Baku, January 17 (AZERTAC). The number of foreign tourists visiting London surged by 20 per cent last summer to a new record - making it the world’s most popular destination.

Prince George of Cambridge’s birth, Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon triumph and a long hot spell of weather helped to attract almost 4.9 million visitors to the capital between July and September, official figures revealed today.

That was up almost 19.5 per cent on the Olympic summer of 2012 and smashed the previous high of 4.7 million set in 2006.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: “These incredible figures prove that London is without doubt the greatest city on the planet. With so many fascinating museums, the best theatre scene in the world, more green space than any other European city, numerous top sporting venues, a low crime rate and much else besides, it’s no wonder that people from all over the globe are flocking to London in record numbers.” Today’s figures from the Office for National Statistics also show that spending by foreign visitors during the summer also rose — by about five per cent on the bumper Olympic year — to £3.372 billion.

Major attractions such as the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and the National Gallery said visitor numbers were “ through the roof” last summer, with numbers up 17 per cent on 2012.

St Paul’s had said it had 353,463 visitors between May and August, up by almost half on 2012 and 21.1 per cent higher than 2011.

Sell-out blockbuster cultural events also helped to swell the numbers, including the Life And Death In Pompeii And Herculaneum exhibition at the British Museum and David Bowie Is at the V&A.

A number of hugely successful West Ends shows such as The Book Of Mormon also pulled in tourists.

Apart from Wimbledon, summer sporting events in London included the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium and the RideLondon cycle event.

The bumper tourist numbers for the three months from July to September mean 2013 is almost certain to be the best year ever for London, easily beating the 15.6 million high point recorded seven years previously,

London tourism chiefs hope that the capital will hit 16 million for 2013 as a whole, making it the most visited city in the world ahead of Paris, Bangkok and New York.

The number of European visitors surged almost 22 per cent to 2.832 million — though numbers were depressed last summer by the Olympics, which deterred many visitors.

Visits by North Americans were up 12 per cent at 806,000, while those from the rest of the world rose 19 per cent to 1.24 m illion.

Tourism bosses hope that this year will prove equally successful — with landmarks such as the full opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park in April and celebrations in spring to mark the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare.

There will also be a major Sherlock Holmes exhibition opening in October at the London Museum and the Tour de France stage ending in The Mall in early July.

Last year’s summer surge is believed to have continued into the autumn, with “double-digit” percentage in- creases in visitors to London during September and October, according to tourism bosses. Overall trips to London account for about half of all the visits to the UK by foreigners.

A video campaign - called The London Story - has also been launched to promote the capital.

Prominent residents including Gordon Ramsay, Twiggy and Joanna Lumley explain their enduring affection for the city once known as “The Smoke”.

Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse, who chairs promotion agency London & Partners, said the campaign was designed to build on the global reappraisal of London triggered by the Olympics.

He described the video as a “spontaneous outpouring of love for the city” from celebrities and other Londoners who all gave their services free.