Your privacy and our cookie policy
Firstly, let’s get the cookie puns out of the way – you can’t eat these cookies. These types of cookies are small files stored on a computer that are designed to hold modest bits of data. This data is used to track information of your visits to and between sites.
Cookies have been around for years and are very common. You may very well have cookies enabled on this computer now. Don’t panic. Cookies don’t harm your computer and Visit England does not store any personally identifiable data such as credit card details in the cookies that we create. We use the cookies to store encrypted data in order to make your visit to our site run more smoothly.
Our cookies do not store details such as your name, address, telephone number or payment information. The cookies are simply used to record the areas of the site that you visit and for how long. This helps us to determine what makes our website more accessible to users and also to improve the quality of the website. If you would like to block, restrict or delete cookies from VisitEngland.com you can use your browser to do so. Each browser is different, so you may need to refer to the 'Help' section of your browser to find out how to alter your cookie preferences.
We’re telling you all of this because of a recent change to EU Legislation that affects all European websites and we always want to be clear and upfront with you regarding your privacy when you use our site. It’s very important to us that you feel you can trust and rely on us. In addition, we are also developing a number of other cookie and privacy-related improvements to our site.
We are using cookies for the following functionalities:
Some more information about the main cookies used on visitengland.com:
1. Language and Country Preference: We store a language and country selected by the user using the language selector so that when the user visits the site again, we can display the site in his/her preferred language and country. If the user does not select any language or country using the ‘Language Selector’ functionality, the language and country is set in cookies on the basis of geo targeting. The country information set byset in cookies is also used to automatically populate the country field in any forms. This information is set in cookiestored for that session only or for two days.
2. Session ID (JSESSIONID): The visitor’s session ID stored in a cookie is used for ‘Category’ filter in ‘Search’ functionality. It may also be used for setting data in session. This information is set stored in a cookie for that session only.
3. Visitor Name: This is used for user’s history in recommendation module. This information is set stored in a cookie for two days.
These cookies are saved by all the pages as they all share the same layout template.
The following third-party plugins and scripts that set data in cookies are embedded in our site, meaning we are responsible if they are stored without the user’s consent.
1. Google Analytics: Google Analytics cookies are stored as first party cookies. They are stored as our site’s cookies and hence come under this law. The cookies they store are: _utma, _utmb, _utmc and _utmz. We are responsible if they are stored without user’s consent.
2. Unica Net Insight Analytics: Unica Net Insight is another analytics software like Google Analytics. It also sets cookies for tracking purpose.
3. Digital Visitor (adon.visitorreview.org): They provide social media services and sets data in cookie. One of the cookies they store is PHPSESSID which expires at the end of the session. As far as we understand this add-on, this data is stored for maintaining session ID.
4. Add This (addthis.com): It provides sharing APIs for Facebook, Twitter etc to drive social traffic.
5. Bing Map: This provides the interactive map.
Measuring Website Usage
VisitEngland use Google Analytics to collect information about how people use our site. We do this to make sure it’s meeting its users’ needs and to understand how we could do it better.
Google Analytics stores information about what pages you visit, how long you are on the site, how you got here and what you click on. We do not collect or store your personal information (e.g. your name or address) so this information cannot be used to identify who you are. We do not allow Google to use or share our analytics data. See Google's privacy policy for further information.
Google Analytics cookies include: _utma, _utmb, _utmc, _utmv, _utmd,_utmz
• Data stored by cookies:
_utma stores each user’s number of visits, time of the first visit, the previous visit and the current visit
_utmb and _utmc checks how long a visitor stays on the site: when a visit starts and ends
_utmz tracks where a visitor came from (search engine, search keyword, link)
_utmv and _utmd track visitor journeys through the site and classifies them into groups
• Duration of cookies:
_utma expires two years after your last visit to this site
_utmb expires 30 minutes after your visit, or after 30 minutes of inactivity
_utmc expires at the end of a session (when you close your browser)
_utmz expires six months after it was last set
_utmv (not set) expires immediately
_utmd (not set) expires immediately
• Where it is used: all pages of VisitEngland website and VisitEngland blogs
• Impact on user’s experience of the site: none
Youtube and cookies
VisitEngland has a channel on YouTube (VisitEnglandBiz) which is used to host videos on our website. Cookies are used to track visitor views of YouTube videos embedded in our web pages and usage of its services.
