London named best destination in the world

The win for London comes as the city prepares to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday in April. Photo / Ross Setford

Move over New York, Paris and Rome - London has been named the best destination on the planet by TripAdvisor.

It took the No1 spot, up from sixth in 2015, in the review site's Travellers' Choice Awards 2016, which is based on millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor users. Paris came fourth, Rome seventh and New York ninth.

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period, as well as traveller booking interest on TripAdvisor.

The win for London comes at a time when the city and the rest of the UK is poised to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday in April and throughout the summer.

"This is the first time since 2012 that London has topped our world award rankings, proving that the capital's tourism industry is still reaping the benefits of the Games' legacy," said James Kay, TripAdvisor spokesperson.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, added: "London is undoubtedly the cultural capital of the world thanks to our iconic attractions, buzzing entertainment scene and amazing museums and galleries.

"Coupled with our abundance of top-notch hotels and restaurants offering every type of cuisine one's taste buds could desire, it is no wonder that London has been named the best travel destination in the world.

"It is an incredibly dynamic city, with something for everyone and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors to our wonderful metropolis.?"

Trip Advisor best destinations

1. London, United Kingdom
2. Istanbul, Turkey
3. Marrakech, Morocco
4. Paris, France
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia
6. Prague, Czech Republic
7. Rome, Italy
8. Hanoi, Vietnam
9. New York City, United States
20. Ubud, Indonesia

- Daily Mail