Edinburgh is the top city in the UK to visit according to a survey of the world's most popular destinations.
TripAdvisor says that its 2010 Travellers’ Choice Destination Awards are based on a combination of travellers' destination comments, favourite places, and overall destination popularity.
With Edinburgh's Festivals, Hogmanay, the capital's heritage values and historic venues, its parks and greenspaces, plentiful pubs and restaurants, and varied Edinburgh accommodation, there is good reason why people can easily develop an attachment to the city.
The survey also placed Edinburgh 17th most popular city in Europe and 21st most popular city in the world. No other UK cities made it into the final 25 European cities.
Edinburgh was also voted 7th Top Nightlife Destination in Europe. London made first place in that category, but the 2012 Olympic host city failed to finish in either the top 25 world destinations or top 25 European destinations.
“This will serve as a stark wake-up call to London in particular," said Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. "With the Olympics just two years away there is clearly still work to do to convince travellers that England’s capital is a world-class tourist destination."
Other Scottish destinations that came out well in the survey were the Isle of Skye at seventh position, Loch Lomond at eighth and the beautiful island of Islay at ninth.
Top 25 UK Destinations (according to European Travellers)
- Edinburgh
- Brighton
- York
- London
- Liverpool
- Wells, Somerset
- Isle of Skye, Scotland
- Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, Scotland
- Islay, Scotland
- St Ives, Cornwall
- Cardiff
- Bath
- Fort William, Scotland
- Isle of Wight
- Tenby, Wales
- Belfast
- Yorkshire Dales
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Windermere, Cumbria
- Padstow, Cornwall
- Glastonbury, Somerset
- Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire
- Hope Cove, Devon
- Durness, Scotland
- Salisbury, Wiltshire
Top 25 European Destinations (According to Global Travellers)
1. Monte Carlo, Monaco
2. Heidelberg, Germany
3. Salzburg, Austria
17. Edinburgh
Top Global Culture & Sightseeing Destinations (According to Global Travellers)
1. Florence, Italy
2. Washington DC, USA
3. Rome, Italy
10. London, UK
Top Global Culture & Sightseeing Destinations (According to Global Travellers)
1. Garmisch-Partenkirch, Germany
2. Dangriga, Belize
3. Rosario, Argentina
4. Weymouth, England
5. Reggio di Calabria
9. Nairn, Scotland
Top European Nightlife Destinations (According to Global Travellers)
1. London, UK
2. Berlin, Germany
3. Newcastle, UK
4. Dublin, Ireland
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
6. Barcelona, Spain
7. Edinburgh, Scotland
8. Paris, France
9. Mykonos, Greece
10. Hamburg, Germany