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Number of international tourist visits to London 2008-2018
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Number of international tourist visits to London 2008-2018
Number of overseas tourist visits to London from 2008 to 2018 (in millions)
by Jennifer Luty,
last edited
Aug 15, 2019
Approximately 19.1 million trips were made by international tourists to London (UK) in 2018. The number of overseas residents visiting the city steadily increased over the last ten years, before dropping off slightly in 2018. Overall, international tourism to the UK declined for the first time in a decade. The figures include visits for all travel purposes, including for leisure and business.
Measuring tourism in London
The main indicators used for measuring tourism in the United Kingdom are by the number of visits, overnight stays and spending. As inbound tourism visits increase, so have the number of overnight stays and expenditure of visitors. According to recent figures, international tourists spend over 100 million nights a year in London and inbound tourist spending exceeded 12 billion British pounds in 2018.
Is London the most visited city in the world?
Although London holds a global city status, it is not quite the most visited city in the world. London ranked as the most visited city destination in Europe by international tourists in 2018, beating its European rival Paris. However, worldwide, Hong Kong and Bangkok recorded the highest number of international arrivals in 2017, with London ranking in third place.
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by Jennifer Luty,
last edited
Aug 15, 2019
Approximately 19.1 million trips were made by international tourists to London (UK) in 2018. The number of overseas residents visiting the city steadily increased over the last ten years, before dropping off slightly in 2018. Overall, international tourism to the UK declined for the first time in a decade. The figures include visits for all travel purposes, including for leisure and business.
Measuring tourism in London
The main indicators used for measuring tourism in the United Kingdom are by the number of visits, overnight stays and spending. As inbound tourism visits increase, so have the number of overnight stays and expenditure of visitors. According to recent figures, international tourists spend over 100 million nights a year in London and inbound tourist spending exceeded 12 billion British pounds in 2018.
Is London the most visited city in the world?
Although London holds a global city status, it is not quite the most visited city in the world. London ranked as the most visited city destination in Europe by international tourists in 2018, beating its European rival Paris. However, worldwide, Hong Kong and Bangkok recorded the highest number of international arrivals in 2017, with London ranking in third place.
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- Release date
- August 2019
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Survey time period
- 2008 to 2018
- Supplementary notes
-
Figures have been rounded.
Released date is the date of access.
Source
- Show sources information
- As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- August 2019
More information
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Survey time period
- 2008 to 2018
- Supplementary notes
-
Figures have been rounded.
Released date is the date of access.
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Tourism in London
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Statistics on "Tourism in London"
- Overview
The most important statistics
- Leading city destinations in Europe from 2016 to 2018, by number of international arrivals (in millions)Leading European city destinations by international arrivals 2016-2018
- Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by region visitedMost visited UK regions by international tourists 2018
- Cities and towns in the United Kingdom (UK) ranked by international visits in 2018 (in 1,000 visits)Leading UK cities for international tourism 2018, by visits
- Cities and towns in the United Kingdom (UK) ranked by international travel spending in 2018 (in million GBP)Leading UK cities ranked by international travel spending in 2018
- Number of tourist visits to London (UK) from 2008 to 2017* (in millions)Number of tourist visits to London 2008-2017
- Number of tourist visits to London (UK) in 2017, by source market type (in millions)Number of tourism visits to London 2017, by tourist type
- Inbound tourism
The most important statistics
- Number of overseas tourist visits to London from 2008 to 2018 (in millions)Number of international tourist visits to London 2008-2018
- Number of nights spent by overseas residents on visits to London from 2008 to 2018 (in millions)Nights spent by international visitors to London 2008-2018
- Average length of overseas tourist visits to London in 2018, by purpose of trip (in nights)Length of international tourist visits to London 2018, by purpose of trip
- Leading international travel markets visiting London in 2018 (in million visits)Leading international tourist markets visiting London 2018
- Leading international visitor markets to London in 2018, based on expenditure (in million GBP)Leading international visitor markets to London 2018, by spending
- Inbound visitors by travel purpose
The most important statistics
- Number of overseas resident visits to London in 2018, by purpose of visit (in millions)International tourist visits to London 2018, by purpose of trip
- Number of inbound visits to London from Europe in 2018, by purpose of visit* (in 1,000s)Tourist visits to London from Europe in 2018, by purpose of visit
- Number of visits to London (UK) from North America in 2018, by purpose of travel* (in 1,000)Tourist visits to London from North America 2018, by travel purpose
- Number of inbound holiday visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)Inbound holiday visits to London 2005-2018
- Number of nights spent by inbound holiday tourists in London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)Nights spent on holiday visits to London 2005-2018
- Number of inbound business visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)International business visits to London 2005-2018
- Number of nights spent on inbound business visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)Nights spent on inbound business visits to London 2005-2018
- Number of inbound study visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in 1,000s)International study visits to London 2005-2018
- Inbound tourism expenditure
The most important statistics
- Spending of international visitors to London from 2008 to 2018 (in billion GBP)International tourist spending in London 2008-2018
- Average overseas tourist spending per visit in London (UK) in 2018, by purpose of trip (in GBP)Average spend per visit of international tourists in London 2018, by purpose of trip
- Spending in London by visitors from Europe in 2018, by purpose of visit* (in million GBP)Spending in London by European visitors in 2018, by purpose of visit
- Spending in London by visitors from North America in 2018, by purpose of visit* (in million GBP)Spending in London by North American visitors in 2018, by purpose of visit
- Spending of inbound tourists on holiday in London from 2005 to 2018 (in billion GBP)Spending of international holiday tourists in London 2005-2018
- Spending on inbound business visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in billion GBP)International business visitor spending to London 2005-2018
- Domestic tourism
The most important statistics
- Number of domestic overnight visits to London in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2008 to 2017 (in millions)Number of domestic visits to London 2008-2017
- Number of nights spent by domestic tourists during visits to London (UK) from 2008 to 2017 (in millions)Nights spent by domestic visitors in London 2008-2017
- Spending of domestic overnight tourists in London (UK) from 2008 to 2017 (in billion GBP)Domestic tourism expenditure in London 2008-2017
- Visitor attractions
The most important statistics
- Number of visits to leading visitor attractions in London (UK) in 2018* (in 1,000s)Leading visitor attractions in London 2018
- Number of visitors to the British Museum in London, England between 2008/09 and 2017/18 (in 1,000s)Number of British Museum visitors in London, England 2008-2018
- Number of visitors to the Tate Modern gallery in London, England from 2006/07 to 2018/19 (in 1,000s)Number of visits to the Tate Modern in England 2006-2019
- Number of visitors to the National Portrait Gallery in London, England between 2008/09 and 2017/18 (in 1,000s)Number of visitors to the National Portrait Gallery in London, England 2008-2018
- Number of visitors to the Natural History Museum in London, England between 2008/09 and 2017/18 (in 1,000s)Number of visitors to the Natural History Museum in London, England 2008-2018
- Number of visits to Southbank Centre in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2018 (in 1,000s)Number of visitors to the Southbank Centre in the United Kingdom (UK) 2014-2018
- Number of visits to the Tower of London in England from 2010 to 2018 (in 1,000s)Number of visitors to the Tower of London in England 2010-2018
- Attendance at theatres in London in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2018* (in 1,000s)UK: London theatre attendance 2000-2018
- Event tourism
The most important statistics
- Economic impact of major cultural and sporting events in London from 2013 to 2016 (in million GBP)Economic impact of major cultural and sporting events in London 2013-2016
- Gross value added (GVA) of major cultural and sporting events in London from 2013 to 2016 (in million GBP)Gross value added of major cultural and sporting events in London 2013-2016
- Number of jobs supported by major cultural and sporting events in London from 2013 to 2016Jobs supported by major cultural and sporting events in London 2013-2016
- Number of visits from overseas to the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 2012, by age and gender* (in 1,000s)London 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympics: overseas visits, by age and gender
- Spending of overseas visitors to the London Olympic games and Paralympics 2012, by age and gender (in million GBP)London Olympics & Paralympics 2012: spending of overseas visitors, by age and gender
- London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics: number of visits from Europe, by country (in 1,000)London 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympics: visits from Europe, by country
- London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics: number of visits from North America (in 1,000)London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics: visits from North America
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Statistics on "Tourism in London"
- Leading city destinations in Europe from 2016 to 2018, by number of international arrivals (in millions)
- Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by region visited
- Cities and towns in the United Kingdom (UK) ranked by international visits in 2018 (in 1,000 visits)
