Wembley crowds could soon face higher hotel costs thanks to a tourist tax

Soon, visitors staying overnight near Wembley Stadium could have to pay a tourist tax, as the local council is looking into ways to fund improvements to the area. Brent Council said a new levy could unlock a ‘vital new source of funding’ and help turn Wembley into a ‘world class cultural destination’, while also tackling issues caused by the area’s success as a cultural destination. 

In a recent council meeting, a motion was brought forward to introduce a mandatory ‘visitor levy’ on hotel and short-stay accommodation in Brent. Councillors agreed to seek permission to impose the fee. 

Nearly three million people attended events at Wembley in 2024, and there are several hotels in the areas surrounding the stadium to cater to concert and sports visitors. This summer, Wembley will host Coldplay, Oasis and Blackpink, having already held concerts by Lana Del Rey, Linkin Park, Guns n Roses and Dua Lipa. 

The council wants to make sure that the benefits of these large-scale events are felt by everyone in the borough, including residents. While concerts bring many advantages – it’s thought that every non-sporting event at the stadium brings in around £4.35 million to the local economy – the council noted that they also create some ‘very real challenges’, which include increased noise, congestion, waste, and pressure on council services. 

Councillor Mary Mitchell said Brent should follow the example of models already in place in cities across the UK and Europe, like Manchester and Edinburgh. She said money from the tourist tax could help fund better parks, street trees, waste enforcement and enhanced cleaning in the borough. 

Manchester’s £1 per night tourist tax raised £2.8 million in its first year, while Edinburgh’s 5 percent increase on overnight stays is forecast to bring in £50 million a year. 

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