London’s tourism industry: State of play

The historic and boisterous city of London has reigned supreme as one of the world’s most decorated hotspots that continues to attract in a mass number of tourists every year

WHEN IT COMES to tourism, London is always considered to be one of the major destinations for patrons around the world to visit throughout the calendar year as the city continues to attract visitors at an astonishing rate.

In 2023, the number of visitors that arrived in the English capital from overseas grew over the 20 million mark which culminated in around 31 million overnight stays and a total tourist expenditure of around 16.7 billion Great British pounds, which further showcases how vital the tourism industry is towards the city’s income and sustainability.

Overall, there is always an overwhelming figure of tourists who continuously visit the city from both around the UK and Ireland as well as a staggering figure from overseas, with the city continuing to cater to the needs and interests of a variety of tourists from varying backgrounds all throughout the calendar year.

What are some of the main tourism draws for London?

Given that London houses a population of around nine million people, which is over 16% of England’s total population and around 13% of the entire United Kingdom, there are many different interests and leisure’s that are established to keep locals and tourists satisfied.

One of London’s most celebrated aspects that has continued to attract visitors is the city’s sporting sector as the capital houses many professional teams and events that are held in renowned venues located throughout the city limits.

These include the numerous football/soccer clubs that are from the area which can range from Premier League giants such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, to smaller clubs in the lower divisions which still garner an incredible amount of support from fans.

London has even been sighted as a likely destination to house a potential franchise that is part of one of the many celebrated US sporting leagues as well as being a hotspot for peak NFL interest for overseas fans.

The NFL has been incorporating numerous regular season games in London for the past decade at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium with tourists now being able to watch their favorite stars in action whilst browsing some of the latest NFL Playoff odds on DraftKings.

Some other notable events include Wimbledon for tennis, Twickenham for rugby and the O2 Arena which can house numerous indoor sporting events as well as arts performances and concerts to name a few.

On top of having many amazing activities and events that are available to attend throughout the year, London is always ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest trends that continue to attract in tourists from around the world, which of course includes the United States.

The city itself also has a very unique culture and history which many tourists always have a bested interest in, with these factors even broiling down to the stereotypical cuisine that many offshore patrons expect that Londoner’s consume on a day-to-day basis.

With many iconic landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral to name a few, London has remained a staple destination of the tourism industry and has been able to retain its status as one of the world’s most captivating cities.

What does the future hold for London tourism?

Following on from the major decline in tourism numbers in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism in London has skyrocketed back to its more familiar figures that are well into the tens of millions.

2023 saw a two million increase in international visitors and this significant figure in total incoming of tourists is only expected to continue to amass during the coming years as London is already set to host numerous major events and exhibitions that will contribute greatly towards the capital’s ever impressive total expenditure of tourist income.

In 2028, the UK and Ireland will host the prestigious European Championship tournament which will feature numerous hosting venues located across the region, with London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium being amongst the chosen venues, with the 90,000 seater Wembley expected to be the selected venue that will host the final.

As for 2025, London always attracts in visitors from around the world with its world renowned New Year’s Eve firework display that is always displayed across the River Thames as well as other major acts that are expected to perform such as the much anticipated return of Oasis with the Gallagher brothers highlighting Wembley as one of their many destinations for their Oasis Live ’25 tour.

Overall, London is viewed by many as a sprawling metropolis that houses some truly exemplary landmarks, interesting history and of course plenty of exciting events that are always readily available throughout the year, which certainly explains why London has remained a marquee destination that should be added to any bucket list of must visit cities.