The number of people visiting London continues to rise, according to new numbers.
In the second quarter of 2015, 5.1 million international visitors trekked to the city, according to numbers from the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey (IPS). That represents an uptick of 6 percent over a year ago.
“These numbers prove that our great capital is without a doubt the best place on earth to visit,” Mayor of London Boris Johnson said in a news release.“People come from around the world to experience our unique mix of history, culture, shopping and world-class events. With our spectacular Autumn season of culture and the Rugby World Cup having put London in the spotlight once again, well undoubtedly be welcoming even more tourists to London in the months ahead.”
More than 18.8 million international visitors are expected to travel to London this year, making it a more popular destination than Bangkok and Paris. The city saw 17.4 million international visitors to the city last year, a record year.
“The positive figures for the second quarter of 2015 bode well for another year of strong visitor numbers and spend across the city’s museums and art galleries, attractions, restaurants and hotels,” Gordon Innes, CEO at London & Partners, said in a news release.
The numbers extend beyond London. A total of 9.9 million international visitors visited the United Kingdom between April and June, which was 5 percent more a year ago.