London has been named the best city to visit by Tripadvisor , according to users from across the world.

The 2016 Travellers' Choice Award, based on an algorithm that takes into account reviews of accommodation, eateries and attractions, crowned the capital first for the second time, beating Istanbul in Turkey to the scoop.

A spokesperson for the firm said the first time London won was in 2012, when the city benefited greatly from a tourism boost due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Most popular attractions include the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum in Kensington and the Southbank Centre.

Voters also flagged up iconic landmarks which made their visit spectacular, such as the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Tower Bridge.

Chris Gottlieb, of Visit London, told getwestlondon: "London boasts an unrivalled mix of history, cutting-edge contemporary culture and a rich calendar of special happenings to entice international visitors and encourage online reviews.

"Our latest tourism campaign, Fans of London, will shine a spotlight on some very exciting events to come, including the celebrations around 400 years of Shakespeare's legacy and the first international exhibition of the Rolling Stones, Exhibitionism."

Voters gave London's restaurants a 4/5 on average and 3.9/5 for its hotels
Voters gave London's restaurants a 4/5 on average and 3.9/5 for its hotels (Pic: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

2015 was a popular year in tourism for London, with the Rugby World Cup, Savage Beauty exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum and the birth of Princess Charlotte all contributing to the city's popularity.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “London is undoubtedly the cultural capital of the world thanks to our iconic attractions, buzzing entertainment scene and amazing museums and galleries.

“Coupled with our abundance of top-notch hotels and restaurants offering every cuisine one’s taste buds could desire, it is no wonder London has been named the best travel destination.

It is an incredibly dynamic city with something for everyone.”

This year, eyes are on the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations and the release of JK Rowling's theatre production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the summer.

In order, the most popular world cities by customer rankings for the 2016 award were London, Istanbul, Marrakech, Paris, Siem Reap, Prague, Rome, Hanoi, New York and Ubud in Indonesia.