2013 was a banner year for London tourism. For the first nine months of 2013 London welcomed 12.8 million visitors, an increase of 12 percent compared to 2012. Hosting the Olympics and the worldwide audience for the Royal Wedding catapulted London on to the world stage and millions have flocked to the city.
London & Partners has decided that the best way to introduce the city is through those who know it best – Londoners – and they have recruited some of the capital city’s most famous Londoners to do just that.
The new campaign for VisitLondon.com — “The London Story” — features the city’s Lord Mayor Boris Johnson, actress Joanna Lumley (beloved as Patsy on “Absolutely Fabulous” and currently appearing in Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street”), former supermodel and “America’s Next Top Model” judge Twiggy, and celebrity TV chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay.
Through a series of videos housed at www.Visit London.com/story, “The London Story” takes people off the beaten path in London following celebrities to their favorite haunts.
Chef Gordon Ramsay loves Boris Bikes, which lets you pick up a bike at one of their stands and explore the city. What better way to see London than with the wind rushing through your hair riding through one of the city’s many parks. Stop by Chef Ramsay’s favorite places for a great curry, Brick Lane. Or go totally native with him and have a fry-up, a full breakfast with bacon, sausage and eggs, at Vingt-Quartre on Fulham Road. “Trust me, it’s to die for. There is nowhere better to eat anywhere in the world than in London,” Ramsay notes.
The most famous face on the planet in the 1960s was Twiggy. Today she is a model, singer, tap-dancer and actress living in London where she loves to shop on Bond Street, Regents Street and Knightsbridge, home of the quintessential London store, Harrod’s. She is also an avid theatergoer as well a frequent visitor to the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert. She has even performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
Joanna Lumley’s star turn in Martin Scorsese’s just-released film “The Wolf of Wall Street” takes place in London, the city she has called home for 45 years. Her favorite London place is Holland Park in west London, one of the city’s best-kept secrets. The park features parterres, winding paths, statues, a little opera house, a beautiful restaurant and an orangery. You can find her there feeding the ducks or strolling through the gardens.
Lord Mayor of London Boris Johnson became known worldwide during the London Olympics. He loves to cycle to East London known to many from the hit TV series “East Enders” and then on to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, taking in the changing landscapes. London has more green space than any other city in the world.
He can be also found in the British Museum admiring the Elgin Marbles or at the Tower of London to check on the Crown Jewels. But London isn’t all ancient history. There is also the Tate Modern with a collection of fabulous modern art where the Lord Mayor goes to relax after a busy day running the world’s greatest city.
After showcasing the best of London from celebrities, VisitLondon.com also features stories from other passionate Londoners like Rebecca Holmes, a make-up artist at Madame Tussauds, Beefeater Barney Chandler, Royal London Parks Manger Mark Wasilewski and Richard Clayforth, a senior manager at perfumer Penhaligons.
London & Partners is the official promotional organization for London. It works to maintain London’s position as the Number One international visitor destination in the world by marketing to establish and emerging markets.
View the videos at www.visitlondon.com/story to see why the famous and the infamous love London.
