London on 'most affordable' list

3 November 2009 12:23am

The plunging pound has meant London has made it into the top 10 of the world's best-value destinations compiled by travel guide company Lonely Planet.

The guide introduced its review of London by saying: "Every economic crisis has a silver lining."

It continued: "The favourable exchange rate means that travellers will often find hotels and meals up to half the price they were a few years ago, or at least a third cheaper."

Lonely Planet travel editor Tom Hall added: "The tables have turned and London's reputation as one of the world's most expensive cities is over."

Other best-value destinations in the guide's top 10 included Iceland, South Africa, Las Vegas and Kenya.

The guide also listed the Lake District as one of the world's top 10 regions, describing the area as representing "all that's green, great and grand about the English landscape".

There was praise, too, for Cork in Ireland, which joined the likes of Singapore, Vancouver and Istanbul as being rated one of the world's top 10 cities. The guide said Cork was now "at the top of its game: sophisticated, vibrant and diverse".

Other British Isles' places or events which featured in the guide's Best in Travel 2010 publication included the Glastonbury Festival and the Minack Theatre near Land's End in Cornwall which were in the world's top 10 best open-air events.

The 100 Club in London and the Cavern Club in Liverpool were among the 10 best places to launch a music career.

The London Underground was considered one of the world's top 10 "geek trips". And the Isle of Wight and Ireland's County Clare - among the best world cycling routes.

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