London ‘top European city for British travellers’

London has emerged as the most popular European city for British travellers, despite being ranked as the second most expensive city in the world.

The capital attracts three times the number of visitors than Manchester.

Other popular cities in the UK include Edinburgh, Glasgow and Birmingham, which appeals more than Paris, according to research from price comparison service PriceRunner.co.uk.

The study found that a quarter of the top 20 most popular cities in Europe are in the UK.

With the poor exchange rate on the euro, almost half of UK travellers are choosing to avoid the eurozone altogether and heading instead for Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

Cities such as Stockholm, Copenhagen or Dalaman are the most popular destinations outside the eurozone.

The research analysed travel behaviour in 100 European cities and what can be purchased for £100, or the local currency equivalent, in some of the most popular destinations.

Pricerunner managing director Mattias Berg said: “With the poor exchange rate on the euro we’re seeing an increase in the popularity of travel within the UK or least outside of the eurozone.

“It’s encouraging to see that we’re taking the time to enjoy our own country and not being put off by European travel altogether.”

Top 20 European cities

       City           Country       Currency

        1 London         Great Britain Pound

        2 Manchester     Great Britain Pound

        3 Rome           Italy         Euro

        4 Malaga         Spain         Euro

        5 Alicante       Spain         Euro

        6 Stockholm      Sweden        Krona

        7 Faro           Portugal      Euro

        8 Tenerife       Spain         Euro

        9 Barcelona      Spain         Euro

       10 Larnaca        Cyprus        Euro

       11 Amsterdam      Netherlands   Euro

       12 Majorca        Spain         Euro

       13 Copenhagen     Denmark       Krone

       14 Dalaman        Turkey        Lira

       15 Dublin         Ireland       Euro

       16 Nice           France        Euro

       17 Lanzarote      Spain         Euro

       18 Edinburgh      Great Britain Pound

       19 Glasgow        Great Britain Pound

       20 Birmingham     Great Britain Pound

Top 20 cities outside the eurozone

       City           Country        Currency

        1 London         Great Britain  Pound

        2 Manchester     Great Britain  Pound

        3 Stockholm      Sweden         Krona

        4 Copenhagen     Denmark        Krone

        5 Dalaman        Turkey         Lira

        6 Edinburgh      Great Britain  Pound

        7 Glasgow        Great Britain  Pound

        8 Birmingham     Great Britain  Pound

        9 Liverpool      Great Britain  Pound

       10 Sofia          Bulgaria       Lev

       11 Gothenburg     Sweden         Krona

       12 Burgas         Bulgaria       Lev

       13 Prague         Czech Republic Koruna

       14 Istanbul       Turkey         Lira

       15 Lisbon         Portugal       Euro

       16 Milas          Turkey         Lira

       17 Geneva         Switzerland    Swiss Franc

       18 Bristol        Great Britain  Pound

       19 Newquay        Great Britain  Pound

       20 Inverness      Great Britain  Pound

Top 20 cities in the eurozone

       City           Country

        1 Rome           Italy

        2 Malaga         Spain

        3 Alicante       Spain

        4 Stockholm      Sweden

        5 Faro           Portugal

        6 Tenerife       Spain

        7 Barcelona      Spain

        8 Larnaca        Cyprus

        9 Amsterdam      Netherlands

       10 Majorca        Spain

       11 Dublin         Ireland

       12 Nice           France

       13 Lanzarote      Spain

       14 Murcia         Spain

       15 Athens         Greece

       16 Paris          France

       17 Lisbon         Portugal

       18 Venice         Italy

       19 Selonica       Greece

       20 Siena          Italy

by Phil Davies