Of London's 200 million annual visitors (which is more than the populations of the UK, France and Germany combined), it is estimated that 25% come from overseas, 21% from outside the London area, and the remaining 54% are Londoners themselves.

It's estimated that there are more shops in London's West End than in the centers of Paris and Rome combined, and 80 new stores have opened in London in the last 3 years alone. In the 2007 Visit London Awards, Oxford Street was voted the best destination for a shopping experience, and many of London's stores and streets have become travel destinations in their own right. From the fun of Carnaby Street to the chic of Bond Street, and from children's stores like Hamley's to fashion outlets like Topshop.