Belfast has been named as the ‘best UK city’ by readers of both The Guardian and The Observer.
It is the first time that the Northern Irish capital has topped the list although it was named in the top five as recently as 2009.
Deirdre Hargey, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth, said they were “thrilled” to have received the honour, saying that it “demonstrates the strength of Belfast’s expanding tourism offering and the quality of the visitor experience.”
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“The city has a new energy and exciting vibe and is really asserting itself as a premier tourism destination for business and leisure,” Hargey said.
“Belfast truly is a city to be proud of, and it is fantastic to see that so many people have had such positive experiences whilst visiting.”
Gerry Lennon, the head of Visit Belfast, says the city’s welcome centre in Donegall Square North, dealt with close to 700,000 enquiries last year.
Lennon put the city’s success down to “world-class visitor attractions and events, great local food, from Michelin star restaurants to gastro pubs and award-winning markets.”