YouTube cookies include: GEO, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, use_hitbox, PREF, recently_watched_video_id_list
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Data stored by cookies: unique identifier that allows visitor analysis, data is only used in aggregate.
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Duration of cookie:
GEO expires after seven months
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE expires after seven months
use_hitbox expires at the end of a session (when you close your browser).
PREF expires after 10 years
recently_watched_video_id_list expires after 7 months -
Where it is used: on web pages with embedded You Tube videos.
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Impact on user's experience of the site: none
How to control and delete cookies
We will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by our websites, or indeed any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. The ‘Help’ function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you may wish to visit the About Cookies website, which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your machine as well as more general information about cookies.
Please be aware that restricting cookies may have an impact upon the functionality of our website.
If you wish to view your cookie code, just click on a cookie to open it. You'll see a short string of text and numbers. The numbers are your identification card, which can only be seen by the server that gave you the cookie.
For information on how to do this on the browser of your mobile phone you will need to refer to your handset manual. To opt-out of third-parties collecting any data regarding your interaction on our website, please refer to their websites for further information.
If you want to disable cookies in your browser, you can set your browser accordingly using its menu bar. You should be aware that if cookies aren’t enabled on your computer we are unable to personalise and improve our service to you. offer you a personalised service.
You can find out more about opting out of cookies and safeguarding your online experience by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative website (please note that we are not responsible for the content of external websites).
To disable/ enable cookies
First, if you're not sure of the type and version of web browser (for example, Safari, Opera or Google Chrome) you use to access the Internet, find out by following these instructions:
PCs: click on 'Help' at the top of your browser window and select the 'About' option
Macs: with the browser window open, click on the Apple menu and select the 'About' option
How to check cookies are enabled for PCs
Google Chrome
1. Click on 'Tools' at the top of your browser window and select Options
2. Click the 'Under the Hood' tab, locate the 'Privacy' section, and select the 'Content settings' button
3. Now select 'Allow local data to be set'
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, 7.0, 8.0
1. Click on 'Tools' at the top of your browser window and select 'Internet options' , then click on the 'Privacy' tab
2. Ensure that your Privacy level is set to Medium or below, which will enable cookies in your browser
3. Settings above Medium will disable cookies
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click on 'Tools' at the top of your browser window and select Options
2. Then select the Privacy icon
3. Click on Cookies, then select 'allow sites to set cookies'
Safari
1. Click on the Cog icon at the top of your browser window and select the 'Preferences' option
2. Click on 'Security', check the option that says 'Block third-party and advertising cookies'
3. Click 'Save'
How to check cookies are enabled for Macs
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 on OSX
1. Click on 'Explorer' at the top of your browser window and select 'Preferences' options
2. Scroll down until you see 'Cookies' under Receiving Files
3. Select the 'Never Ask' option
Safari on OSX
1. Click on 'Safari' at the top of your browser window and select the 'Preferences' option
2. Click on 'Security' then 'Accept cookies'
3. Select the 'Only from site you navigate to'
Mozilla and Netscape on OSX
1. Click on 'Mozilla' or 'Netscape' at the top of your browser window and select the 'Preferences' option
2. Scroll down until you see cookies under 'Privacy & Security'
3. Select 'Enable cookies for the originating web site only'
Opera
1. Click on 'Menu' at the top of your browser window and select 'Settings'
2. Then select 'Preferences', select the 'Advanced' tab
3. Then select 'Accept cookies' option
All other browsers
Please consult your documentation or online help files.
Third-party cookies
When you visit VisitEngland websites you may notice some cookies that are not related to VisitEngland. When you visit one of our pages that contains embedded content, for example if you’d like to watch a video hosted on YouTube, you may be sent cookies from these websites. We have no control over the setting of these cookies. If cookies concern you, it’s best you check the third-party websites for more information about their cookies and how to manage them.
Personal data
Personal data (i.e. information which could identify you) submitted to us, for example through online forms, is captured into our database. Primarily, the information provided is used to fulfil any queries and requests that have been sent to us. It is also used for updating you on the latest VisitEngland news and information. This information is confidential and is not passed on to any third party (including other Government departments or agencies) without your consent.
