visitlondon.com is seeking a special someone to shower the spoils of London with. Their first Guest of Honour will experience London in a way that is not offered to the average mortal.
Today VisitLondon.com, the official Visitor Guide to the capital, together with the GREAT Britain campaign, have launched an international search to find London’s Official Guest of Honour.
The lucky traveller will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience London as never before. The capital city and its most famous residents and locations are rolling out the red carpet and have together created a city break made up of amazing magic moments.
The winning guest will be invited to London in February 2015 and will have the unique honour of opening Tower Bridge, the most famous bridge in the world and seeing a West End musical with international singing star Jessie J.
Pictured: Jesse J.
“My career began on the legendary stage of Aldwych Theatre with my first professional performance so I’m absolutely thrilled to give London’s Official Guest of Honour a personal tour of this iconic venue,” she said.
Downton Abbey’s butler Carson – actor Jim Carter – will provide the winner with afternoon tea at Lord’s Cricket Ground; and the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, will take the Guest of Honour behind the scenes of the Houses of Parliament.
“London is an inspiring city with world-class heritage, built upon thousands of years of history,” Jim Carter, the actor whose credits include playing the butler Mr Carson in the international television hit Downton Abbey, said.
“I look forward to help showcasing some of our culture to the world by accompanying the winner of this wonderful competition on a visit to Lord’s, highlighting some of our sporting history and showing them the spiritual home of cricket – a quintessential piece of London’s past, present and future.”
Pictured: Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social.
The Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton will personally cook a meal for the Official Guest of Honour at one of the capital’s best restaurants and both the world-famous singer and conductor, Plácido Domingo and British ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell, will take the winner to one of their favourite theatres in the world, the Royal Opera House.
“I first performed at the Royal Opera House in London in 1971 as Cavaradossi in Tosca and I am delighted to be able to show the Guest of Honour around one of my favourite Opera houses in the world and a special place for me,” Domingo said.
“London is a city I keep returning to and it is one of the world’s great cultural capitals with its theatres, musicians and of course magnificent audiences.”
Pictured: HMS Belfast.
As part of the experience the Guest of Honour will fire the guns from HMS Belfast, walk the red carpet at a film premiere in Central London, and meet the English tennis star Tim Henman for a VIP tour of the All England Tennis Club, which hosts The Wimbledon Championships.
“Wimbledon is one of the world’s great sporting venues,“ Tim Henman, the former world No.4 professional tennis player and four-times Wimbledon semi-finalist, said.
“As someone who has enjoyed some wonderful times in this incredible arena, it will be a privilege to help the Guest of Honour experience its unique atmosphere and history.”
Pictured: London’s iconic Tower Bridge.
To apply to be London’s Official Guest of Honour, entrants must go to Visitlondon.com, submit a short film or image and in 70 words describe their perfect day in London.
The closing date is 9 December 2014 and participants must be aged 18 and over. For all terms and conditions see the visitlondon.com website.
“This is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the greatest city in the world, in the greatest possible way and I know the winner will take home something special, something unique, something that they will never forget,” Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said.
“So post a film, enter the competition and give yourself a chance to win an experience like no other on earth.”
Pictured: The Royal Opera House London.
The Official Guest of Honour experience will also have a chance to perform as an extra in a blockbuster West End show, be a Keeper for the day at ZSL London Zoo and receive an All Access Pass to London’s most celebrated fashion hub, Oxford Street, including VIP styling and a £5,000 shopping spree.
Highlights of the spectacular two-week holiday experience will be captured on film for the rest of the world to see.
To stay on pulse with the latest updates, follow @visitlondon or the #LondonGuest newsfeed.
We’re giving you the chance to be London’s Official Guest of Honour! Enter now – http://t.co/z3gqo0FoKx #LondonGuest http://t.co/Ydllnotrpv
— Visit London (@visitlondon) November 12, 2014
