Right now we are all dreaming of going off to some far flung country. We want sun, sea and some kind of drink with an umbrella in it. That might not be happening any time soon but it might not be too long before we can get back to exploring our own country. Our beautiful country.
But where are the most beautiful spots in the UK? Researchers from London North Eastern Railway (LNER) asked members of the public to vote on their favourite beauty spots across the British Isles.
The iconic Loch Ness topped the list, with 27 percent of Brits insisting it was their favourite view in the entire United Kingdom. A close second was Lake Windermere in the Lake District (27 percent), joined by the London Eye (26 percent) and the Tower of London (24 percent).
Views from all over Briton made the list, from the Yorkshire Dales to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. This research shows that we are a proud nation, as nearly half (47 percent) insisted that we have some of the most beautiful views in the world, and a further 44 percent admitting they are grateful to live somewhere that has such stunning scenery.
David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “It’s clear to see that as a nation we’re proud to be home to some amazing views, ranging from natural beauty like Loch Ness and the Yorkshire Dales to great cities like London and York. Although restrictions are in place for now, it is not difficult to see why so many of us will be looking to explore the beauty of Britain once it is safe to do so.
What is it that makes us love our country’s tourist spots so much? 47 percent of Brits polled said we have a great mix of both landscapes and urban cityscapes. 45 percent think there’s so much history to see in our views, while over a third said that how close many of our cities are to the countryside means you can be seeing a totally different view in minutes.
“When people can travel again, it is pleasing to see that the staycation should return thanks to the ease of travelling around the UK, and an enjoyable, safe journey being a key priority. We are not surprised to see destinations on the LNER route feature highly in the popular vote as we are blessed with some of the most picturesque spots in the UK. With over 900 miles of track to explore, we’re looking forward to helping people discover their favourite views again soon.”
Like us, two thirds of the nation have British beauty spots and destinations on their own personal travel bucket lists (67 percent). In fact, more than half of those involved say that a UK-based trip can be just as enjoyable – or even better – than a holiday abroad.
So with all the great views on our doorstep, will we be visiting more of them in the near future? Well, 77 percent of Brits that are hoping to holiday this summer are planning to take a UK staycation first before planning a trip abroad. And, unsurprisingly, sixty percent of the people polled admitted they have found UK-based travel restrictions over the past 12 months to be frustrating.
The full list of Britain’s favourite beauty spots:
- Loch Ness – Scotland 27%
- Lake Windermere – Lake District 27%
- The London Eye 26%
- The Tower of London 24%
- St Ives Bay, Cornwall 24%
- Ingleton, The Yorkshire Dales 24%
- Snowdonia, Wales 23%
- Man O’War beach, The Jurassic Coast – 20%
- The White Cliffs of Dover 19%
- Stonehenge, Salisbury 19%
- Ben Nevis, Lochaber – Scotland 18%
- Cheddar Gorge, Somerset 18%
- York Minster, York 17%
- Loch Lomond, The Trossachs National Park – Scotland 16%
- Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons, Wales 16%
- The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland 16%
- Durdle Door, Dorset 15%
- Westminster Bridge, London 15%
- Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh 15%
- St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall 14%
- Peak District view from Stanage Edge – Derbyshire 13%
- Buttermere, the Lake District 13%
- Robin Hoods Bay, the Dinosaur Coast – Yorkshire 13%
- Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland 12%
- Richmond Park, London 12%
- The Angel of the North, Gateshead 11%
- The Three Sisters, Glencoe Valley – Scotland 11%
- Freshwater Bay, the Isle of Wight 11%
- Eden Valley – Cumbria 10%
- Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland 9%
