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Big Ben voted UK’s No1 Landmark

Jonathan Morrow | 09.04.2008 13:12 | World

Famed for it’s time-keeping accuracy, Big Ben has now cemented its place as Britain’s favourite structure

Big Ben has topped a poll of the United Kingdom’s most popular landmarks.

London’s iconic clock tower, a huge attraction for visitors to the capital, came out on top in a survey to mark the 202nd anniversary of the birth of famous British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

The survey, carried out by construction firm Faithful and Gould, collated the responses of over 2000 people and found Big Ben - which has towered over the Houses of Parliament at Westminster since 1858 - a clear winner ahead of second-placed Wiltshire attraction Stonehenge.

Ironically, none of Brunel’s own structures made the top ten. He is most famous for the creation of the Great Western Railway, which revolutionised 19th century public transport, but the likes of Blackpool Tower and Edinburgh Castle proved more popular with voters.

Donald Lawson of Faithful and Gould, Part of the Atkins Group, said: “Like Brunel, people in Britain are extremely passionate about the buildings and structures around them. The poll really brings home the impact that the built environment has on our nation’s conciousness – buildings at their best can leave a legacy for generations to come.”

Jonathan Morrow