U.K. and Ireland - London voted world's top tourist destination

London voted world's top tourist destination (http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-voted-worlds-top-tourist-destination-7706265.html)

Might be hard to keep this title if getting into the UK is a problem...

Travellers have named London - soon to host the Olympics - as the world's best destination.


The UK capital was number one in the world, in Europe and in the UK in a survey of world travellers by the TripAdvisor company.

In the world list, New York was second, Rome third and Paris fourth.

London voted world's top tourist destination (http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-voted-worlds-top-tourist-destination-7706265.html)

Might be hard to keep this title if getting into the UK is a problem...
I must say that I do know a number of people who routinely avoid transiting through Heathrow, especially if it involves passing through the "UK border". An example is an Irish family I know who live in Australia; whereas in the past their annual trip back to Ireland would follow the most obvious routing (SYD-LHR-DUB), for the past few years they have chosen to travel via another European hub (Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Amsterdam) to avoid the chaos that is Heathrow (the chaos being not only immigration-related, incidentally).

I don't suppose that the problems at Heathrow yet mean that many people avoid coming to the UK altogether if it is in fact their main destination, although sometimes I wonder...

I must say that I do know a number of people who routinely avoid transiting through Heathrow, especially if it involves passing through the "UK border". An example is an Irish family I know who live in Australia; whereas in the past their annual trip back to Ireland would follow the most obvious routing (SYD-LHR-DUB), for the past few years they have chosen to travel via another European hub (Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Amsterdam) to avoid the chaos that is Heathrow (the chaos being not only immigration-related, incidentally).

I don't suppose that the problems at Heathrow yet mean that many people avoid coming to the UK altogether if it is in fact their main destination, although sometimes I wonder...

Don't get me wrong, London is easily one of my favorite cities and has been for many years. If I did not live in the UK, my motivation to go there would be far less, especially with APD and the time it can take to pass through UKBA...:(

I must say that I do know a number of people who routinely avoid transiting through Heathrow, especially if it involves passing through the "UK border". An example is an Irish family I know who live in Australia; whereas in the past their annual trip back to Ireland would follow the most obvious routing (SYD-LHR-DUB), for the past few years they have chosen to travel via another European hub (Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Amsterdam) to avoid the chaos that is Heathrow (the chaos being not only immigration-related, incidentally).

I don't suppose that the problems at Heathrow yet mean that many people avoid coming to the UK altogether if it is in fact their main destination, although sometimes I wonder...

I know equally as many people who CHOOSE to transit through Heathrow in order to avoid Frankfurt, Paris and even Dubai (I know a guy who hates Dubai).

But what has your little anti - Heathrow rant got to do with London being top tourist destination?

When my destination is London itself I almost always fly into LCY now. So much easier

I have been to many major cities around the world and I must say London is right up there in having the most to see and do; it has history, great restaurants and bars, musicals, parks and atmosphere. I can definitely see the appeal of London from a tourist's perspective so I think London has earnt its title.

I commute to London everyday and when I heard the announcement that London was the world's number one capital I realised that I completely take it for granted because it is on my doorstep and I am there every day. I do go out in London at least once a week eating and drinking but will definitely try to make the most of it each time I go now and try to vary where i go more.

Yes - a worthy winner indeed. Really the only other contender is New York, but JFK and EWR are a whole lot worse than LHR!

From my seat, as difficult/exasperating as LHR is to navigate, London does make it worth it. Never had a disappointing trip there. Something for every appetite.

Admittedly though, routing through LHR is another subject.

Britain is broken. Cameron and the Eton debating society, and the muppets before him have seen to that.

Why is everyone talking about LHR, Cameron and the UKBA? London is a pretty awesome destination. So much to see and do, and thanks to the weasly Pound, great value for a lot of tourists.

I have been to many major cities around the world and I must say London is right up there in having the most to see and do; it has history, great restaurants and bars, musicals, parks and atmosphere. I can definitely see the appeal of London from a tourist's perspective so I think London has earnt its title.

^ Full agreement.

BUT there is the added tourism boom in 2012 of:
pre/post Olympics which every hosting city has enjoyed and
the festivities around the Diamond Jubilee.

Given it's Olympic year I'd have been very surprised if it hadn't been voted number 1....especially in a survey carried out by a travel related company. :rolleyes:

Why is everyone talking about LHR, Cameron and the UKBA? London is a pretty awesome destination. So much to see and do, and thanks to the weasly Pound, great value for a lot of tourists.

Not for long

The pound is expecting a major boost with the woes of the Euro and certainly with new swarms of French and Greeks moving their cash into the UK. The Government is placing contingency measures to stop the pound soaring too high like the Swiss Franc did, cause if it did it would hamper tourism and exports.

But yes I agree, tourism isnt just about the airports. I found it odd that the first commenter was only talking about LHR and how his friends avoid. What has that got to do with London being an awesome tourism destination?

BUT there is the added tourism boom in 2012 of:
pre/post Olympics which every hosting city has enjoyed and
the festivities around the Diamond Jubilee.

I agree with you also. I doubt whether London would have still been ranked as number one it did not have the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee.

Anyone interested in the entire top 10 list of best cities in the world for 2012 her it is:

1 London
2 New York
3 Rome
4 Paris
5 San Francisco
6 Marrakech
7 Istanbul
8 Barcelona
9 Siem Reap
10 Berlin

I agree fully with at least the first 5 there. I wouldn't put Marrakech in there personally.

Wouldn't be my top destination for a moment, but then everyone likes different things I guess... I'd sooner be away from the cities altogether.

I agree with you also. I doubt whether London would have still been ranked as number one it did not have the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee.

Anyone interested in the entire top 10 list of best cities in the world for 2012 her it is:

1 London
2 New York
3 Rome
4 Paris
5 San Francisco
6 Marrakech
7 Istanbul
8 Barcelona
9 Siem Reap
10 Berlin

I agree fully with at least the first 5 there. I wouldn't put Marrakech in there personally.

I'm surprised that PVG, HKG, ICN didn't make it.

Wouldn't be my top destination for a moment, but then everyone likes different things I guess... I'd sooner be away from the cities altogether.

Me too but cities are always going to be the main attraction when it comes to these type of surveys.

I'm surprised that PVG, HKG, ICN didn't make it.

Indeed......bar a couple of them it's a piss poor list to be honest.