Pre-COVID we travelled freely around the world to eagerly climb the Eiffel Tower, take in the Taj Mahal, ponder the Pyramids and venture down the Venice canals…but how much of your own UK city have you seen? Recent research has shown that many Brits have yet to see some of the most famous London landmarks, including Westminster Abbey, Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium and St Paul’s Cathedral. With many of our favourite holiday destinations proving a bit of a pain to get to at the moment, now is the time to make the effort to explore the ‘Best of British’.

After 3 lockdowns, Brits are keen to experience the Great British outdoors, and lastminute.com has seen a 12% increase in domestic package bookings (flight & hotel) in 2021 compared to 2019, and UK bookings have jumped from 9th place (2019) to 2nd place (2021) just below Spain. Bookings for August are already ahead of 2019 levels, along with an increase in the average booking value and length of stay for London visitors. lastminute.com customers are opting to stay longer in a better value hotel, rather than splashing on luxury. The length of stay for 3* and 4* hotels increased a combined 26% in 2021 compared to 2019, with a combined decrease in average booking value of -7%.

The majority of visitors to London come from Scotland (62%) and then Northern Ireland (30%), and the most popular districts are Holborn, Covent Garden, City of London and Waterloo, which are all near popular London landmarks.

lastminute.com wants to know how you would celebrate freedom with friends and family on the London Eye, 10 lucky winners will then get the chance to live out their dreams.

To celebrate England opening back up again, and with summer officially back on, lastminute.com feels it’s time to help people rediscover “whatever makes them pink”.

10 lucky winners will enjoy a private experience on the lastminute.com London Eye, to celebrate in person with friends and family. 50 runners up will also receive a pair of lastminute.com London Eye tickets each. A landmark in its own right, the lastminute.com London Eye gives visitors the chance to see most of London’s famous buildings and sites from the comfort of a pod.

To enter, just let us know which big events you plan to celebrate in person with friends and family via the contest page here: https://www.lastminute.com/promos/london-eye/contest.html