With the partial eclipse taking place on Wednesday evening, large crowds are expected to gather in many areas in the South West and Channel Islands. In Devon and Cornwall, the entire event is set to last about one hour and 50 minutes, starting at about 18:20 BST and finishing by 20:10. Tourism leaders say they have not seen "a significant surge" in tourism or last-minute hotel bookings triggered by the eclipse but people attracted by the spectacle may have secured accommodation in advance. Sarah Gibson, chief executive of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership said the combination of the eclipse and the British Fireworks Championships in the city was sure to boost footfall in the city.