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London is said to be benefiting from an influx of cultural tourists as a result of wide and varied art exhibitions.

The English capital is staking its claim as the world's capital for art shows as it presents the work of some of the finest artists of all time this autumn, reports Reuters.

Leonardo da Vinci, Hans Holbein, Auguste Rodin and David Hockey exhibitions can be attended at different locations in the coming weeks and months.

'It is an amazing autumn,' said Charles Saumarez Smith, director of the National Gallery which is hosting a Velazquez exhibition. 'Everyone has got their big guns out.

'One in five of our visitors is from abroad. Having all these big exhibitions on is very important to the London economy.

'We are the heart of cultural tourism. I reckon you are talking about the best part of 750,000 people coming in for these exhibitions,' he added.

It is all good news for tourism officials in the country and they hope that that will continue into the next few years.

'London is definitely a capital for art and I think that will increase in the buildup to the 2012 Olympics," said Elliott Frisby from Visit Britain.

'One of the things about this country is our cultural appeal. Admissions at the Tate Britain museum went up last year by 60%.

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