London overtakes Paris as the 'most romantic city in the world'

Move over, Paris, there’s a new heartthrob in town, and it’s here to take your crown.

For decades, Paris has been regarded as the ‘most romantic city in the world’ - but times are changing and there’s a new location attracting lovers.

A couple cuddles on Primrose Hill in London (2006) | Getty Images

placeholder image — A couple cuddles on Primrose Hill in London (2006) | Getty Images

New research, by swimwear experts at Pour Moi, reveals the most romantic destinations for couples to add to their bucket lists this summer, and while Paris or Rome may be synonymous with love, the study finds London to be the world’s romantic city in the world.

Take a romantic stroll along the river in London | Francesco Bonistalli

To discover the best cities for lovers, the researchers created an indexed report analysing three data streams for over 550 cities around the globe; including, the number of times reviewers described the locations as ‘romantic,’ the number of ‘things to do for couples’ listed in each city and the number of Instagram posts with the hashtag #datenight+city.

The data was pulled into an index to create a ‘Romantic Score’ out of 100, with London topping the list with a score of 79.11, followed by New York and Miami.

London earned its place at the top of the ranking thanks to over a quarter (26.3%) of the city’s main attractions being reviewed as ‘romantic’ by past visitors.

Among the places described as romantic hotspots in the capital city are the view from the top of The Shard (London’s tallest building), The Meeting Place Statue at St Pancras Station, and a cruise along the city’s canals.

The Meeting Place sculpture by the artist Paul Day at St Pancras station | Getty Images

New York follows closely behind with a score just shy of 66.7, thanks to an impressive number of lovebirds posting their Big Apple date nights on social media. The city is famed for iconic on-screen love stories such as Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw and Mr Big and Gossip Girl’s Blair and Chuck, so it’s no surprise that the city has so much to offer couples.

Another American city making the top three is Florida’s Miami; whilst it is commonly associated with pool parties and the stunning setting of South Beach, it also boasts an array of Michelin restaurants and cosy bars for you and a loved one to enjoy.

In fact, the research found that there are 167 couple-friendly ‘things to do’ according to online travel reviews - from dancing in Little Havana to enjoying a spa day at one of the many five-star resorts.