WHEN the Lonely Planet guide said Yorkshire would be the third best place on earth to visit in 2014, it cited the county’s rugged moorlands, heritage homes and cosy pubs. Plus of course the Tour de France.

But it appears many people had already discovered the county’s charms, especially in York where figures just released show visitor numbers for 2013 were up 18 per cent on the year before.

It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that so many tourists were drawn here last year. After all, Mallard 75 at the National Railway Museum, Revealing York Minster and Richard III artefacts at the Yorkshire Museum were of national importance.

Then there was the weather. Last summer’s heatwave undoubtedly played its part in giving York the best figures in almost decade. But this didn’t happen by accident and the thousands who work tirelessly to make York such a fantastic place to visit all deserve a pat on the back.

Who knows, with similarly good weather, and the Grand Départ, this year’s figures may even turn out to exceed 2013’s success.