London is "jaw-droppingly expensive", but is still a city "the world revolves around", according to the new edition of a popular travel guide.

The latest Lonely Planet guide is lavish in its praise of London, and says the whole country has improved vastly as a tourist destination.

After giving lukewarm reviews to Britain and its tourist attractions in recent years, the guide now says London is the "exhilarating" capital of a country it describes as "simply one of the most beautiful islands on earth".

"London continues to be jaw-droppingly expensive but it's no surprise given it's a city the world revolves around," the Lonely Planet guide says.

Guide author David Else summarizes his opinion of London: "exhilarating, irrepressible, intimidating and brimming with spectacle and possibilities."

Lonely Planet does, however, temper its praise of London and the UK.

"There will always be things to whinge about, licensing hours, transport and high costs for example."