Record number of tourists flock to London between April and June, spending £3.2bn
The capital welcomed a record 5.1m tourists between April and June this year, continuing London’s five-year tourism boom.
The number of international visitors to London was up six per cent on the same period last year, according to the figures published by the Office for National Statistics today.
The total spent in the capital by tourists was £3.2bn, an eight per cent jump on last year and roughly equal to 160m rides on the London Eye.
London’s tourism sector has been expanding over the last five years with the number of visitors flocking to the capital increasing 22.5 per cent. Last year, a record high 17.4m overseas visitors travelled to London, spending £11.8bn. London accounted for half of all tourist visits to the UK between April and June.
“These numbers prove that our great capital is without a doubt the best place on earth to visit,” said Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
“With our spectacular autumn season of culture and the Rugby World Cup having put London in the spotlight once again, we’ll undoubtedly be welcoming even more tourists to London in the months ahead.”
Mastercard named London as the most popular destination in the world earlier this year for the second time in a row.
The British Museum was London’s top attraction last year, with 6.7m visitors, according to London and Partners, the capital’s official promotional company.