London plays a vital role in supporting tourism in the United Kingdom. In particular, the city is the main gateway for international travelers visiting the UK. When looking at the ranking of the
in 2021, the capital reported more inbound visits than all other major destinations combined, a difference which was even greater prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While
in 2021. Furthermore, London was estimated to be the
Tourism in London during the COVID-19 pandemic
While
London’s contribution to tourism in the United Kingdom remained significant also during the health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city’s inbound travel market hard. In 2021,
overseas tourist visits to London were 87 percent lower than in 2019, with the
international tourist expenditure in the UK’s capital dropping by roughly 13 billion British pounds over the same period. On the other hand, domestic tourism in the city recovered faster than international travel. Between April and December 2021,
domestic overnight trips to London totaled nearly 15 million, the highest figure recorded in a decade. As a result of the increase in national tourism,
spending on domestic overnight trips in London also peaked in 2021.
What are London’s most visited tourist attractions?
London’s rich cultural heritage is one of the main drivers of tourism for the UK’s capital. Apart from being home to some of the
Royal Estate establishments, the city boasts world-famous museums and galleries, such as the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, and the Tate Modern, ranking among the
most visited tourist attractions in the United Kingdom in 2021. When focusing on
London’s most popular paid attractions, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew recorded the highest attendance that year, followed by the ZSL London Zoo and the Tower of London. In 2021, however, the
number of visits to leading tourist attractions in London still lagged pre-pandemic levels, despite experiencing an annual increase.
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