London 'among world's most affordable destinations'

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 went on: "Long ludicrously expensive, London has become much more affordable for visitors from abroad, if not for its residents.

"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 - among the 10 best places to launch a music career;

* The London Underground which was considered one of the world's top 10 "geek trips";

* The Isle of Wight and Ireland's County Clare - among the best world cycling routes;

* The county of Somerset - one of the world's top 10 places to walk a dog and offering "dozens of scenic walks".

* Bourneville, Birmingham - one of the world's best places for chocolate;

* The Green Man Festival in Crickhowell, near Abergavenny, South Wales, and the Homegame Festival in Anstruther, Scotland - two of the guide's "10 fantastic music festivals".