Greenwich is top for tourists

Greenwich has been voted one of the world's top 10 tourist attractions alongside some of the globe's most exotic places.

Travel publisher Frommer's has included the historic area, which is soon to become the country's fourth royal borough, in a list of must-see places for 2012.

Dr Kevin Fewster, chairman of the Maritime Greenwich world heritage site, said: "Greenwich has always been a popular destination for visitors but it is a great honour for an international publication to recognise it. It's well deserved because of the rich diversity of the borough."

Other top destinations include Girona in Spain, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, cosmopolitan Beirut and Chongging, China.

Greenwich is one of the five Olympic boroughs. The o2 will host the gymnastics, Paralympic volleyball, basketball and badminton and equestrian events in Greenwich park.

The publishers praised Greenwich's ability to reinvent itself since it emerged as a naval centre in the 18th century and its architecture by the likes of Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. It is also home to the Prime Meridian, on which world time is based.

Mark Henshall, the regional editor of the publication, said: "Our annual list is a great resource for travellers searching for their next extraordinary getaway. Our top picks offer smart, lesser known alternatives to overrun spots as well as emerging destinations."