected characteristics. Self-reported health, age and deprivation show the most variation with those in very bad or bad health the least likely to visit the outdoors. Responses for males and females were broadly the same.