“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” Author Samuel Johnson’s observation in 1777 still resonates in London over 200 years later, and is one to which a certain other 21st century Mr Johnson will no doubt testify. But what is the secret to London’s allure that has spanned centuries and continues to excite visitors and residents alike? Whether a born and bred Cockney, an adopted advocate, a serial Londoner or a first-timer; London promises a unique experience with every visit. And that’s thanks to its relentless ability to reinvent itself generation after generation whilst remaining true to its spell-binding history: a fascinating juxtaposition of a city at the forefront of innovation and design yet still peppered with rich culture and heritage. With a recent injection of investment owing to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer in what is already the most visited city in the world, there really isn’t a better time to visit the capital of cool.
Work and play
With its own unique city DNA, London is diversity encapsulated, weaving its thread of contrasts through the city like the meandering River Thames. This is a living, breathing city of contradictions that stand together side by side to form a perfect equilibrium. It’s this unparalleled quirkiness the capital exudes that whether visiting the city for business or pleasure, London ticks the box for all occasions.
With conference venues from the traditional and historical to the modern and funky; the corporate and ceremonious to the unique and quirky, London offers 500 inspirational settings including 16 major exhibition centres such as ICC London ExCeL and the Barbican, and unique spaces such as Wembley Stadium,
The O2 Arena and Historic Royal Palace the Tower of London. As a city for incentive and business, London maintains its status as one of the top destinations in the world attracting more event delegates than any other city on the planet. Recent events such as Cisco Live at ICC London ExCeL attracted 40 percent more delegates when hosted in London than the previous year in Barcelona.
And that goes hand in hand with the city’s leisure offering – whether on a motivational trip or looking for a city that means business in the workplace as well as in the playground, London takes some beating. Boasting 55 Michelin-starred restaurants and more than 7,000 licensed restaurants, bars and cafés serving over 70 cuisines, London is at the top of its game on the dining scene. Complimented by over 4,000 pubs and clubs, the city really does offer everything you need for the ultimate night out.
Regeneration on a grand scale has taken place throughout London as we approach the Olympic Games this summer. Mass investment has been driven into the city as a result of the trust placed on its shoulders to deliver the greatest show on the planet. The city is seeing over £11bn worth of amelioration projects such as the regeneration of London’s East End; the enhancement of its transport infrastructure and the development of new hotels and attractions. London’s accommodation offering is one to be rivalled – by the summer; the city will offer 100,000 hotel rooms from the celebrated and traditional to the funky and cutting-edge. With the world’s spotlight on London this year, this is a forward-thinking city that is raising its game to not only make the most of this unique moment in its history, but also for securing a lasting legacy for London’s future.
On your marks
As the city prepares, the celebrations are already underway with a host of unique events and one-off experiences only available in London during 2012. Where else in the world could you wake up on a boat on top of an acclaimed riverside concert hall, spend the day white water rafting on an Olympic Canoe course, then while away an afternoon at a Shakespeare play being performed in 37 languages, and perhaps even squeeze in an Olympic test event such as swimming or cycling as one of the first to visit the Olympic Park? The Limited Edition London campaign from London & Partners – the Mayor of London’s official promotional organisation – reinforces this unique visitor offering that London delivers every time ensuring that no matter when you visit in 2012, it will be a-once-in-a-lifetime experience. What’s more, visitors to London could return home with a World Record in their back pocket as they join in the capital’s efforts to be named as the city to break the most records in six months with a number of record-breaking attempt s right up until the Olympic Games!
Get set
Games time in London promises to create one of the most exciting atmospheres the city has ever seen: Olympic tickets or not, everyone will have the chance to be involved in the greatest show on earth. Live sites will pop up across the capital in some of London’s most renowned public spaces giving spectators the opportunity to create their own stadium-style atmosphere against the backdrop of iconic landmarks such as Tower Bridge or in the green surroundings of Hyde Park and Victoria Park, right at the heart of the Olympics in London’s East End. Visitors can also be part of the action at the cycling or marathon road races that take place throughout the city.
However, if you’re yearning to be track or pool side, hospitality packages are still available from operators such as Thomas Cook which is offering Games Breaks including a four or five-star hotel stay along with a ticket to an Olympic event.
London is also the first Olympic host city to restrict pricing during the Games period through the creation of the London Visitor Charter promising fair pricing from a wealth of businesses across the city.
In addition to the host of sporting events taking place, The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad concludes in the capital following a four-year programme of unique initiatives around the UK. Culminating at the London 2012 Festival, the Cultural Olympiad will see events taking place across the capital throughout the year, from one-off celebrations such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to exclusive events including the World Shakespeare Festival and the BT River of Music along the banks of The Thames.
Keep going
Leaving a legacy for London that stretches far beyond the Games-time boundary, city dwellers and visitors alike will continue to feel the vast benefits brought about by the staging of the Olympics far into the future. Enhanced by the mass economic drive into the city, London will continue to be a leading city for business and a top destination for visitors the world over.
New and enriched venues such as the Olympic Park itself and Olympic venue the ExCeL Centre will provide unique locations for events complimented by state-of-the-art technology with considerable delegate capacity. The benefits from the immense upgrade to London’s transport with new underground lines and faster services will continue to be felt, providing super-fast connectivity that spreads right across London. Over the last few years, a building atmosphere has blossomed throughout the city to see a variety of grand hotel openings from the Gothic St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel to the Victorian “Belle Epoque” Corinthia Hotel London, and luxury boutique arrivals such as the Georgian Z Hotel in Soho.
As centre stage for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, London’s East End has already seen huge regeneration of what has historically always been the most underdeveloped corner of the city. With an already changing London landscape, there are yet further enhancements planned for East London with the Strand East project from LandProp, part of the Inter IKEA group, which plans to create an entirely new neighbourhood for the city close to the Olympic Park.
The halo effect from the Games will continue to ebb brightly beyond 2012 as the buzz is carried into 2013 with major events already lined up on the London sporting calendar such as the UEFA Champions League Final, the ITU World Championship Series Triathlon Grand Final and a brand new two-day fixture for London, Festival of Cycling – the first major event to be staged in the Olympic Park following the Olympic Games.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said; “There is no doubt that the Olympic Games have created a splendid sense of excitement and ambition not seen in London for generations. Even for a majestic city like London that rarely stands still, the number of new openings, refurbishments and regeneration projects are truly astounding – there really has never been a better time to bring your conference and business events into the UK’s capital.”
As a leading capital city on the cusp of staging the largest event in the world, London looks set to rise to the challenge and deliver. In short, London is a city that means business.
For further information including free and impartial advice about planning an event in London, please go to the London & Partners Convention Bureau website at www.londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau/
