London has been named the world’s best travel destination of 2019 by TripAdvisor. The British capital, in the annual Travellers’ Choice awards based on user ratings and reviews over a 12-month period, topped the global travel destination rankings.
The city, up from the second best travel destination in 2018, beat Paris to secure the first position this year. London is home to many tourist sites including the famous London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Camden Market, among others.
According to TripAdvisor, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding is a contributing factor why London was voted as the best destination. The royal wedding, as observed by the notable travel review site, generated massive “international excitement” – leading to a boost in bookings for royal sights in London.
The site added that, tour bookings of Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard shot up by 231 per cent.
“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 arrival of the couple’s new royal baby, 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.”
Paris, which occupied the top spot in 2018, dropped to the second position, while Rome maintained its third position.
This is how the cities ranked:
World Best Travel Destinations of 2019
- London, UK
- Paris, France
- Rome, Italy
- Crete, Greece
- Bali, Indonesia
- Phuket, Thailand
- Barcelona, Spain
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Dubai, UAE
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- New York City, U.S.A
- Jamaica
- Hanoi, Vietnam
Source: worldsfinestdestinations.net
