Win London's "Guest of Honour" Contest, and You Can Raise Tower Bridge Plus Hang with Celebs

Yahoo Travel

Ever wanted to raise Tower Bridge? Now’s your chance. (Courtesy: VisitLondon)

Many people’s London bucket lists include seeing Tower Bridge. But if you’d actually like to halt traffic and raise Tower Bridge, there’s a contest that will allow one person to do that and get some VIP tours from the city’s celebrities.

London is holding an“Official Guest of Honour” competition, with the winner being announced in January 2015. To enter, go to the Visit London site before December 9 and submit a short video or image, plus 70 words that describe your perfect day in London (applicants must be at least 18 years old).

The winner and a guest will receive a full-on red-carpet experience in London in February 2015. These are among the rewards:

* Go backstage at a West End musical with pop star Jessie J.

British pop star Jessie J. (Courtesy: VisitLondon)

* Have afternoon tea with actor Jim Carter, who plays the butler Carson in Downton Abbey.

* Eat a six-course meal with Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton.

* Tour the Royal Opera House with classical singer and conductor Plácido Domingo.

* Raise Tower Bridge

* Enjoy a £5,000 shopping spree on Oxford Street.

* Go on a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament with Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow.

* Tour the Wimbledon grounds with former pro tennis player Tim Henman.

* Be keeper for the day at ZSL London Zoo.

* Stay in a luxury suite at the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Mercer Street.

Said Domingo in a released statement: “I first performed at the Royal Opera House in London in 1971 as Cavaradossi in Tosca and I am delighted to be able to show the Guest of Honour around one of my favourite Opera houses in the world and a special place for me.”