LONDON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Almost 7 million people in Britain are planning a mini-break this weekend to mark the country's last public holiday of the summer, VisitEngland said Wednesday.
The national tourism agency said a survey had shown millions of families were planning an overnight trip somewhere in Britain during the three-day August Bank Holiday period, bringing almost 2.2 million U.S. dollars for the British economy.
And as it is the last holiday weekend before the approaching fall and winter, thousands will go crazy by heading to two world-beating events that are not for the fainthearted.
Inflatable castles are normally a fun experience for the kids, but on Friday the world's largest inflatable obstacle course opens at London's Alexandra Palace. The organisers describe the 272-meter-long Beast as the ultimate "bouncy castle" experience for grown-ups. The extreme fun continues until Monday.
In northern England what has been listed in the top 10 of the world's weirdest sports takes place in the small town of Rossendale. Participants in the World Gravy Wrestling Championships are guaranteed to get all messy as they go head to head in a giant "gravy bowl" on Monday.
Contestants have to wrestle in the gravy for 2 minutes, raising money for charity, and firefighters from the local fire station will be there to hose down contestants after their sticky bouts of combat.
"It's without doubt one of the world's craziest culinary competitions," said a spokesman for the organisers.
VisitEngland said the numbers of fun-seekers this weekend is almost 2 million higher than the same period last year when 5.1 million people took a mini-break. Statistics show British people are taking about four million more short-breaks in England than they did a decade ago.
Tourism Minister John Glen said: "Tourism is a key economic driver and job creator, and we want every part of the UK to benefit. It is fantastic that so many people are planning a holiday at home this weekend, generating a boost to the economy."
