Lonely Planet says London is a 'foodie' destination

London's restaurants have improved so much of late that the capital is described as a "foodie destination" in the latest Lonely Planet London guide.

Praise is also lavished on previously derided areas of the city such as Borough and Bermondsey, which have been elevated to the list of already chic areas of London such as Stoke Newington and Hoxton.

Past editions of Lonely Planet's London guide have described the capital as "the home of dirty pigeons and liquored-up lager louts".

But the latest guide says the capital has moved on from the London bombings and richly deserved its 2012 Olympic win.

The last edition commended the eating revolution in the capital, but the 5th edition goes further, revealing that it has spread from the city's centre to the surrounding areas.

It describes London's dining scene as "diverse, stylish and satisfying as anywhere else on the planet and it's no exaggeration to call London a foodie destination".

On Bermondsey and Borough, the guide says they have all the prerequisites for places that are on the up – "a nearby trendy market (Borough Market), a community of creatives living in loft buildings and a growing cluster of gastropubs, restaurants and hip shops".

It also cites Hackney, Broadway Market and Haggerston as other upcoming regions of note.

London's accommodation has also improved, according to the guide, with a surge of high quality 'budget boutique' hotels replacing the old image of dirty net curtains, shabby bedspreads and worn carpets.

Sarah Johnstone, the guide's author, says: "This is a reminder that Londoners should get out and see more of their own city! With new sights and attractions opening almost every day, the evolution of neighbourhoods from humdrum to hip and a plethora of designer restaurants, what are Londoners waiting for?"

But not everywhere in London benefits from such lavish praise. Victoria is described as having "all the pizzazz" of Westminster "without any of the attractions", while Docklands is called a "strange, unnatural enclave".

Of tourist attraction The London Dungeon, the guide says: "All in all ... this camped-up gothic gorefest is rather more underwhelming than even sceptics might suspect."

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