BRITAIN still has some way to go to shake off its image as a wet and foggy country, according to a poll of would-be overseas visitors.

Only six per cent of the 1,000 potential tourists from 36 countries worldwide totally disagreed that Britain was "always wet and foggy", the poll by VisitBritain found.

As many as 14 per cent "totally agreed" with the wet and foggy description, while 35 per cent agreed, but less strongly, with the opinion, and 26 per cent had no strong view either way.

On a scale of one to seven, with one representing those who totally disagreed with the wet and foggy description and seven being those who totally agreed, the average score was 4.48.

When asked if they agreed with the statement: "I would not want to visit Britain because of the weather there", only four per cent totally agreed and as many as 36 per cent totally disagreed, with the average score on the one-to-seven scale being 2.76.

VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said: "This survey shows that Britain's weather is not as bad as folklore would have us believe.

"Our research also tells us that visitors from overseas come here to experience our world-class heritage and culture, be this Tate Liverpool, Edinburgh Castle, the British Museum or Stonehenge.

"Visitors do not come with a belief that should a few drops of rain fall then their trip will be ruined."