Tourist hot spots are bucking the recession as they report an increase in visitors.

So far this summer, East Riddlesden Hall is one of the best performing National Trust properties in Yorkshire.

And both the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Brontë Parsonage Museum, at Haworth, are recording a rise in tourist figures.

A National Trust spokeswoman said: “All our properties are up on visitors and East Riddlesden Hall is one of our best performing sites in Yorkshire with an increase of 21 per cent on last year. Our feedback from visitors shows they are looking to do things near to home and are making re-visits.”

The increase reflects a similar rise announced by English Heritage, which claims there has been a boost in domestic tourism. The results in Yorkshire correspond with a recent report from the Tourism Society, which identified that the “historic sector is seen as providing good value for money in a recession”.

Andrew McCarthy, director of the Brontë Parsonage Museum, said: “We are significantly up in the first half of this year on last year — 10 per cent in May and June. We have to work a lot harder, especially in the recession, to give good value for money.”

Extra incentives were also being offered by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway to tempt visitors. Spokesman Jim Shipley said: “There has not been a drop — we are holding our own and I’ve noticed a slight increase in the visitors on Sundays.

“More people are staying at home and holidaying locally and coming to local attractions.”