London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the capital’s tourist economy is “roaring back” to life after Covid - but is it, and who’s paying a fortune for those inflated entry ticket, food and drink prices?
Research released by City Hall shows two million more international visitors are forecast to arrive in London in 2023, compared with last year, which is projected to produce an extra £674 million in revenue.
It comes after London’s music and film industry enjoyed a bumper July, with more than one million people attending live music shows or boosting cinemas’ busiest weekend in four years with the release of the Barbie and Oppenheimer films.
Some of the biggest events to come this summer include Notting Hill Carnival, All Points East festival in Victoria Park featuring Stormzy and The Strokes, plus London Fashion Week.
Meanwhile, a report by tourism body Visit Britain found London’s attractions in 2022 enjoyed a 141 per cent rise in visitor numbers compared with 2021.
But what about getting all these extra passengers around the capital?
Transport for London is also testing out new, quieter Piccadilly Line trains in Germany, which are planned to replace the existing rolling stock that’s been in service since 1975.
To discover more, The Leader podcast joined by Noah Vickers, the Standard’s local democracy reporter covering City Hall
Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
