London crowned the 'best city in the world'

The quality of our public transport has also been recognised. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

London has been ranked the best city in the world -- after being judged on levels of health, safety, security, the economy and transport.

The capital beat other world cities such as New York, Singapore and Paris to come top of Price Waterhouse Cooper’s “cities of opportunities” index for the first time.

Here are the main factors used to judge each city:

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL & INNOVATION

  • Libraries

  • Literacy

  • World university rankings

  • Intellectual property protection

TECHNOLOGY

  • Internet access in schools

  • Broadband quality

  • Digital economy

  • Software development

CITY GATEWAY

  • International tourists

  • Number of top 100 airports

  • On-time flight departures

TRANSPORTATION

  • Cost of public transport

  • Licensed taxis

  • Major construction activity

  • Housing

Source: ITN Credit: ITN

HEALTH, SAFETY & SECURITY

  • Hospitals and health employment

  • Health system performance

  • End-of-life care

  • Crime

  • Political Environment

SUSTAINABILITY

  • Natural disaster risk

  • Recycled waste

  • Air pollution

  • Publis park space

LIVEABILITY

  • Cultural vibrancy

  • Quality of living

  • Working age population

  • Traffic congestion

  • Ease commute

  • Relocation attractiveness

ECONOMIC CLOUT

  • Number of global 500 headquarters

  • Financial and business services empoyment

  • Rate of real growth GDP

So with all that taken into account here are the world's top 30 cities:

  • 1) London

  • 2) New York

  • 3) Singapore

  • 4) Toronto

  • 5) San Francisco

  • 6) Paris

  • 7) Stockholm

  • 8) Hong Kong

  • 9) Sydney

  • 10) Chicago

  • 11) Berlin

  • 12) Los Angeles

  • 13) Tokyo

  • 14) Seoul

  • 15) Madrid

  • 16) Dubai

  • 17) Kuala Lumpur

  • 18) Milan

  • 19) Beijing

  • 20) Shanghai

  • 21) Moscow

  • 22) Mexico City

  • 23) Johannesburg

  • 24) Buenos Aires

  • 25) Istanbul

  • 26) Sao Paulo

  • 27) Rio de Janeiro

  • 28) Mumbai

  • 29) Jakarta

  • 30) Nairobi