Hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions in the capital will be hit hard by the latest 24-hour Tube strike, said the head of Britain’s hospitality association, who warned that they’ll have to cope with fewer staff and unpredictable visitor numbers.
No London Underground services will operate at all until Friday as Tube workers have walked out following the breakdown in negotiations over the planned introduction of all-night services later this year.
Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of The British Hospitality Association, said the last 24-hour stoppage in July led to a 25% drop in online searches for hotels and accommodation in London.
"We expect this to be the case again," she said.
"Strike action especially during busy summer months is a real nightmare for our hotel, restaurant and visitor attraction members who have to maintain high standards while facing the staff shortages and unpredictable customer footfall resulting from the transport challenges.
"London needs the new round-the-clock tube service on weekends as soon as possible: it is essential to keep up with global cities like New York and Berlin, and to support London’s 24-hour lifestyle.
"The unions should call off their strike action and allow London to continue to welcome visitors with open arms."
To try to ease the disruption, an additional 250 buses have been laid on and extra bikes will be available to hire from the capital’s cycle hire scheme.
There will also be more river buses on the Thames.
The Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, tram and Transport for London (TfL) rail services are running but are expected to be congested.
More than 600 ‘travel ambassadors’ will be at stations across London offering help and advice to travellers and taxi marshals will be operating at some mainline stations.
