ATS Case Studies: The D-Day Story, Titanic Belfast, Ely Cathedral, Christ Church, Canterbury Cathedral, Bletchley Park, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, Broadway Tower

The latest figures from the Spending and Saving Report predict that UK consumers will have spent nearly £1bn more on days out in 2024 than in 2023, an increase of 6.4%*.

Instead of spending money on ‘things’, those who have a limited budget have been spending what disposable income they do have on ‘experiences’, which arguably provides better value and allows for socialising and spending time with friends, family, and in particular children, who consumers are less willing to cut spending on.

This upwards trend is set to continue over the next twelve months and by providing a family-friendly offering you can tap into this staycation spend and make sure your visitor attraction is getting its share.

How do you make your site fun and engaging so that its somewhere families want to visit and keep returning to, as well as making sure they leave good reviews which in turn attracts more families?

One answer is to create a tailored digital offering that provides an experience that a family can all enjoy together.

Getting Started

By working closely with you during the planning stage, the team at ATS not only get to know the story you want to tell, but also can determine the most effective way to tell it. We understand that digital content is there to enhance, not replace, your existing experience!

We love receiving a brief for a family tour. It’s our chance to unleash our inner child and have fun incorporating characters, props and even theatrical performances to make sure the visitor experience is entertaining and memorable. Take a look here for more examples of our work – roll VT!

4 questions you and your team should consider:

1. How did your venue fare this summer from a family perspective?
2. How did your younger visitors interact with your attraction?
3. Where there any bottlenecks or parts that were overlooked?
4. Have you reviewed any feedback you have received online or in person?

Using this information, our in-house team of experts can work with you to create a unique, family multimedia guide to be ready for launch as early as 2025 season.

So how can digital interpretation help to engage this particular audience? 

Bringing the Experience to Life:  

• For some venues this can include hands-on exhibits or role-plays and re-enactments but for others, resources such as space, staff and time might be limited.  
• Content can take many forms; the most important thing is to identify what works for your audience and your site.  
• We love tech, but it is never our starting point. Whether it’s your venue or your collection that is the star of the show we can help you decide if bite-size content, to focus on specific elements, or a continuous storyline that weaves its way through your site space would be the most effective narrative. 

 Igniting Their Spark:

• In an age dominated by technology, heritage sites and attractions are continually exploring innovative ways to engage their visitors, especially children. One such opportunity is providing multimedia guides designed specifically for families to explore together, combining education with entertainment. 
• Unlike guidebooks or signage, multimedia guides can incorporate both visual and auditory elements presenting stories in a dynamic and interactive way that makes the experience more enjoyable and memorable.  

Great Storytelling

Who’s best to guide the families on their tour? Character led tours (real or imaginary, filmed or animated) can add a real sense of fun. Maybe Wren Dorothy Thompson at Bletchley Park, Molly a steam punk character at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life or even Brian the Lion at Westminster Abbey will give you some inspiration!  

• Layered with sound effects, music or even interviews with experts, we can help you explore a variety of unique ways to bring your story to life. Visitors of all ages appreciate when you surprise and delight them. Taking them beyond what they might expect will give them an experience to remember.  

Varying the Content Style to Accommodate Different Learning Styles: 

• Children absorb information in a different way to adults and there are three key learning approaches that have been identified: visual learners, auditory learners and kinaesthetic or tactile learners.  Visual learners can benefit from images, diagrams and videos, while auditory learners take in more by listening to audio descriptions and explanations. Kinaesthetic or tactile learners prefer to engage in hands-on activities and interactive games.   
• By incorporating multiple styles of interaction, such as quizzes, games and puzzles, family multimedia guides can be designed to accommodate these varying needs, ensuring that children of all ages can engage with the content in a way that resonates with them.  
• Regardless of which style you use it is important that the storytelling is engaging and can capture the child's attention and stimulate their imagination. Ask yourself, what is the one thing you want a child to remember after their visit? 

Senior Producer, Sian DeWied, gives her top five reasons why you should invest in digital interpretation for families:

1. Providing a way to bring the experience to life and making it more memorable will encourage repeat visits.
2. Satisfied families are likely to leave positive reviews and share their experiences on social media. This can lead to increased publicity and visibility for the attraction, further driving visitor interest.
3. By engaging the children, families will get the most out of your venue, representing better value for money for them and potentially leading to increased revenue from gift shops sales and food outlets purchases.
4. Attractions that offer family tours can cater to a wide range of ages, from young children to grandparents. This inclusivity can make the attraction more appealing to a broader, multi-generational audience, potentially increasing visitor numbers.
5. By advertising your family tour offering on your website and social media platforms you can differentiate yourself from the competition, guaranteeing you get your share of the staycation spend.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to create a memorable experience for families. Contact us today to discuss how ATS can bring your story to life for your younger visitors.

* 2024 Spending and Saving Report