Southamptom Airport has been named the best in the country at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The Eastleigh-based terminal was handed the title of ‘Top UK Airport’ by Wanderlust readers in the 2014 Wanderlust Readers’ Travel Awards.

Thousands of readers of the Wanderlust magazine had their say in the decision before the announcement was made at the glamorous Destinations Show at Earls Court, London.

Southampton Airport ranked top for UK Airports with a satisfaction rating of 87.5 per cent. Final positions were based on an average score for the entry, converted to a percentage – meaning that the award was based on all-important satisfaction levels rather than the number of votes.

Airport managing director Dave Lees said: “The respected award of Top UK Airport is a great credit to the brilliant team that we have working at Southampton Airport, who have a real focus on customer service.

“It is particularly meaningful because the award is based on the impartial opinions of well-travelled people and I’d like to thank all of our passengers who took the time to vote.”

The airport fought off competition from the likes of London City, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Birmingham and Liverpool to take the top gong.

Phoebe Smith, Wanderlust’s editor, said: “With the discerning UK traveller increasingly preferring a more bijou airport experience, it’s no wonder that Wanderlust readers have voted Southampton as the Top UK Airport.

“With its good public transport links, great facilities and flights to 33 destinations from Aberdeen to Verona, it’s a worthy winner.”