Three out of top five UK destinations for foreign tourists are in Scotland

Foreign tourists love Scotland so much that three of Scots cities have been ranked among the top five UK destinations.

Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness are all listed among the favourite places in Britain for international holidaymakers.

London topped the poll of those staying overnight in the city every year.

But Edinburgh came second, with 771,000 tourists flocking there on holiday.

Glasgow was third with 312,000, followed by Inverness, which hosts 180,000 visitors every year.

The study, conducted by VisitBritain, also placed Edinburgh and Glasgow in the top five for all types of trips to the UK, including business and family visits.

London came top with 15million visitors a year, followed by Edinburgh with 1.3million.

Glasgow was fifth with 687,000 foreign visitors, after Manchester and Birmingham.

VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said the survey proved Scotland’s cities are among the world’s coolest.

He said: “Whether you fancy visiting a farmers market in Edinburgh, enjoy fine dining in Inverness or pop into a bistro in Glasgow, there has never been a better time to visit, as we celebrate Scotland’s year of food and drink.”

VisitBritain’s Patricia Yates said: “Glasgow has gone from being a heavy engineering centre to being one of the most stylish places in Europe.

“Its restaurants, exhibition centre and museums as well as its architecture, countryside and coastal views have made it Scotland’s style capital.”