Number of international tourist visits to London, UK 2011-2021

Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of overseas tourist visits to London, United Kingdom, decreased dramatically in 2021 over pre-pandemic levels. While overseas arrivals in London peaked at roughly 21.7 million in 2019, this figure dropped sharply to just 2.7 million in 2021. That year, it was estimated that inbound tourist visits to the UK totaled around seven million.

Inbound tourism in London during the COVID-19 pandemic

London’s contribution to inbound tourism in the United Kingdom is significant, with the UK’s capital accounting for over 40 percent of international tourist arrivals in the country in 2021. That said, the pandemic hit the city’s inbound tourism market hard, as the expenditure of international visitors in London fell by over 80 percent in 2021 compared to 2019. Meanwhile, business travel spending in the city sunk to an all-time low in 2021, based on figures available since 2009.

London’s visitor attractions

London, the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, is popular among travelers for its cultural institutions and entertainment industry. The city’s most famous attractions range from government-sponsored museums, such as the British Museum, to the Tower of London and the ZSL London Zoo. In 2021, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew were the most visited tourist attraction in London. Overall, most sites reported significantly fewer visitors that year compared to 2019, following the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For instance, attendance at the Natural History Museums – the most visited free attraction in London in 2021 – declined by over 70 percent from 2019.