Once notorious for its slums, gangs and industrial dereliction, Glasgow's resurrection as one of the country's trendiest and liveliest cities has been confirmed.

The travel guide Lonely Planet has confounded the sceptics who disparage the city for its hard-drinking, violent reputation by claiming it is one of the world's top 10 cities for visitors - on a par with Chicago, Lisbon and Mexico City. Glasgow, which is hosting the Commonwealth games in 2014, now boasts alumni such as the actor James McAvoy, pan-fried scallops caught off the nearby coast, and "defining experiences" such as cruising down the Clyde by powerboat and "adding your voice to the Hampden roar" at the city's international football stadium.

"Forget about castles, kilts, bagpipes and tartan," the travel firm's Best in Travel 2009 guide states.

"You come for the cocktails, cuisine and designer chic (plus the legendary native wit) ... Scotland's biggest city has shaken off its shroud of industrial soot and shimmied into a sparkling new designer gown." Glasgow is the only British city included in the top 10, an accolade embraced by Steven Purcell, leader of the city council. He yesterday helped to unveil plans by the Dubai-based Jumeirah hotel group to build a so-called "six-star" luxury hotel in the city - a 26-storey tower which will boast 160 guest rooms and suites and 85 serviced apartments.

"The Lonely Planet guide is yet another resounding vote of confidence in Glasgow, establishing itself as a city with a worldwide reputation for tourism, big events, shopping and having a good time," he said. The guide also claimed that the south-west coastal path from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset is one of the world's best walks beside water, while walking over London Bridge was in the list of "spine-tingling commutes".

The shielings, a group of large canvas tents on the island of Mull off the west coast of Scotland, featured in the "coolest camps" section, while Highgate cemetery in north London, which includes the grave of Karl Marx, was among the best places for deep thinking.

The top 10 cities were:

Antwerp

Beirut

Chicago

Glasgow

Lisbon

Mexico City

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Shanghai

Warsaw

Zurich