Airbnb guests flock to London’s outer suburbs

London-bound Airbnb guests are starting to show a preference for renting homes in the less-costly, outer boroughs rather than central London locations where they might only be able to afford a small apartment or studio. The number of nights booked for stays in outer London almost doubled last year, however it is worth noting that bookings for units in central London also saw a significant increase, up 78%. The data from Airbnb shows that visitors are opting for the suburbs to experience local life in London and to visit specific neighbourhoods, bringing a greater amount of London's multi-billion pound tourist spend to local businesses.

A irbnb visitors are increasingly opting for accommodation in “unfashionable” outer London boroughs over more traditional central tourist areas, new figures from the home sharing website revealed today.

The number of nights booked for stays in outer London almost doubled last year compared with a 78 per cent rise in inner London.

Some of the biggest increases of all were seen in boroughs on the fringes of the capital, including Havering in east London with a 161 per cent rise, Hillingdon in west London (159 per cent) and Barnet in the north west of the capital (140 per cent.)

The Airbnb report was launched at City Hall this evening at a tourism event chaired by Munira Mirza, Deputy Mayor for Culture.

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Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “Last year I launched my cultural tourism vision for the capital and as Londoners, we have a key role to play, with favourite spots and insider knowledge to pass on.

“This report shows that many Airbnb hosts are already doing this, inspiring visitors to explore more of the city, be it a specialist local museum, a small theatre, a secret cinema, a traditional pub or a quirky café.“

James McClure, general manager for Airbnb UK, said: “Airbnb hosts are promoting a cultural boom in London, supporting local attractions and hidden gems in lesser known parts of London. Our community is driving a renaissance for many attractions and experiences in London’s outer boroughs, spreading the benefits of tourism beyond the city centre to communities regular Londoners call home.”