Hobbies 'cost Britons £300 a year'

Britons spend an average of nearly £300 a year on sports and active hobbies, a survey has shown.

The average person spends £280 a year taking exercise, with activities ranging from walking, which is free, to sky-diving, which costs around £4,000 a year, according to Yorkshire Bank.

Among the more popular sports, golf is the most expensive, with people shelling out around £755 on club membership and equipment.

Going to the gym is the second most costly form of exercise, with people facing an annual bill of £480 on membership fees or buying equipment to use at home, followed by tennis and badminton at £365 and £330 respectively.

Swimmers spend around £176 a year pursuing their sport, while going fishing costs £148 and playing football sets people back by an average of £88.95.

Gary Lumby, Yorkshire Bank's head of retail, said: "As the credit crunch bites, many of us are looking at how we can cut costs, but are reluctant to give up our favourite pastimes.

"Barely a week passes without another report that Brits are some of the most stressed workers in Europe - hobbies are a vital way of escaping these stresses and form an important part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle."

Share this article

Send this article to a friend »

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

What are these?