London has been named Best City in Europe, and it's top for culture. There was never any question

London has done it again. This week, the Resonance Europe’s Best Cities Report named the capital Best European City for the second year running. She’s like Adele at any given awards ceremony: grateful, but she knew it was coming.

Because there is, essentially, no contest. And a large part of the reason that London topped the list is its unmatched culture scene — indeed, it came first in the culture category too, as if there had been any question about it.

Let me elaborate (indulge me, please, this is my favourite subject).

London is home to, the vast majority of which are . . Before you even think about the superb that punctuate every glittering year, you can just waltz into the on any day of the week and plonk yourself in front of the Arnolfini Portrait (Jan van Eyck, 1434) or Artemisia Gentileschi’s Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria (c1615-17). You can immerse yourself in the elegance of ancient Korean pottery at the British Museum, or swoon over delicious wallpapers at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, for nothing. Not even the price of a coffee. And you can use the loo.