Overseas visitors to London like nothing better than a good stroll along the South Bank, according to a new survey by tourism body Visit London. 

Its survey of 2,229 foreign visitors to the capital between October 2004 and October 2005 revealed that 71% had visited or planned to visit the South Bank. For 62%, a walk along the promenade was the main draw. 

The South Bank was more popular than other tourist haunts, such as Leicester Square (an attraction for 65% of visitors), Covent Garden (62%) and China Town (42%). 

Areas outside the central zone were also holding their own. Some 57% of visitors were aware of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and 39% of overseas tourists now stay in accommodation outside zone one.

By Naomi Leach

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