Page last updated: 16 July 2024
London, a city known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and iconic landmarks, ranging from the historic walls of the Tower of London to the modern marvel that is the London Eye, has consistently ranked as a top tourist destination worldwide.
How many people visit London each year?
London welcomed 20.3 million international visitors in 2023.
- Compared to 2022, when there were 16.1 million visitors, the 2023 figures represent a 26% increase.
- This also marked an increase from 2020’s 3.7 million visitors (approximately 449%) and from 2021’s 2.7 million visitors (about 652%).
- Despite this recovery, 2023 visitor numbers were still approximately 6% lower than the 21.7 million visitors in 2019 and 2017.1
How much do visitors spend in London each year?
International visitors spent £16.70 billion in London in 2023.
- 2023’s tourist spending marked an 18% increase from 2022’s £14.15 billion.
- This amount not only reflected a rebound from the pandemic lows of £2.56 billion in 2020 and £2.69 billion in 2021 but also surpassed pre-pandemic spending.
- In 2023, spending increased by 6.4% to £16.70 billion compared to £15.70 billion in 2019 and also saw a 2.6% rise from the 2017 peak of £16.27 billion.
How many tourists visited London in 2022?
- In 2022, London welcomed 16.1 million visitors. This was a 496% increase compared to the previous year but still 26% less than 2019 (pre-pandemic).
- International tourists stayed an estimated 102.8 million nights2 in London in 2022.
How much did tourists spend in London in 2022?
- London’s tourism revenue generated £14.15 billion in 2022, a recovery from the previous year’s £2.69 billion but still 10% lower compared to 2019.
- Tourists spent an average of £877 per visit in 2022, an increase of 22% from the average spend of £696 in 2019.
Which country visits London the most?
Over the years, from pre-pandemic to post-pandemic, the USA remained the largest source of London’s international tourism.
France has been the second-largest source of visitors, although recent years have seen an increase in tourists from the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
- In 2019, the U.S. led with 3.09 million visitors, followed by France with 1.8 million, Germany with 1.5 million, Italy with 1.4 million, and Ireland rounding out the top five with 1.2 million visitors.
- By 2021, the U.S. maintained its lead despite a decrease to 390,000 visitors, with France at 327,000, Ireland at 213,000, Spain at 175,000, and Germany at 168,000.
- In 2022, visitor numbers rebounded, with the U.S. remaining in the lead with 3.03 million visits, followed by France with 1.5 million, Germany with 1.14 million, Spain with 933,000, and Ireland with 851,000.2
How many nights do international tourists spend in London?
- In 2022, a total of 104.28 million nights were spent in London by international visitors.
How popular is London as a tourist destination?
- London has consistently ranked as the top destination for both international and domestic visitors in the UK over the years and from 2019 to 2022.3
- In 2023, on a global scale, it was the 2nd highest-ranked city for international arrivals, with only Istanbul surpassing it.4
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The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Tourism
- In the first quarter of 2020 (January to March), before lockdowns began, London received over 3.7 million tourist visits.
- This figure represented a 91% decrease from the comparable pre-pandemic period in 2019. Tourism continued to decline in 2021, with the city hosting 2.7 million visitors, which was 93% fewer than in 2019.
- Tourism revenue markedly dropped as well, falling from £15.73 billion in 2019 to £2.56 billion in 2020, and slightly recovering to £2.70 billion in 2021.
- These figures indicated a decrease of 84% and 83% respectively in revenue over these two years.
When is the best time to visit London?
- The best time to visit London is during the summer, in June, July, and August.
In London, January and February are the coldest months while November sees the most rainfall.
- For those looking to avoid crowds, the shoulder seasons (mid-September to November and March to April) are less busy, offering a more relaxed experience.
Why do tourists visit London?
In 2022, London attracted tourists for numerous reasons, with leisure vacations topping the list.
- Approximately 8 million people, accounting for nearly half (49.86%) of all visits, chose London as their holiday destination. Following closely, the desire to visit friends and relatives motivated 4.5 million journeys, making up 28.19% of the total visits.
