Buckingham Palace is Britain’s most beautiful building according to a definitive new poll seeking to rank the nation’s 30 most iconic architectural structures.
The administrative home of the British monarch received a whopping 24 per cent of the vote to claim top spot.
With its origins tracing back to 1703, the iconic palace became the official London residence of the UK’s sovereign in 1837 and today attracts over a million visitors a year.
Rounding off the rest of the top five were London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral (21 per cent), York Minster (18 per cent), Westminster Abbey (16 per cent) and Warwick Castle (13 per cent).
One in ten named London’s tallest building, The Shard, as their favourite structure with another 10 per cent listing Cornwall’s botanical marvel, The Eden Project, as their top choice.
Six of the UK’s 10 most beautiful buildings are located in London
1. Buckingham Palace
2. St. Paul’s Cathedral
3. Tower of London
4. York Minster
5. Westminster Abbey
6. Warwick Castle
7. Houses of Parliament
8. The Shard
9. Shambles, York
10. The Eden Project
Brighton’s Indo-Saracenic Royal Pavilion and Bath’s historical Royal Crescent both notched 9 per cent of people’s preferences.
The iconic Blackpool Tower received 7 per cent of first choice votes, as did Wales’ second highest ranked building, Caernarfon Castle in Gwynedd.
Boasting builds which incorporate both old and new design, the list also includes the likes of London’s Kings Cross Station and the newly renovated Great Court at the British Museum.
Two thirds of those surveyed (67 per cent) agreed that the UK had some of the most beautiful buildings in the world, with 71 per cent of respondents admitting to forgetting how beautiful the country was.
60 per cent of people believe that the UK offers a huge amount for people to see and experience. 46 per cent agreed that it provides stunning scenery and a further 33 per cent of those polled claim it offers fantastic heritage and history.
The survey also revealed that nearly two thirds (65 per cent) of Britons were planning on taking a staycation this year as they look to enjoy some of the nation’s most famous landmark buildings.
Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland commissioned the survey, with the company’s head of marketing, Suzanne Cannon, stating that ‘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.’
Britain’s most beautiful buildings according to a new survey commissioned by Leonardo Hotels
11. The Royal Pavilion, Brighton
12. Salisbury Cathedral
13. Bath’s Royal Crescent
14. Bath Abbey
15. Durham Cathedral
16. Cardiff Castle
17. Lincoln Cathedral
18. Blackpool Tower
19. Whitby Abbey
20. Caernarfon Castle
21. Kings Cross Station
22. Liver Building, Liverpool
23. Conwy Castle
24. The Great Court at the British Museum
25. Highclere Castle, Hampshire
26. Battersea Power Station
27. Barbican Centre
28. Bodleian Abbey, Oxford
29. Winter Gardens, Sheffield
30. Central Chambers, Glasgow