- Cities and towns in the United Kingdom (UK) ranked by international travel spending in 2018 (in million GBP)
- Number of tourist visits to London (UK) from 2008 to 2017* (in millions)
- Number of tourist visits to London (UK) in 2017, by source market type (in millions)
- Number of overseas tourist visits to London from 2008 to 2018 (in millions)
- Number of nights spent by overseas residents on visits to London from 2008 to 2018 (in millions)
- Average length of overseas tourist visits to London in 2018, by purpose of trip (in nights)
- Leading international travel markets visiting London in 2018 (in million visits)
- Leading international visitor markets to London in 2018, based on expenditure (in million GBP)
- Number of overseas resident visits to London in 2018, by purpose of visit (in millions)
- Number of inbound visits to London from Europe in 2018, by purpose of visit* (in 1,000s)
- Number of visits to London (UK) from North America in 2018, by purpose of travel* (in 1,000)
- Number of inbound holiday visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)
- Number of nights spent by inbound holiday tourists in London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)
- Number of inbound business visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)
- Number of nights spent on inbound business visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)
- Number of inbound study visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in 1,000s)
- Number of nights spent on inbound study visits in London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)
- Number of inbound visits to friends and relatives in London from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)
- Number of nights spent by international visitors to friends and relatives in London (UK) from 2005 to 2018 (in millions)
- Spending of international visitors to London from 2008 to 2018 (in billion GBP)
- Average overseas tourist spending per visit in London (UK) in 2018, by purpose of trip (in GBP)
- Spending in London by visitors from Europe in 2018, by purpose of visit* (in million GBP)
- Spending in London by visitors from North America in 2018, by purpose of visit* (in million GBP)
- Spending of inbound tourists on holiday in London from 2005 to 2018 (in billion GBP)
- Spending on inbound business visits to London from 2005 to 2018 (in billion GBP)
- Number of domestic overnight visits to London in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2008 to 2017 (in millions)
- Number of nights spent by domestic tourists during visits to London (UK) from 2008 to 2017 (in millions)
- Spending of domestic overnight tourists in London (UK) from 2008 to 2017 (in billion GBP)
- Number of visits to leading visitor attractions in London (UK) in 2018* (in 1,000s)
- Number of visitors to the British Museum in London, England between 2008/09 and 2017/18 (in 1,000s)
- Number of visitors to the Tate Modern gallery in London, England from 2006/07 to 2018/19 (in 1,000s)
- Number of visitors to the National Portrait Gallery in London, England between 2008/09 and 2017/18 (in 1,000s)
- Number of visitors to the Natural History Museum in London, England between 2008/09 and 2017/18 (in 1,000s)
- Number of visits to Southbank Centre in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2018 (in 1,000s)
- Number of visits to the Tower of London in England from 2010 to 2018 (in 1,000s)
- Attendance at theatres in London in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2018* (in 1,000s)
- Economic impact of major cultural and sporting events in London from 2013 to 2016 (in million GBP)
- Gross value added (GVA) of major cultural and sporting events in London from 2013 to 2016 (in million GBP)
- Number of jobs supported by major cultural and sporting events in London from 2013 to 2016
- Number of visits from overseas to the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 2012, by age and gender* (in 1,000s)
- Spending of overseas visitors to the London Olympic games and Paralympics 2012, by age and gender (in million GBP)
- London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics: number of visits from Europe, by country (in 1,000)
- London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics: number of visits from North America (in 1,000)
- Number of accommodation establishments in Emilia-Romagna in Italy in 2016, by municipality
- Number of arrivals of tourists from Germany in Italy in 2015, by region of destination (in 1,000s)
- Leading inbound travel markets for Germany from 2013 to 2017, by number of visits (in 1,000s)
- Number of arrivals of tourists from Austria in Italy in 2015, by region of destination (in 1,000s)
- Number of arrivals of tourists from Germany in Italy in 2015, by month (in 1,000s)
- Average growth in international tourist arrivals from the Africa in Europe between 1980 and 2030
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- Number of overnight stays of tourists from the UK in Italy in 2015, by region of destination (in 1,000s)
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- Number of arrivals of tourists from France in Italy in 2015, by region of destination (in 1,000s)
- Number of arrivals of tourists from Spain in Italy in 2015, by month (in 1,000s)
- Number of overnight stays of tourists from Austria in Italy in 2015, by region of destination (in 1,000s)
- Number of arrivals of tourists from the United States in Italy in 2015, by month (in 1,000s)
- Average growth in international tourist arrivals from the Americas in Europe between 1980 and 2030
- Total number of Indian tourist arrivals in Leh in India from 2003 to 2015 (in 1,000s)
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