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Date updated: 20/07/2026

Destination City is the Square Mile’s growth strategy, focused on strengthening the City as a magnetic and inclusive destination that drives economic success by attracting high-value firms and highly skilled people.

The Square Mile is an engine of economic growth and innovation: one out of every forty-eight British workers have jobs in the City of London, and more than £109 billion in economic output is generated here every year – contributing around 12% of the whole nation’s tax take.

Through Destination City, we are working together with partners to secure the long term economic success of the City of London by creating the conditions in which businesses and workers can thrive.

Data Insights

Data and insights sit at the heart of Destination City. Our Destination City dashboard brings together and visualises a wide range of data to help track progress, demonstrate impact, and deepen our understanding of the audiences and communities we serve.

Discover more by viewing our dashboard below.

Destination City Dashboard

Destination City

Destination City is a programme of collective action which builds on City of London Corporation strategies and initiatives led by our service departments and institutions with the aim achieve three overlapping and corporate wide outcomes, making the City: 

  • A globally attractive destination for business 
  • The UK’s leading destination to work, driving strong weekday footfall, attracting and welcoming the next generation of talent
  • A City that stays open, active and alive beyond the working week — supporting a vibrant and thriving weekend economy 

Destination Advisory Board

The Square Mile is home to a diverse range of stakeholders and partners whose contributions are integral to its success. Destination City brings these organisations together through a collaborative partnership approach, fostering connections, encouraging learning, and promoting knowledge-sharing across the Square Mile.

The Destination Advisory Board has been renewed and expanded in 2026 to provide strategic advice on Destination City priorities, champion initiatives to enhance the City’s vibrancy, and bring sector-specific insight and act as a sounding board for new ideas. 

The Board brings together perspectives from across the City ecosystem, including the private sector, the education sector, Livery Companies and Guilds, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), and other external stakeholders, alongside a broad representation of City of London Corporation Committee Chairs.

The members of the Destination Advisory Board are as follows:

  • Chris Hayward – Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation 
  • Andrew Hilston – Managing Director, The Ardent Companies
  • Andrew Jackson CBE – Tower Director, Historic Royal Palaces
  • Brendan Barns – Culture, Heritage & Libraries Committee Representative, City of London Corporation
  • Charlotte Fletcher – Chair, Cheapside Business Alliance 
  • Prof Diana Beech – Director of the Finsbury Institute, City St George’s, University of London [appointed Summer 2026]
  • Gaby Robertshaw – Planning & Transportation Committee Representative, City of London Corporation [appointed Summer 2026]
  • Harry Owen – CEO, CityAM [appointed Summer 2026]
  • Helen Fentimen – Community & Children’s Service Committee Representative, City of London Corporation
  • Jacqui Webster – Resident Representative, City of London Corporation
  • James Thomson CBE – Policy & Resources Representative, City of London Corporation
  • Jen Beckermann – Destination City SRO and Executive Director & Private Secretary to the Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation
  • Nicole Brocklebank-Fowler – Global Head of Real Estate, Arup & Partners; Liveryman and Master, The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers [appointed Summer 2026]
  • Paul Martin – Independent consultant for the Independent Review 2024
  • Sean Ghouse – Retail Director, Fortnum & Mason
  • Simon McCaugherty – Director, Experience Economy, London & Partners 
  • Tony Matharu – Founder and Chairman, Central London Alliance CIC/Blue Orchid Hospitality

Destination City Partnership Fund 

Do you have an innovative idea to help achieve the Destination City aims?

The Destination City Partnership Fund supports organisations with creative ideas to deliver projects that help attract more businesses, workers and visitors to the Square Mile, offering grants of up to £20,000.

Independent Review 2024

Following a review by Paul Martin in April 2024, the Destination City programme was expanded and now brings together a wider series of projects and activities that will position the City as a magnetic destination – for businesses, workers and visitors.

Destination City Independent Review PDF (750KB)
Date submitted: 21/10/24

Get the latest update on Destination City in our regular bulletin

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