London has beaten off the like of Cornwall and the Lake district in order to become the top destination for Britons holidaying at home. A new survey has revealed that in excess of 20% of British families will spend a week exploring all the capital has to offer in 2009.

Visitors are drawn to the cities sights, nightlife, museums, theatres, parks and activities. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “London is a fantastic city to visit at any time of year.” and “As well as museums, galleries and iconic attractions that are among the greatest in the world, we’ve unrivalled theatre and world class performance.

Johnson also stressed that London offers good value to visitors with entries to many museums and galleries free and a wide range of outdoor free performances. Thus families can enjoy activities together in London without breaking the bank.

The second most popular destination with Britons for a weeks break at home was the Lake district with Brighton coming in third. Anthony Chmarny, from Garmin, which spoke to 4,000 people as part of the survey, said: “This poll certainly seems to suggest that people are attracted to the culture of British cities.”

“Perhaps people are fed up with the mad rush southbound as the whole country travels to the scenic beaches of Devon and Cornwall.”

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Julia Kowalska was travelling with her sister on a Jubilee line train when her waters broke.

She got off the train at Kingsbury Station, north-west London, but could not make it any further and went into labour on the platform to the astonishment of other passengers.

Station supervisor Sebastian Rebello told how he responded to a distress alarm to discover Ms Kowalska about to give birth.

He said: “I got a call from Wembley Park about a woman with stomach pains, but it was only when I reached the platform that I found out she was expecting.

“I just kept holding her hand to try to reassure her. I was a bit anxious, I just wanted the ambulance to get there as soon as possible.”

Paramedics arrived at about 9pm on 19 December to find Ms Kowalska was too far into her labour to be taken to hospital.

She was taken to the station supervisor’s office where she gave birth to a healthy girl just 35 minutes after calling for help.

The mother and baby were taken to Northwick Park Hospital. A Brent council spokesman said the authority had met Ms Kowalska, who is homeless, and was assessing her circumstances to establish what assistance it might provide.

A spokesman said: “A further meeting will take place this week.”

Transport For London said the only other recorded birth on the network was when Marie Cordery was born at Elephant and Castle station in 1924.
 

Rashid Razaq, London Evening Standard 02/01/09

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