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Voting starts to find what you like best about our London

Emma Rowley
12 April 2012

Voting has opened for Londoners to decide the best of what their city has to offer after a record number of people nominated attractions.

Now in their sixth year, the People's Choice Awards are part of the BT Visit London Awards, supported by the Evening Standard.

The four categories nominated by the public are for best family experience, best free experience, "hottest" music event and - for the first time - a "hero" who has made a difference to the city.

Among those shortlisted for the fourth category is Emma De Souza, organiser of Kids Week in the West End, which brings theatre to a younger generation. She has boosted ticket sales from a few thousand in the event's early years to 51,000 at the last count, and has raised money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Also nominated is John Mills, who has helped with Addiscombe Little League Football in Croydon for the past 26 years, performing every role from manager to referee while offering free football for children regardless of their ability.

Betty Kobusingy, a youth worker who has proved a "fantastic" role model for young people in east London since moving from Uganda, has also been put forward.

Up for the family fun award are the London Eye, ZSL London Zoo, the Science Museum, the arena show Walking with Dinosaurs and the hit musicals Sister Act and Wicked.

Nominated in the best free experience category are three museums - the British, the Natural History and the Science - and Tate Modern, Hyde Park and the Pride London parade.

In the running to be named hottest music event are The Wireless Festival, Notting Hill Carnival, Madonna at the O2, the free theatre festival West End Live, Take That at Wembley and Sister Act.

Visit London interim chief executive Sally Chatterjee said: "The number of nominations we received this year has been incredible.

"The level of enthusiasm and passion shown by locals and tourists alike for London's attractions show that our city is not only the number one destination in the world, but that it is striving to get better each year."

Mayor Boris Johnson announced this week measures to strengthen ties between London and New York, with plans for the two cities' tourism arms - Visit London and NYC & Company - to work together on promotions in the future.

Thousands of copies of the Standard were handed out to New Yorkers in Times Square by Mr Johnson as he banged the drum for London.

Voting in BT Visit London People's Choice Awards closes on 30 September and judges will announce the winners of the awards at Westfield shopping centre on 5 November.

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