More Brits Have Seen Eiffel Tower Than Tower of London, Survey Finds

A survey of 2,000 adults has found that more Britons have visited the Eiffel Tower (55%) than some of the UK's most iconic landmarks, including the Tower of London (54%), Tower Bridge (53%) and Trafalgar Square (52%). The research also indicated that people are better at identifying foreign landmarks than those closer to home.

Foreign Landmarks More Recognisable

More than three quarters (78%) of respondents could identify the Eiffel Tower, while 71% recognised the Leaning Tower of Pisa and 61% could identify Rome's Colosseum. By contrast, fewer people were able to recognise St Paul's Cathedral (58%), Westminster Abbey (53%) and Edinburgh Castle (52%).

Sand Sculpture Unveiled in Blackpool

To celebrate British landmarks, Railcard.co.uk, which commissioned the research, collaborated with Sand in Your Eye to create a sand sculpture of the country's top five bucket-list locations. The sculpture was unveiled on Blackpool promenade and will remain for the public to admire until the weekend. Constructed using 12 tonnes of sand and taking three days to complete, it showcases the Tower of London (22%), Edinburgh Castle (18%), Stonehenge (18%), Eden Project (18%) and Loch Ness (18%).

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Barriers to Exploring UK Heritage

The vast majority of respondents (79%) said they would like to explore more British landmarks, but the cost of living (43%) and lack of time (33%) are the main barriers. When visiting British landmarks, 23% travel by train, citing reasons such as it being relaxing (59%), more convenient (46%) and not having to worry about parking (43%).

Catherine Lyver, from railcard.co.uk, which commissioned the research to encourage Brits to make the most of British landmarks by offering a third off travel for adults and 60% off for children, said: “It’s easy to overlook the iconic landmarks and hidden gems on our doorstep, yet Great Britain is full of incredible places to explore.”

“We’re encouraging people to do a third more with their break, making it easier and more affordable to tick off some of the bucket-list-worthy destinations closer to home. Whether you’re still looking to tick off historic favourites like the Tower of London or have added the modern Eden Project to your list, there are plenty of opportunities to make your summer go further when you travel by train.”