YORK has been voted the nation's favourite British city in a new national poll.

The city's cobbled streets, city walls and historic charm won it pride of place in the Daily Telegraph Travel Awards, knocking London off its six-year top spot.

York also beat popular tourist destinations Edinburgh and Bath which came second and third respectively.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said more than four million visitors each year praised the city's buildings, distinctive shops and character.

"York is very different from London - a more compact, very manageable city and one that people immediately feel at home in," she said. "This is helped by the fact that you can arrive by train and in five minutes you are walking around the city centre surround by evidence of 2,000 years of history."

Mrs Cruddas said to receive the award was a great endorsement of visitor's comments.

She said: "We have an excellent mix of accommodation from luxury hotels, quaint B and B's and city centre apartments. We were also one of the first cities to have a pedestrianised centre and this is now used for a whole variety of events and festivals and street entertainment throughout the year."

She said: "We are hosting Royal Ascot at York next June and will be promoting York as the City of Festivals."

Telegraph travel editor Graham Boynton said: "The Telegraph Travel Awards are based on the genuine opinions and experiences of the UK's most affluent travellers and holidaymakers."

Updated: 10:01 Wednesday, October 13, 2004