ESI Media’s Evening Standard has launched GO London to give time-strapped Londoners an online, curated guide to the very best the capital has to offer.
After a month of testing in beta stage, the site is now fully live just in time for the first pay day of the year.
GO London has been keeping Londoners’ sprits high throughout January with guides to dining out on the cheap and the best new theatre shows sitting alongside inspiring galleries of the city’s hidden corners and an inspiring pick of the best vegan dishes in the capital for those making the most of Veganuary. Now that the most anticipated pay day of the year has finally arrived, it is serving up the best ways to spend it, from the city’s best bars to booking ahead for the year’s biggest festivals.
The site is set to be the ultimate, trusted resource to quickly find out what’s worth seeing and doing as compiled by Evening Standard experts and influencers like Fay Maschler, Henry Hitchings, David Smyth and Matthew Norman. From the latest gigs and hottest restaurant openings to quirky pop-ups and West End shows, GO London is first for news and announcements.
The platform features exclusive editorial including high-profile interviews with celebrities and their favourite things to do across town.
These sit alongside curated, authoritative lists updated seven days a week, of the best on offer across each section covered: restaurants, bars, theatre, music, film, comedy, exhibitions, events, attractions and clubbing. GO London gives readers access to live events, including exclusive dinners with commercial partners.
The section has a standout look and feel, full of vibrant colours to reflect the city. Londoners and visitors to the city will be presented an easy-to-navigate hub where they can book tickets and tables direct from the page.
This ensures a seamless experience for digitally savvy Londoners, where users can go from reading a review to booking on the same page, saving time and improving conversions. The site’s search tool makes it possible to browse by genre, atmosphere or cuisine type.
Video and audio are integral to the package with the GO London team presenting regular bulletins for home AI devices including Amazon’s Echo.
The first month has already proved a success with a 180% increase in social visits and more than four million views to the channel in December.
GO London’s content will also regularly feature in the Evening Standard’s print edition, including a 10-page section in the paper on Fridays dedicated to the best things to do in London over the weekend and beyond.
GO London caters to the diverse demographic of the city and advertisers will reach a vibrant group of people who want to experience the best the city has to offer and who prioritise spending on leisure and culture. Research shows that Londoners value experiences more than the rest of the nation (43% compared to a national average of 23%) and eat out on average four times a week.1
David Tomchak, Digital Director, Evening Standard Editorial, said: “The Evening Standard’s audience has discerning taste and a desire to try out new things, whether it be the most romantic restaurant or a critically-acclaimed theatre show. Londoners and visitors are spoilt for choice in this incredible city.
So cherry picking the best of what’s out there is GO London’s top priority. People don’t have time or money to waste on mediocrity. This new digital platform gives an honest opinion about what’s exclusive and hottest in the city, then helps you book it.”
Sandro Del Grosso, Head of Digital Partnerships and eCommerce, ESI Media, said: “Combining our robust, trusted editorial with a slick online experience, GO London will help highly discriminating Londoners and visitors to the capital have their finger on the pulse of what’s hot in the city, and the seamless ability to book experiences directly from site.
We’re excited to grow this audience and give commercial partners the ability to reach these individuals.”