London named best city in the world for culture

"The capital was recognised for its large, high-quality, accessible cultural scene, which included "theatre, art galleries, museums, literary festivals, live music and comedy". The ranking resulted from surveying more than 24,000 city residents worldwide and gathering insights from a panel of Time Out experts and editors. Justine Simons, deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries, said London was a "global cultural capital"."

""Culture is our DNA in London. It's worth 64bn to the London economy. It's the reason most of our tourists come here." Time Out ranked Paris, France, second for culture and New York, United States, third. London-based drag queen Ginger Johnson said it was "absolutely right" that the capital had been named the best city in the world for culture."

""The most fabulous thing about London is that because we're so packed in here, you are never more than a stone's throw away from something spectacular and world-class, like the National Opera, and then a grubby little drag bar," she said. "The clash of those things against each other is what makes the culture of London so rich and so exciting.""

"Simons said the accessibility of culture was important in the capital. "In London you can see everything. You can go to a grassroots music venue, you can go to a mega concert, you can find art in a car park in Peckham, you can go to Tate Modern - it's the dynamism of all those creative disciplines working together. "Free museums and galleries are absolutely at the heart of our success as a cultural capital.""

London is named the world’s best city for culture, recognized for a large, high-quality, accessible cultural scene. The cultural offerings include theatre, art galleries, museums, literary festivals, live music, and comedy. The ranking is based on a survey of more than 24,000 city residents worldwide and input from Time Out experts and editors. London’s deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries calls it a global cultural capital, noting that culture is central to the economy and tourism. London is also praised for proximity to both major world-class venues and small local spaces, creating a rich cultural mix. Free museums and galleries are highlighted as key to success.

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