Tourism body Visit London announced the winners of its 2005 awards on 29 November in a ceremony at Old Billingsgate Market which saw the National Maritime Museum walk away with the prize for the UK capital's best large visitor attraction.

The museum beat off stiff competition, with Tate Modern taking the silver award and Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms and Madame Tussauds London taking joint bronze.

Dulwich Picture Gallery took gold, while South London Gallery and Kew Bridge Steam Museum took silver and bronze respectively in the small visitor attraction category.

The large hotel of the year award went to the Metropolitan Hotel off Park Lane and the Halkin, between Hyde Park Corner and Sloane Street took the small hotel of the year award.

The London Eye came top in the Tour London category for its new schools programme, launched earlier this year. The attraction was also voted as best day out for Londoners, alongside River Cruise, by viewers of London Tonight.

The outstanding achievement award was given to the London 2012 bid team for its work in securing the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for the capital.

The black tie event was hosted by GMTV presenter Kate Garraway and guests were entertained by Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.