A survey by national tourism agency VisitBritain of overnight stays by overseas visitors has revealed that some of the country's largest industrial cities have become highly fashionable international tourist destinations.

When researchers looked at all types of visits between 2006 and 2009, London came out as the top destination for international tourists with an average of 15 million overseas visitors staying in the city each year, followed in second place by Edinburgh with 1.3 million. But Manchester, with its new landmark buildings such as the Lowry Centre, a thriving art and culture scene and world-class sport, is firmly in third place with about 900,000 visits, followed by Birmingham with its outstanding arts scene and exhibitions on 737,000. Glasgow, renowned for its style, culture, architecture and design, attracted 687,000 foreign visitors.

For purely holiday trips London again dominates with 6.6 million visits, with Edinburgh in second place on 771,000. However, they are joined in the top five by two other cities, Glasgow on 312,000 and Inverness on 180,000. Liverpool, European Capital of Culture in 2008, comes next, with an average of 162,000 foreign visitors staying over in each of the past four years. Apart from recording the rise of the industrial cities, the analysis also offers insights into which towns and cities are most attractive to people of different nationalities. Germans, for instance, make up the largest group of visitors to Southampton, Canterbury and Brighton and Hove.

While more Americans go to Bath than any other nationality, for Bristol and Plymouth the French are the largest market. The French and Irish vie for the top spot in Cardiff and Swansea, while the French and the Americans tie for first place in Cambridge. Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle attract more visitors from Ireland than anywhere else. Shakespearean connections no doubt help to explain why the Americans are the top visitors to Stratford-Upon-Avon. Visitors from the USA are also the biggest market for the city of York, but Australians are close behind.

Patricia Yates, strategy and communications director for VisitBritain said: "This survey confirms an astonishing transformation of our industrial heartlands has taken place. "They have become dynamic, stylish international destinations that are increasingly beloved of foreign visitors. Manchester has become the home of Brit Cool, Birmingham wows people with its world class cultural scene, Liverpool pulsates as the home of the Beatles and Liverpool FC, and Glasgow with its unique architecture, countryside and coastal views has become Scotland's style capital. They have become a joy for tourists to discover."

Image of Manchester's Lowry Centre : Rob Chafer