London named best destination in the world by TripAdvisor

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London has been named the best-rated destination in the world.

The 2019 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for destinations named the British capital top in the world rankings, up from second place in 2018.

The annual Travellers’ Choice awards are based on millions of user ratings and reviews over a 12-month period.

Paris and Rome came in second and third place respectively, while the islands of Crete in Greece and Bali in Indonesia rounded out the top five.

TripAdvisor attributes London’s win to the “international excitement” surrounding the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. The platform added that “the Harry and Meghan effect” had boosted its bookings for royal sights in London – bookings for a tour of Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard jumped 231 per cent year on year.

“The global fascination with Harry and Meghan clearly has a powerful effect as this is the first time since 2016 that London has topped the world rankings,” said Hayley Coleman, spokesperson for TripAdvisor.

“With the couple’s new royal baby due imminently, London may continue to reap the rewards of the Harry and Meghan effect into 2020.”

“London has an exciting history as a centre for creativity and free thinking, from Shakespeare to the birth of punk and the catwalks of today,” said Laura Citron, CEO of tourist board Visit London. “This creative energy and cultural vibrancy can be felt in every aspect of London life: food, fashion, arts, exhibitions, shops, and nightlife.”

A notable fall this year in the world rankings included New York, which slipped from 10th place last year to 13th in 2019. Destinations including Phuket, Barcelona, Istanbul, Marrakech, Dubai, Prague and Siem Reap were ranked higher than New York.

TripAdvisor also ranked the best European cities and the best destinations in the UK and the Channel Islands.

In Europe, Paris, Rome, Crete, Barcelona, Istanbul, Prague, Lisbon, Mallorca and Tenerife ranked in the top 10 destinations alongside London.

Within the UK and the Channel Islands, the top 10 destinations after London included Edinburgh, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Bath, Isle of Wight, York, Manchester and Jersey.

1. London, UK

2. Paris, France

3. Rome, Italy

4. Crete, Greece

5. Bali, Indonesia

6. Phuket, Thailand

7. Barcelona, Spain

8. Istanbul, Turkey

9. Marrakech, Morocco

10. Dubai, UAE

1. London, UK

2. Paris, France

3. Rome, Italy

4. Crete, Greece

5. Barcelona, Spain

6. Istanbul, Turkey

7. Prague, Czech Republic

8. Lisbon, Portugal

9. Mallorca, Spain

10. Tenerife, Spain

1. London, England

2. Edinburgh, Scotland

3. Liverpool, England

4. Glasgow, Scotland

5. Belfast, Northern Ireland

6. Bath, England

7. Isle of Wight, England

8. York, England

9. Manchester, England

10. Jersey, Channel Islands