Tourism in London - statistics & facts
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 leading UK cities for international tourism in 2024, the UK's capital reported more inbound visits than all other major destinations combined. In 2024, London was also the leading city tourism destination in Europe by bed nights, ahead of Paris and Istanbul. Furthermore, London was the most visited city by digital nomads globally as of June 2025, ahead of Bangkok and New York City.
From record lows to record spending
While the COVID-19 pandemic hit London's inbound travel market hard, the city has staged a strong comeback. In 2024, Overseas tourist visits to London reached roughly 21 million, nearly matching the pre-pandemic peak. More striking, international tourist expenditure in the capital hit an all-time high that year, meaning spending recovery has outpaced the rebound in visitor numbers. London also led all UK cities in inbound tourism spending by a wide margin in 2024.
Domestic trips and a booming accommodation market
On the domestic side, overnight trips to London peaked at over 15 million in 2023 before dipping slightly in 2024. The city's accommodation sector reflects strong demand: hotel occupancy rates were projected to exceed 85 percent by mid-2025. Meanwhile, the alternative lodging market has grown significantly, with roughly 97,000 Airbnb listings available in London as of September 2025.
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 2024. When focusing on London’s most popular paid attractions, the Tower of London recorded the highest attendance that year, followed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. While some of the leading tourist attractions in London recorded an increased attendance in 2024 over 2019, art institutions such as the Tate Modern and the National Gallery had noticeable drops in visitor numbers.
