The Traveller's Magazine
All eyes have been on Great Britain this weekend as London opened the 2012 Summer Olympic Games with a smashing ceremony. Tourists from all over the world have come to experience the Games but did you know their favourite landmark isn’t even in London?
In a recent poll by MSN users were asked about their favourite landmarks in Great Britain. Turns out that the number one pick isn’t as obvious as it may seem; it’s not even in London… far from it actually! Here’s the round up of Britain’s top 5 landmarks. Do you agree with the choices and how they are ranked?
#5: Tower Bridge
Before Tower Bridge, which was completed in 1894, London Bridge was the only bridge crossing the Thames. But with quickly expanding London, the east end of the city desperately needed another crossing. The bridge is marked by its two towers connected by two high-level walkways 44m above the water. Today. More than 40,000 motorists, cyclists and pedestrians cross it each day.
#4: Big Ben
Arguably the most famous bell in the world, Big Ben is the great bell of the clock tower in the Palace of Westminster. It’s the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third tallest free-standing clock tower in the world. Today the clock has become a symbol not only of London but of the United Kingdom and is one of the most recognizable sights in the world, but when it comes to favourite British landmarks, it’s only 4th.
#3: Durdle Door
If you’re not from the UK you may be scratching your head on this one. Durdle Door isn’t as well known as some of the other landmarks on the list but it is definitely a sight to see, located on the Jurassic Coast of Enland between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove in Dorset. The natural limestone archway has played backdrop in a number of films including Nanny McPhee.
#2: Stonehenge
The mystery of this stone monument definitely adds to the popularity of this UNESCO World Heritage Sight in Wiltshire which is believed to have been constructed some 2,500 years ago. Today the landmark is central to summer solstice celebrations and is a popular day-out if you have a car hire from London.
#1: Giant’s Causeway
Lastly the most popular landmark goes to Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland which has been an UNESCO World Heritage Sight since the 1980s. It is made up of almost 37,000 black basalt columns in peculiar geometric shapes which were formed from molten lava during the Palaeogene period, up to 60 million years ago.
What are your favourite landmarks in Britain?
