Visitors to and from the UK will now be able to experience a trip to the largest free-standing building in the country, after the opening of the new London Heathrow terminal five.

Opened by the Queen in March, the brand new modern terminal boasts a string of luxurious shops and restaurants.

These include the likes of Prada, Tiffany, Kurt Keiger, Mulberry and Paul Smith, as well as a new restaurant for the Michelin-starred celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, Plane Food.

The Queen called the £4.3 billion structure a "highly impressive building".

As an exclusively British Airways terminal, it will be capable of handling 30 million passengers annually, giving many more travellers a chance to visit London every year.

During 2006 the number of overseas visitors to London soared to hit a record 15.2 million, up 9.4 per cent from the previous year.

The number of overseas visitors to London rose by 9.4% last year to a record 15.2 million, with tourists eager to explore all the attractions the city offers, including Buckhingham Palace, the Tower of London and the London Eye.