The "Brexit effect" has seen the biggest increase in US tourists coming to the UK since the 1980s, official data shows. Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed that the past six months have seen a 25pc rise in visitors from North America compared to the first half of last year.

In June alone there were a record 650,000 visits, up 35 per cent on the same month last year, it showed.

And in an indication that major terror attacks which took place in London and Manchester over the period did not deter tourists, the majority of overseas visits were for holiday purposes, an increase of 20 per cent on a year earlier.

A spokesman at Visit Britain, said the influx of US tourists over the past year was largely down to a "Brexit effect".

He said: "The vote to leave the EU has put the UK in the international spotlight, so there is definitely more awareness and more awareness leads to more trips.

"Because the pound has fallen against the Euro, the UK is now certainly a more affordable place to visit, which also helps. Meanwhile the US economy has boomed, so people are taking advantage to going on holiday."