- Business trips also contributed significantly, bringing in 2.4 million visitors, which was 14.87% of the annual total. On the other hand, educational trips were less common, constituting only 0.78% of total visits with 126,000 visits.
- Apart from these main reasons, London hosted around 1 million additional travellers (6.30% of the year’s total) for varied reasons. These included attending sporting events, shopping excursions, medical visits, religious activities, and trips with multiple purposes.
International vs Domestic Tourism Statistics
- In 2017, the city welcomed 19.83 million international tourists who spent a total of £13.55 billion, alongside 12.14 million domestic tourists who contributed approximately £2.69 billion to the local economy.
- The following year, 2018, saw a slight dip in international visits to 19.09 million, with spending at £12.33 billion, while domestic visits slightly decreased to 11.86 million, with an increase in spending to approximately £2.98 billion.
- However, 2019 marked an upturn in international tourism, with visits soaring to 21.71 million and tourist spending amounting to £15.73 billion. Domestic visits marginally increased to 12.15 million, with spending rising to roughly £3.04 billion.
How long do tourists stay in London?
International visitors consistently spent more nights in London compared to domestic visitors.
- In 2016, international tourists stayed for a total of 111 million nights, while domestic tourists spent 26.34 million nights.
- The following year, 2017, international nights slightly increased to 114 million, and domestic stays rose to 27.84 million.
- The trend for international tourists dipped slightly in 2018 with 110 million total nights, but domestic tourists slightly increased their stays to 27.89 million nights.
- 2019 marked the highest stay for international tourists, recording 118 million nights, whereas domestic tourists spent 28.47 million nights.
Top Attractions in London
- Big Ben: This iconic clock tower, a symbol of London and the United Kingdom, is known worldwide and visited by around 5 million people each year.
- London Eye: The world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel, offering panoramic views of the city, opened in 2000 and attracts over 3.5 million visitors yearly.
- The British Museum: Home to a vast collection of world art and artefacts, it is also the most visited free attraction in London, with an estimated 6 million visitors annually.
- The Tower of London: A historic castle by the River Thames, famous for its history, the Crown Jewels, and the Royal Armouries, attracts about 2.8 million visitors each year.
- The Shard: Western Europe’s tallest building, offering panoramic views of London from its observation decks and restaurants, attracts around 1.5 million visitors annually.
How many people visit Big Ben every year?
Big Ben attracts up to 5 million visitors annually, making it one of the most highly visited landmarks in the world.5
- Before the pandemic, Big Ben was the most Instagrammed tourist spot, with over 2.5 million tags by 2017.
How many people visit the London Eye every year?
The London Eye records over 3.5 million visitors per year, making it one of the most paid tourist attractions in the United Kingdom.
- In 2016, the London Eye was ranked as the third most popular attraction among London residents, accounting for 65% of visits.6
- Between 2014 and 2015, international visitors comprised 43% of the total, while domestic visitors made up 25%.7
How many people visit the British Museum every year?
The British Museum has consistently been a top destination, ranking as the number one most-visited free attraction in London according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA).7
- In the September 2023 fiscal year, the museum reported an increase in visitors, reaching 4.46 million, with a 24% increase during the first quarter and a 26% rise in the second quarter. With new special exhibitions planned for 2024, these numbers are expected to climb further.8
- In 2022, a total of 4.1 million visitors were recorded. This still marked a 34% decrease from the 6.2 million in 2019 (pre-pandemic). Nevertheless, the museum ranked as the third most-visited attraction in London in 2022.
- During the pandemic, attendance dropped by 79% to approximately 1.28 million in 2021.
UK Travel Statistics Resources
Europe Travel Statistics Resources
References
- VIsitBritain: Inbound Visits and Spend: Annual/Regional ↩︎
- VisitBritain: Inbound Visits and Spend: Trends by UK Town ↩︎
- ONS: Visitors to London ↩︎
- EuroMonitor: Top 100 City Destinations for 2023 ↩︎
- HC: Exploring the Popularity of Big Ben ↩︎
- YouGov: Domestic Visits: 2016 ↩︎
- ALVA: Visits made in leading visitor attractions ↩︎
- Gov.UK: Museums and galleries monthly provisional statistics ↩︎
