London Responsible Travel

London is filled with open-air historical sites. While many of the oldest testaments to its history (stemming from AD 43) are now in museums, others lie directly in your path—from cobblestone streets to Christopher Wren architecture. The last piece of the London wall, from AD 200, stands in the City of London unprotected and unmonitored. Tourists’ good will is all that protects these beautiful public sites from harm.

The impact of tourist pounds on London should not be underestimated. The choices you make during your trip can have potent effects on local communities—for better or for worse. Travelers who care about the destinations and environments they explore should become aware of the social, cultural, and political implications of the choices they make when they travel. Simple decisions like buying local products instead of globally available products and paying a fair price can have a strong, positive effect on the community. An excellent resource for general information on community-based travel is The Good Alternative Travel Guide (UK£10), a project of Tourism Concern (☎7133 3330; www.tourismconcern.org.uk).

More Travel Concerns in London

By clicking submit you agree to the terms of the Let’s Go Privacy Policy

For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.