They’ve been distinguished as being cities that have adapted most rapidly to the demands of the knowledge economy by The Work Foundation.

According to the organisation the key to the success of an Ideopolis is ‘knowledge intensity’ – the number of knowledge industries and knowledge workers within a city and its surrounding region.

There is a huge boost to both economic growth and prosperity if 25% of organisations in a city are ‘knowledge businesses’, according to The Work Foundation.

Alexandra Jones, Ideopolis Project Director at The Work Foundation commented: "A small number of cities are at the cutting edge of the knowledge economy and are hugely attractive as places to do business, live and work. Other cities must learn from their success."

Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow and Newcastle follow closely behind the poll leaders.