London welcomed 17.4 million international visitors, more than ever before, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey. The capital of the United Kingdom received 3.5 percent more international tourists from the previous record of 16.8 million visits in 2013.

The city was one of the world’s biggest tourists magnets last year with its several cultural attractions, world-class sporting events and mix of blockbuster exhibitions and events, including “Henri Matisse: The Cut Outs” at the Tate Modern, “Ming: 50 years that Changed China” at the British Museum, “Anselm Kiefer” at the Royal Academy, “Sherlock Holmes” at the Museum of London, the Frieze Art Fair, the Tour de France Grand Depart, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the Chelsea Flower Show.

“These terrific new figures confirm that record numbers of tourists are spending record amounts of dosh in our amazing city,” said Boris Johnson, mayor, London. “Our status as the No. 1 destination in the world is surely beyond any doubt, and with incredible attractions like the Rugby World Cup heading our way we look forward to welcoming many thousands more visitors to London.”

A record 58 million people from the United Kingdom and overseas visited the city’s 40 most popular tourist attractions last year, representing an increase of 4 percent from 2013, according to the Attractions Monitor visitor survey compiled by London & Partners. The most significant trend was an increase in tourists visiting military exhibitions, with a boost of 22 percent to 3.6 million. The Tower of London’s “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” was the most popular attraction, with more than 5 million visitors.

This year, London continues to offer impressive exhibitions, including “Goya: the Portraits” at the National Gallery, “No Colour Bar” at the Guildhall Art Gallery, “The World Goes Pop” at the Tate Modern and the popular “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” at the V&A. The city will also host Formula E, the NFL International Series and some of the biggest matches in this year’s Rugby World Cup.