The average Londoner hasn’t visited at least three iconic landmarks, according to new research from Thames river cruise operator, City Cruises.
The survey of 1,000 Londoners found that more than half (58%) of Londoners admit crowds stop them from exploring the city more often, and 83% say they’re more likely to visit attractions when friends or family come to stay.
Major attractions are rarely seen as a priority by Londoners; more than a quarter (27%) have never visited the London Eye. Not far off that figure are Sky Garden (24%), The Shard (23%) and the Tower of London (23%).
These sightseeing spots have been sat on bucket lists for years, too; one in four (24%) Londoners has been putting off a local attraction for at least three years, while 4% have had an attraction sat on their bucket list for over 10 years.
Having spent years unearthing London’s hidden gems, must-try restaurants and little-known tourist hacks, Sara and Andrea Di Filippo, also known as @prettylittlelondon, are encouraging Londoners to become local tourists and tick off their bucket list blind spots.
The London content creators – with more than 1.5 million followers on Instagram –recently saw the city in a new light on a London River cruise with City Cruises.
Sara Di Filippo said: “What I’ve noticed from years of exploring London is that quite often tourists are better at experiencing the city than the people who actually live here.
“We tell ourselves that ‘we’ll get round to that attraction at some point’, but somehow it never happens, because we’re terrible tourists. The reality is that London evolves so quickly, and major attractions fall by the wayside while we explore new neighbourhoods, bars, restaurants and museums.”
View @prettylittlelondon’s Instagram reel here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Das5nQyxS8C/
While nearly two-thirds (64%) have taken a sightseeing tour, the Thames remains an untapped way to see London, with more than a quarter (27%) having never seen the city by water.
For Sara, that’s a missed opportunity.
“Whether you’ve lived in London for six months or sixty years, seeing the city from the Thames brings a completely fresh perspective of the city. It’s one of those experiences that remind you why you fell in love with London in the first place.
“It’s one of London’s greatest attractions, but I think people overlook it because it’s always there.”
The findings come as London attractions enter one of their busiest periods of the year, as millions of tourists are expected to visit over the summer. While visitors to the city eagerly queue for the city’s most iconic landmarks, Londoners themselves are missing out.
Ian Hailes, Commercial Director at Thames cruise provider City Cruises commented: “We may all be guilty of getting caught up in our own routines, but sometimes it can take seeing the city from a new perspective to reignite your love for exploring your home.
“The Thames has always lived at the heart of London, remaining one of the best ways to see all the city has to offer, and its most famous landmarks. Where else can you find yourself up close with the London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London within the space of an hour?”
To see London in a new light – with views of most major landmarks, from Big Ben and St. Paul’s Cathedral to Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena – book a City Cruises Thames sightseeing tour: https://www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises/river-thames-sightseeing/
Top 10 attractions Londoners have never visited:
The London Eye (27%)
Sky Garden (24%)
The Shard (23%)
Tower of London (23%)
Cutty Sark (21%)
Big Ben (20%)
Tower Bridge (20%)
Buckingham Palace (19%)
Royal Observatory Green (19%)
Kensington Palace (18%)