Brits have cast their votes for Britain’s 30 most beautiful buildings – and it’s Buckingham Palace that’s No.1.
The origins of the iconic structure, which garnered 24 per cent of the vote, can be traced back to 1703, when it was home to the Duke of Buckingham and referred to as Buckingham House.
In 1837, the iconic palace became the official London residence of the UK’s sovereign and is today the administrative headquarters of the Monarch, attracting over a million visitors a year.
The rest of the top five comprises St Paul’s Cathedral (second, 21 per cent), the Tower of London (third, 20 per cent), York Minster (fourth, 18 per cent), and Westminster Abbey (fifth, 16 per cent).
Warwick Castle comes sixth (13 per cent), just ahead of the Houses of Parliament (seventh, 11 per cent).
Brits have cast their votes for Britain’s 30 most beautiful buildings – and it’s Buckingham Palace that’s No.1
St Paul’s Cathedral comes second in the ranking with 21 per cent of the vote
The Tower of London comes third with 20 per cent of the vote
York Minster comes fourth with 18 per cent of the vote
In joint eighth, it’s a mixture of modern and ancient, with The Shard in London (built in 2009), the Shambles in York (900 years old) and Cornwall’s Eden Project (which opened in 2001) all sharing 10 per cent of the vote.
Ninth place is also shared by three structures – the Indo-Saracenic-style Royal Pavilion in Brighton (nine per cent), The Royal Crescent in Bath (nine per cent), featuring a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent, and Salisbury Cathedral.
The middle of the list, drawn up from a poll of 2,000 people commissioned by Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland, includes Blackpool Tower (joint 11th, seven per cent), which receives over 650,000 visitors a year, Whitby Abbey (joint 11th, seven per cent) and London King’s Cross Station (joint 12th, six per cent).
Westminster Abbey garnered 16 per cent of the vote, putting it in fifth place
In sixth is medieval Warwick Castle, with 13 per cent of the vote
The biomes of Cornwall’s Eden Project, which comes joint eighth
The 900-year-old Shambles in York comes joint eighth
Populating the bottom of the list is the Barbican Centre in London (joint 14th, four per cent) and Central Chambers in Glasgow (joint 15th, three per cent).
Two-thirds (67 per cent) of those quizzed agree that the UK has some of the most beautiful buildings in the world, with 71 per cent admitting that they forget how beautiful the country is.
Six in ten (60 per cent) believe that there is a huge amount to see in the UK, including the stunning scenery (46 per cent) and fantastic heritage and history (33 per cent).
The Indo-Saracenic-style Royal Pavilion in Brighton is joint ninth
Blackpool Tower comes joint 11th with seven per cent of the vote
Caernarfon Castle, Wales, claims joint 11th place with 7 per cent of the vote
Over a third (35 per cent) admit they love exploring Britain’s shores, as it is easier to get around (34 per cent), cheaper (32 per cent) and less stressful (30 per cent).
Suzanne Cannon, Head of Marketing at Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland, said: ‘It’s clear to see that the UK is home to so many stunning buildings, both new and old, and it’s great that so many Brits recognise it as a beautiful staycation spot.
‘For those planning to enjoy a staycation, then look no further. Our 49 hotels across the UK are perfectly situated in city centres, just a stone’s throw away from some of Brits’ favourite buildings and iconic landmarks.’