Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is stepping out with some of the West End’s most famous faces to affirm that London’s West End, and its world-class offering, is open for the summer season.
To support the #LondonIsOpen campaign, the entirety of London’s Theatreland will be decorated with flags for the first time in history. These have been installed across nine streets spanning approximately 4.5 miles over the West End, including Bond Street, Conduit Street, Coventry Street, Haymarket, Leicester Square, Oxford Street, Piccadilly, South Molton Street, and Regent Street St James’s.
Each flag welcomes visitors from across the globe, with ‘Everyone Welcome’ written in the twelve languages of the top ten visitor countries to the West End, which lies at the heart of one of Europe’s most open, welcoming and cosmopolitan cities – the home of more than 200 languages, and more than a million European residents.
Today, to launch the ‘West End Everyone Welcome’ campaign, Sadiq was joined by some of the most influential names of the West End representing the worlds of culture, art, retail, entertainment and leisure, including Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, fashionista and designer Charlotte Olympia, artist and keeper of the royal academy Eileen Cooper, architect Farshid Moussavi, executive chef at Duck and Waffle Dan Doherty, and publisher of British GQ Vanessa Kingori MBE.
Sadiq commented: “London is the greatest city in the world and our globally renowned West End attracts millions of people who want to sample its unbeatable mix of shops, theatres and major tourist attractions.”
“I am delighted to team up with West End businesses to show that London is Open and always will be a place where everyone is welcome.”
The launch further empowers last year’s #LondonIsOpen announcement, which saw world renowned shows and global stars from across Theatreland join forces to show the world that the capital remains open to creativity and talent.
A dedicated tourism website has also been set up in partnership with Visit London.
The cast of School Of Rock The Musical at West End LIVE 2017 (Photo: Pamela Raith)
Emma Moore (Matilda The Musical) and Charlie Stemp (Half A Sixpence) at West End LIVE 2017 (Photo: Pamela Raith)
The cast of Bat Out Of Hell The Musical at West End LIVE 2017 (Photo: Pamela Raith)
The West End company of Annie
Jace Tyrell, CEO of New West End Company says, “There is no better time of year to discover and explore the West End.”
“From alfresco dining to late night shopping and an array of stars treading the boards day and night, visitors from across the UK and the globe are invited to our vibrant and exciting destination – London’s West End.”