Tourism in London

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London is one of the world's leading destinations for tourists, and the city is home to an array of famous tourist attractions.

Contents 1 Economics of tourism in London 2 Tourist attractions 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Economics of tourism in London

According to the London Development Agency, visitors to London spend around £15bn each year.^[1] The Government Office for London states that tourism revenues constitute 10 per cent of London’s Gross Value Added and contributes to the employment of up to 13 per cent of London’s workforce. ^[2]

[edit] Tourist attractions

Although the majority of London's tourist attractions are located in Central London, others can also be found outside the city centre. The City of London is home to St Paul's Cathedral, with the Tower of London and Tower Bridge just outside its official boundary. The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace bring visitors to the City of Westminster to the west, which also counts many of London's top museums and galleries amongst its attractions, including the British Museum, the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the Tate Britain, London Zoo and Madame Tussaud's. Royal attractions are always popular — as well as the various palaces, Horse Guards Parade is a ceremonial photo opportunity, whilst nearby Downing Street is home to the Prime Minister.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea further to the west includes the museum district of South Kensington (home to the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and Victoria and Albert Museum) and Kensington Palace. Many hotels are also located in this area.

Recent years have seen the regeneration of the South Bank and Bankside areas across the river from the City and Westminster, featuring the Globe Theatre, the London Eye, the London Aquarium and the Tate Modern.

Outside the centre, Camden Town, home to the well-known market, is an attractor just to the north, whilst Greenwich in South London is a popular tourist destination with the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum. Kew Gardens and Richmond are attractions on the other side of the city in West London, whilst Hampton Court Palace is at the south-western edge of the city.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• London Development Agency: Tourism
• Visit London: London tourism statistics
• Office of National Statistics: Tourism And Leisure: National Gallery still top of the bill
• Londoncouncils.gov.uk: London tourism by numbers