The best cities in the world

Salisbury Selected By Lonely Planet Among Top 10 Cities To Visit

The Wiltshire town of Salisbury has been named one of the top ten cities in the world to visit in 2015 in a new list released by Lonely Planet.

The historic city is the only one in the UK to make grade, and it sits alongside huge metropolises including Washington DC, Milan and Toronto. Words:PA

According to Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2015: "For too long travellers have considered Salisbury a short stop on the way to Stonehenge.

"But 2015 is set to be the year visitors linger in this quintessentially English city as Salisbury uncorks the champagne for the 800th anniversary of its greatest treasure, the Magna Carta."

The guide goes on: "The lightning rod for the celebrations will be Salisbury Cathedral, the neck-straining medieval masterpiece whose Chapter House holds the Magna Carta.

"The cathedral itself boasts a clutch of superlatives, with the tallest spire in Britain, the world's oldest working clock and Britain's largest cloister."

Best in Travel 2015 contributor Tom Hall added: "We included Salisbury because it deserves to be recognised as one of the UK's most important destinations for travellers next year.

"Bursting with history, top class restaurants, atmospheric nightlife and a host of festivals planned for 2015, we believe Salisbury is a must-see for domestic and international travellers alike."

Salisbury featured seventh on the list of top cities beating Vienna and Toronto, while Washington DC was top.

Also in Best in Travel 2015, the Republic of Ireland has been named one of the top countries in the world for travellers in 2015.

Ireland features fifth on the list of top countries ahead of the Philippines, St Lucia and Morocco.

According to the guide: "Ireland is stunningly scenic, its traditions - music, dance, whiskey and beer - firmly intact and the cosmopolitan, contemporary Irish are just as friendly and welcoming as their forebears were known to be."

Here's the complete list of Lonely Plant's top ten cities in the world: