Westminster Labour Councillors have called on the City Council to mount a high-profile advertising campaign to encourage people from across the UK to visit the West End for a holiday, to shop and to enjoy the very many attractions that the West End and the rest of central London has to offer.

Labour say the Council should work closely with hotel groups, restaurants, pub and bar owners and landlords to offer a ‘great fun day out/weekend away/staycation holiday’ for families in London, the South East and the rest of the UK. Railway companies should be asked to introduce special deals for families travelling to London and West End hotels encouraged to offer attractive rates to visitors, too.

Labour are also calling on Westminster Council to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to get to the West End safely, as part of the package of initiatives to increase footfall.

Figures from the ‘Evening Standard’ reveal that there were 63 per cent fewer people in the West End last week compared to 2019, while footfall in Piccadilly Circus was 72 per cent quieter than last year and Leicester Square was 66 per cent less busy than 2019.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Labour’s City Management spokesperson, said:

“We need to run a major advertising campaign to encourage UK families to come to the West End this summer as a great alternative to going on holiday abroad. We have the hotels, the restaurants and bars, the sights, the history and soon the museums and galleries and other attractions will be open.” 

“It is a golden opportunity for visitors to see explore and experience the rest of London, too, the South Bank, the Royal Parks, Greenwich, the City and more. Our Blue Badge Guides can offer interesting walking tours of familiar and not-so-familiar landmarks. It is also a real opportunity for West End hotels to fill their rooms and train operators to increase passenger numbers.”

“Thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs are at risk here in Westminster. Do nothing is not an option. We must all pull together and work with the hospitality and retail sector to mount a really exciting and attractive advertising campaign to encourage people to take a West End ‘holiday of a lifetime’”