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Only in London - tell us your unique London experience
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter25.03.09
A CAMPAIGN designed to lure visitors to London's lesser-known attractions has been launched.
Only In London highlights the more unusual activities on offer, such as staying in the hotel room where Oscar Wilde was arrested or seeing the world's largest cut white diamond.
Mayor Boris Johnson said the £2 million campaign is expected to result in an extra £60million being spent in the capital.
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* Tell us your unique London experience below or email a picture to onlyinlondon@standard.co.uk.
The campaign aims to highlight 100 sights in the city which even Londoners may not know. They include the world's only dedicated fan museum in Greenwich, the largest outdoor fruiting olive tree in Britain at the Chelsea Physic Garden and the world's oldest insect at the Natural History Museum.
Regular drinkers at the Duke of Cambridge in Islington may not realise it was the world's first organic pub.
The Tube is promoted as the world's oldest underground train system and Walthamstow's daily market as the longest in Europe, at 1,093 yards.
The campaign, which is funded by the London Development Agency, will focus on Europe and North America.
Sally Chatterjee, the chief executive of tourism agency Visit London, said: "Only in London is a confident and recognisable phrase that we know rings true with people who both visit and live in the city.
"What's often familiar to us is very special to visitors. It's a great way of reminding the world and ourselves of the sheer range and depth of attractions, events and history that make our wonderful city unique."
The agency said its £600,000 winter marketing campaigns have already generated £6.7million for the economy.
Speaking on the London Eye on the first day of British Tourism Week, the Mayor said the capital was better value for money than ever.
"Only in London can you visit the historic Houses of Parliament in the morning, ride the London Eye in the afternoon, and see a wonderful West End show before deciding which of the world's cuisines to sample in its many restaurants," he said. "Overseas visitors will see the only limit to their enjoyment will be not having enough hours in the day to fit it all in."
Your pictures: The Only in London images you have sent us
Tell us your unique London experience below or email a picture to onlyinlondon@standard.co.uk.
Pick of the 100 sights
1 Visit Neasden Temple, the first and largest traditional Hindu mandir outside India
2 Visit the resting place of Karl Marx at Highgate Cemetery
3 Sleep alongside the Egyptian mummies at the British Museum
4 Visit St Paul's, the largest cathedral in England, with the largest crypt in Europe
5 Be wowed by the largest cut and polished white diamond in the world - Cullinan I (First Star of Africa) at the Tower of London
6 Speak at the same place as George Orwell on Speakers Corner in Hyde Park
7 See a film at Himalaya Palace, a "Chinese" art deco cinema under a red pagoda roof in Southall
8 Visit the Fan Museum Greenwich - the first and only museum in the world devoted entirely to all aspects of the ancient art of the fan
9 Take a tour of Harrow Public School, famous for educating seven prime ministers, including Winston Churchill
10 Enjoy a pint at the world's first organic pub, The Duke of Cambridge in Islington
11 See Pete Townshend's guitar at the V&A's Theatre and Performance Galleries
12 Inspect the world's oldest insect at the Natural History Museum
13 Stay in the room at the Cadogan Hotel in Sloane Street where Oscar Wilde was arrested
14 View the largest outdoor fruiting olive tree in Britain at Chelsea Physic Garden
15 Picnic in the world's greenest city - almost a third of London is green space
16 View a Rembrandt in Dulwich Picture Gallery, the world's first purpose built art gallery, constructed by Sir John Soane
17 Drink at the George Inn in Borough High Street - the city's only surviving galleried coaching inn, mentioned in Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit
18 Go to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, which houses memorabilia dating from 1555
19 Visit Walthamstow Market, Europe's longest daily street market
20 See the world's largest collection of portraits for free at the National Portrait Gallery, the oldest portrait gallery in the world
Reader views (10)
i was in London today travelling from up north.I was delivering an large oil painting of the Krays titled Down!,,,,But not Out!...... by artist Paul Lake 1959-2006.To Chiswisk Auctions to be included in their Krays sale on at 6pm Monday 30/03/2009,,,Lot 400...This picture is reputed to be the only recorded painting of the infamous Kray twins....An impressive painting well worth a viewing over the weekend......take a look online or visit saleroom....
- A.Brookes-Johnson, Durham
Stroll through Regent's Park on a Sunday afternoon. Just as the sun is about to set, sit down on one of the benches and admire your surroundings. Afterwards, carry on walking to Primrose Hill. You can't beat the view from the top. Another gem in Regent's Park is its Open Air Theatre. It's a wonderful place to spend a summer's evening.
- Ami, London
Walking around Soho in the early hours of the morning after being out all night. Have some breakfast, watch the sun come up and people on their way to work before heading home to sleep all day
- John, Kentish Town
The South Bank - day or night - never fails to make me appreciate living in London.
- Anna, london
London, Beautiful, Resilient, Dynamic, Fast in the Morning and Calm in the evening, where cultures meet, City Culture with all the dynamics one can think of, one can find the diversity and coherence, faiths live side by side, City host intellectuals and respect their work, where people welcome travelers and foreigners, The City with significance and strong impact on the modern history, A city like no other.
- Shabbar Naqvi, London
Take a ride on one of double-decker buses in the city centre. It's cheaper than paying for a tour and you get some great views.
- Bruce, London
The perfect Saturday - playing football in the sun at Highbury Fields, then either a trip to Brick Lane for some food or delve into the Camden nightlife.
- Ben, London
Watching the first day's play of the first Test match of the summer at Lord's. Even if you don't like cricket you'll love the atmosphere
- Kelly, Carshalton
1. Go back in time at Denis Severs House, where you can live through four generations in one Georgian building.
2. Enjoy a gig the only arts venue in a 19th century railway turning building, The Roundhouse.
3. Spend a day at Camden Market, a unique place selling clothes, crafts, food and more - before it disappears due to developers' greed. There is nowhere like it in the world.
- Marcia Macleod, London
Another sight should be added to the top 100. The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill houses a eclectic collection ranging from Egyptian mummies to musical instruments, Victorian stuffed animals to fresh acquariums. Go to the gardens outside the museum which has the best views over South London. On a clear day you can see beyond Canary Wharf. Priceless!
- Carla Pellegrinelli, London
