Brighton and Hove may well be the jewel in the crown of the South Coast but it seems the rain-soaked streets of the North are proving more alluring to visitors.

Brighton and Hove has been edged out of a league of Britain's top ten cities, which has seen Leeds named number one.

While the London of the North was voted the UK's favourite city in a new poll, London-on-Sea was beaten into 11th.

The nation's capital came second, followed by Edinburgh and Glasgow. Perhaps it's no longer grim to live Up North.

Brighton and Hove trailed behind Bath, Manchester, Newcastle, York, Oxford and Cambridge.

Council leader Ken Bodfish has ridiculed the poll, saying it represents a backlash against South-East England.

He said: "This is pure jealousy. People are sick and tired of Brighton and Hove winning so many accolades and want to give someone else a chance.

"They have picked a city like Leeds because it has improved slightly over the last few years, but that does not mean it is better than Brighton and Hove. I've been there a few times and I only wanted to stay a few hours.

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating. You only have to look at how many more visitors come to Brighton and Hove each year compared to Leeds, how many people want to live here, how many students want to stay on after university.

"These little surveys are all good fun, but in reality Brighton and Hove is the place people want to come to, not Leeds."

Traders are also shocked by the survey results.

Peter Stocker of the North Laine Traders' Association said: "I am very surprised by this. Brighton and Hove has really started to get its act together in the last few years so it seems a shame not to be in the top ten.

"I have just come back from a holiday in Florida and I saw brochures for Brighton in Orlando Airport - that can't be a bad sign. This must just be a blip."

This year The Lanes was voted the second coolest place in Britain, beaten only by the Millennium Eye.

The city regularly features in the top ten city lists printed in The Guardian and Independent newspapers, and in 2001 was named Best Seaside Resort in the British Heritage Magazine Awards.

The new survey was carried out by upmarket magazine Conde Nast Traveller and judged architecture, culture, food and value for money.

The Lonely Planet guide recently dubbed Leeds the "Knightsbridge of the North" and the city has a bustling nightlife, designer boutiques and a host of luxury hotels.