Leeds ranked fifth on Lonely Planet's Best In Europe 2017 list

Located more than 70 miles from the nearest beach and with July temperatures reaching average highs of 19C, Leeds is not necessarily the first place you would think of for your summer holiday. But Lonely Planet travel guides has seen past the city’s grey skies, ranking it fifth on their list of the 10 best places to visit in Europe in 2017.

Those responsible for the Best In Europe 2017 list – which claims to celebrate destinations with “something new, exciting or undiscovered” – cited urban regeneration efforts, a flourishing cultural scene, thriving nightlife and a growing reputation for food and craft beer among the West Yorkshire city’s attractions.

“Once defined by its industrial past, Leeds is now a confident, cultural hub in the north of England,” said James Smart, Lonely Planet’s UK destination editor. “With major events this year including the reopening of Leeds Art Gallery and the 50th anniversary of Leeds carnival, there’s never been a better time to head to Yorkshire and join the party.”

Croatia’s capital Zagreb took the top spot on the list due to its “cosmopolitan and edgy” atmosphere. Swedish island Gotland came second, and Galicia, Spain, and northern Montenegro were third and fourth. Leeds beat Portugal’s Alentejo, northern Germany, Moldova, Paphos in Cyprus and Le Havre in France.

Judith Blake, the leader of Leeds city council, said the listing was “a fabulous endorsement” and something people in the city could all be incredibly proud of.

“To see Leeds take its place alongside some of the world’s top travel destinations is testament to the vision and hard work of the many businesses, organisations and attractions who contribute so much to the continued growth of our thriving visitor economy,” she said.

Sir Gary Verity, the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said Leeds was being recognised as “a contemporary and dynamic destination that is constantly evolving and pushing boundaries”.

Leeds Art Gallery, with its renowned collection of 20th century British art, will reopen after extensive refurbishment in October, and the city is close to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Wakefield’s Hepworth gallery. The Royal Armouries Museum – home to the national collection of arms and armour – is also in Leeds.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there were 331,000 overseas visits to Leeds in 2016, making it the 14th most visited city or town in the UK – behind Inverness, the 13th most visited town, and Bath and Cardiff, the 12th and 11th most visited. There were 1.4m overseas visits to Yorkshire as a whole in 2016, up 6% on 2015, with tourists spending £516m.