London Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to make history next month with the first-ever visit to Türkiye by a serving Mayor of London, combining an international climate leadership role with efforts
to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
The visit will begin in Antalya, where Khan will represent the capital at COP31, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In his capacity as elected Co-Chair of the C40 network, which brings together major cities worldwide to coordinate climate action, he will join international leaders and policymakers to discuss how urban authorities can accelerate efforts to combat global warming.
The Mayor is expected to highlight the important role cities play in delivering practical climate solutions, reducing emissions and building more sustainable and resilient urban environments.
Following the conference, Khan will travel to Istanbul, where he will focus on promoting London as an international destination for business and investment. His programme will aim to encourage Turkish investors to explore opportunities in the capital while strengthening existing commercial, cultural and community connections.
The visit comes against a backdrop of substantial economic relations between the UK and Türkiye. Bilateral trade reached approximately £28 billion in 2025, while nearly 8,000 British companies are currently exporting goods to the Turkish market. Türkiye's economic significance is also expected to grow considerably, with projections suggesting that by 2050 it could become the world's 12th-largest economy and Europe's fourth-largest.
The Turkish community has also played an important role in shaping London's social and cultural identity over generations. Established communities, particularly in boroughs such as Hackney, Enfield and Haringey, have contributed to the capital's diverse business, culinary and cultural landscape. Türkiye is currently the 13th most frequently reported country of birth among London residents.
Khan outlined his plans for the visit during an event at Antepliler, a well-known restaurant on Green Lanes in north London. The establishment has introduced Londoners to the culinary traditions of Gaziantep since 1993.
During the meeting, the Mayor spoke with restaurant owner Ahmet Murat Ustunsurmeli about the objectives of his forthcoming trip and its potential benefits for relations between London and Türkiye. He also took part in preparing künefe, a traditional Turkish dessert, celebrating the cultural connections that form an important part of the relationship between the two communities.
The visit is intended to reinforce London's international profile on climate policy while opening new opportunities for investment, trade and closer cooperation with Türkiye.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that next month I will become the first Mayor to travel to Türkiye to represent our capital at COP31 and bang the drum for further trade and investment in our great capital.
“Climate change is the biggest threat facing our planet and cities have a critical role to play in driving forward the change that we all desperately need to see. That’s why I’ll be standing alongside leaders from across the globe to discuss what can be done and also how this work can provide a huge boost to our economies.
“I’ll then travel to Istanbul to champion trade and investment between our two great cities, and celebrate the huge impact that Turkish Londoners continue to have on our capital. It was a real honour to meet Ahmet Murat Üstünsürmeli and his talented team at Antepliler today to celebrate this incredible connection and discuss how together we can continue building a better London for everyone.”
Antepliler owner Ahmet Murat Ustunsurmeli said: “I’m proud that Antepliler has brought Turkish food to London for over 30 years. I’m very privileged that both the UK and Türkiye have a special place in my heart and that this wonderful identity is something that I and so many British-Turkish people here in London are so proud of. It’s a testament to the strong ties between my two countries that the Mayor of London is embarking on a trip to Türkiye. I wish him all the best and hope he gets to experience the very best of what's on offer as he builds on the wonderful relationship between the two nations.” Photo by DAVID HOLT from London, England, Wikimedia commons.
