This is the first time I've been to London.

[diamondcutter]

--Where is Tom?
--He’s gone to London.
--Have you ever been to London?
--Yes, I have. (I’ve been to London.)
(by me)

In this context, ‘I’ve been to London’ means I’ve come back from London. I’m not in London now. I wonder if this sentence always means so. If I’m still in London, could I say the sentence below?

This is the first time I've been to London.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, Tarheel.

I wonder if you mean that "I've been to London" doesn’t necessarily means that I’m not in London but somewhere else now.

 

[emsr2d2]

You cannot say the standalone sentence "I've been to London" if you are in London at the time of speaking.

With a longer sentence, it's possible. In London, you could say "I've been to London three times before" or "I've been to London twice now".

 

[GoesStation]

If I’m still in London, could I say the sentence below?

This is the first time I've been to London.

Yes. It's correct and natural.

 

[Tarheel]

Thanks, Tarheel.

I wonder if you mean that "I've been to London" doesn’t necessarily mean[STRIKE]s[/STRIKE] that I’m not in London but somewhere else now.

I do mean that. (I had to read that a couple of times.)

If I say "I've been to London", I'm not in London at that time, but I have been there at some time in the past.