Average room rates in hotels in major UK cities rose 1.7 per cent last year, bucking a downward trend in Europe, according to a survey.

London hotel rooms cost an average of £156.91 in 2010 – a three per cent rise on the 2009 figure, the survey by Hogg Robinson Group found.

The next most-expensive UK hotel rooms last year were in Aberdeen, but the average of £108.58 was eight per cent down on 2009.

The biggest increase among the UK locations in the worldwide survey was at Heathrow airport where room rates last year rose five per cent to £106.92.

Average rates at Gatwick airport and at Bristol rose three per cent last year, but rates fell sharply in Dublin hotels (down 11 per cent) and in hotels in Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire (down 14 per cent).

Worldwide, the most expensive city to stay in last year was Moscow, with average room rates of £258.67 despite a three per cent fall on the 2009 figure.

Of the 75 towns and cities listed in order of room rate expense, London was in 29th place.

Douglas McWilliams, of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, said: “The UK economy recorded stronger-than-expected growth in 2010 and hotel prices returned to growth.

“Across the UK, some interesting trends emerged as London led the recovery in hotel prices. Within the EU, Heathrow saw the third highest growth rate in hotel prices.”

He went on: “In general, business surveys have shown London and southeast England, with its large private sector and lesser reliance on the public sector, to be recovering reasonably well.

“In contrast, many cities in regions that are more dependent on the public sector for economic activity have seen further declines in hotel prices in 2010.”

These were the 10 highest average hotel room rates in the UK in 2010 compared with 2009:

1. London £156.91 (+ 3%)
2. Aberdeen £108.58 (- 8%)
3. Heathrow airport £106.92 (+5%)
4. Newcastle upon Tyne £94.09 (-2%)
5. Manchester £92.41 (-3%)
6. Edinburgh £92.43 (+ 1%)
7. Bristol £90.97 (+ 3%)
8. Liverpool £83.88 (-3%)
9. Belfast £82.39 (-4%)
10.Birmingham £85.87 (0%)

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