The increase was made up of a 3% increase in visitors from North America to 460,000, a 15% increase from western Europe to 1.97 million, and a 7% increase from the rest of the world to 650,000. The trend echoed that of the year to date.

Visitors for 2004 are up by 13% to nearly 18.5 million, while spending has risen by 9% to £8.44b.Visitors from North America so far are up by 14%, those from western Europe up by 12% and from the rest of the world by 15%.

Tom Wright, chief executive of VisitBritain, the national tourist board, commented: 'Visitors to Britain are now exceeding levels seen prior to 11 September in terms of the number of visits, and this month for the first time expenditure is also at a record high.'