Global travellers rate Cape Town as the top world destination. London was rated as the UK’s top destination, according to travel company TripAdvisor.

London was rated the third best European destination, with Paris first and Rome second, while London was eighth in the world top 10 which was headed by Cape Town.

The UK capital beat Edinburgh (second) and Bath (third) to take the top UK award.

Scottish capital Edinburgh was ninth in the European top 10.

TripAdvisor official Emma Boyle said: “Tourism is vital to the UK economy so it’s encouraging to see London and Edinburgh both highly recognised as Europe’s best destinations.”

She went on: “London’s performance is especially meaningful as so much time and effort has gone into preparing the city for the 2012 Olympics and hopefully it will sneak ahead of Paris and Rome before the Games start.”

Top world destinations

1. Cape Town
2. Sydney
3. Machu Picchu, Peru
4. Paris
5. Rio de Janeiro
6. New York City
7. Rome
8. London
9. Barcelona
10. Hong Kong

Top European destinations

1. Paris
2. Rome
3. London
4. Barcelona
5. Prague
6. Venice
7. St Petersburg
8. Florence
9. Edinburgh
10. Istanbul

Top UK destinations

1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Bath
4. Cambridge
5. Oxford
6. Stratford-upon-Avon
7. York
8. Inverness
9. St Andrews, Scotland
10. Liverpool
11. Glasgow
12. Brighton
13. Belfast
14. Canterbury
15. Manchester
16. St Ives, Cornwall
17. Cardiff
18. Windermere, Cumbria
19. Newcastle upon Tyne
20. Aberdeen