London is to become the first city in the world to boast its own TV channel.

Launching on 12 July, London TV has cost £2m to set up and been created by tourism organisation, Visit London and produced by Enteraction TV and will be dedicated to telling both Londoners and visitors what to do and where to go in the capital.

It has been financed through Visit London's marketing budget.

David Campbell, chief executive of Visit London, said: “If you live in the capital, you often feel guilty that you’re not making the most of everything the city has to offer. Now you don’t even have to get off the sofa to get some inspirational ideas delivered straight to your living room.

“London TV provides one of the best ways to deliver up to the minute information in a fast moving city like ours. Television brings the capital to life in a way that a guide book could never do and with digital uptake increasing all the time, there has never been a better time to launch a channel dedicated to the greatest city in the world.”

The channel will feature the latest on London’s culture, shopping, eating and trips out and include news of special offers and events. Locals and celebrities will give ideas and tips and reveal their secret haunts while viewers will also get to see behind the scenes at London attractions, restaurants, theatres and bars.

London TV will initially preview on Channel 166 between 3-9pm from 12 July, but from September will be broadcast around the clock, seven days a week, on Sky Digital.

Ken Livingstone, mayor of London, said: “London is the cultural capital of Europe and a destination of choice for visitors from the UK and worldwide. London TV, as well as being a source of ideas, will be a real help to Londoners – and I hope visitors to the capital – getting out and experiencing even more of what London has to offer.”