Visitors flock to Barnard Castle and other historic sites in England

Mayor says Dominic Cummings’ trip put town on the map as English Heritage reports ‘stay at home’ boom

The crumbling medieval fortress at Barnard Castle had a record number of visitors last year after gaining notoriety as the destination of Dominic Cummings on a lockdown mission to test his eyesight.

Visitors to the 12th-century castle on the north bank of the River Tees were up by almost 20% in 2021 compared with 2019, according to English Heritage, the charity that manages more than 400 historic buildings and monuments.