The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today encouraged Londoners to enjoy the best of their city this summer by promoting free and cut-price events and activities through the latest part of his Let’s Do London campaign.
The Mayor is highlighting some of the wide range of events available across the capital after a poll by City Hall showed that 40 per cent of Londoners don’t know of ways to enjoy London for free, while the main reason Londoners gave for being unlikely to travel into the centre of the city this month was having no reason to go.
Among the free activities and events that Londoners can enjoy this summer are This Bright Land, a new cultural festival at Somerset House, a series of performances at the National Theatre’s River Stage on the Southbank, the Back to Earth exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery responding to the climate emergency, and the return of the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival.
Trafalgar Square continues to host an official UEFA ‘Fan Party’ in celebration of the Women’s EURO 2022 championship, featuring a packed programme of free activities, including an FA Disability Day today, and a free screening of the final on Sunday.
There are free events in every London borough this summer, with the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture Lewisham offering a carnival refresher community party day in Deptford and an afternoon in Forest Hill celebrating 21st century South Asian music. The Mayor’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm also presents London Unseen – a free season of trails and tours that celebrate the many incredible histories of the city.
Sadiq has partnered with Art Fund to offer access to museums and galleries this summer, many of which are free to enter. A special three-month National Art Pass has been launched to provide free or reduced-price entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places.
Transport for London is helping Londoners to enjoy the city by teaming up with Official London Theatre’s annual Kids Week initiative to release thousands more ‘kids go free’ tickets for a range of top West End shows, including The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors, Wicked and Grease the Musical. Throughout August, Kids Week gives children aged 17 and under the chance to see a London theatre show for free when accompanied by a full paying adult. There are also discounts at London Transport Museum, where children go free, as well as many food and drink destinations across the capital.
The promotions are part of the Mayor’s Let’s Do London campaign which has been encouraging people back to the capital following the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry. Last year, the biggest domestic tourism campaign the capital had ever seen brought in an additional £81m in spending and 330,000 overnight visitors to the capital.
Earlier this year, the Mayor extended this campaign with £7m to encourage international tourists back to London, £2m to attract overnight UK visitors and £1m for reaching out to Londoners. This campaign to reach Londoners will continue this summer with a cinema advert, radio adverts, posters and social media adverts.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said, “As the school summer holidays have begun, I know there is an extra financial burden on already stretched parents to keep their families entertained. That’s why it’s so important that everyone knows that there are free and affordable events to enjoy all across our capital.
“I’m proud to build on the success of my Let’s Do London campaign to promote this wide range of activities and encourage more Londoners to make the most of our city as we continue to build a better London for everyone.
“There is so much to love in our capital, and I want everyone to have a chance to enjoy what’s on their doorstep.”
Leave a Comment