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The Real London Experience
Monday 25th of September 2006  |  News Source: Destination UK (destination.uk.com)
Some visitors are having a different experience of London and Londoners than we do (oops!) ... or at least a different one from the standard tourist experience...
A recent study from the Centre for Tourism at the University of Westminster suggests that many visitors to the capital eschew the classic attractions in favour of visiting the 'real' London where Londoners themselves live, work, eat, drink and play. The research pointed at tourists visiting areas like Islington & Bankside, not completely devoid of sights nor the poorest of quarters, but nonetheless off the red bus tours and notably cheaper than the sight-studded centre.

 "There is a great sense that they want to experience the ordinary rather than the extraordinary," said Centre director Robert Maitland. "one guy from Mexico - an architect - told me how he went to Tesco and absolutely loved it, just watching local people do their shopping. We also found that non-iconic buildings were regarded to be more attractive by these tourists, as they felt that real buildings gave character. They also liked the fact that they could walk around on foot to see an area - they felt like they were exploring. But the opportunity to see and interact with Londoners in their area of work and play was the main draw - it gave them the chance - it gave them the chance to feel part of the everyday life in the city."

Overdevelopment of tourist attractions could have a negative impact, he added, ending with more food for planning thought: "The role of visitors to cities is often neglected yet they play an important role in the way in which cities change and develop."

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