By Justine Simons

In our challenging world it’s more important than ever that we lean into cultural joys - and London has been overflowing with the stuff this year.

From fantastic new museum openings, great theatre and the biggest global acts, to our trendsetting fashion designers and our beloved grassroots venues revealing new talent, London has continued to be at the forefront of culture.

While many people have been trying to talk London down this year, the evidence has told a very different story, with our cultural offer providing a crucial chapter. Tourists have continued to flock here, with four out of five saying culture is what they love about the capital.

Our creative industries have also continued to be vital to our economy, contributing £64 billion and supporting one in every five jobs in London. Just this month, we learned that the ABBA Voyage has contributed a staggering £2bn to the UK economy.

So as we reflect on the cultural highlights this year, we should do so with pride as London clearly remains the cultural capital of the world.

Much of our cultural identity is built on legacy and this year we opened doors to our past in ways that will inspire generations to come. The V&A East Storehouse opened........

© LBC