UKs top landmarks

[Nemesis]

http://londonist.com/2008/04/uks_top_landmar_1.php

No surprise there then.

 

[shelli]

it's not my favorite - i think it's ugly, all that fancy lattice stuff - its like a clock prison - look at us - we control time !! Hah!

How did they determine it was the nations top british landmark - i bet they didn't poll anyone north of Watford

Anyway cant decide what my favorite landmark is- so will shut up and get back in box

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm not sure that 'landmarks' have much to do with aesthetics.
Like it or not, it's hard to argue against Big Ben being a globally recognised icon for London, itself a globally recognised city.

(and yes, I know that 'Big ben' is actually the bell, but that's just another example of the iconic status of the image and its recognition).

 

[Nemesis]

Six of the top 10 landmarks were in London, including the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye.

Blackpool Tower and Edinburgh Castle also appeared in the top 10.

It must be one of the best known and iconic images of Britain.

Personally I love the whole building. It's magnificent inside and I always feel a sense of prIde when I go there.

http://www.parliament.uk/about/history/building.cfm

http://www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/virtualtours.cfm

The clock itself is quite fascinating, wonderful machinery, and the face used to be lit at night by gas. The chiming of Big Ben sort of signals Britishness to me, and is instantly recognisable.

http://www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk/bigben.htm

A little bit of fascinating history:

http://www.aboutbritain.com/BigBen.htm

There are even cells within the clock tower where Members of Parliament can be imprisoned for a breach of parliamentary privilege, though this is rare; the last recorded case was in 1880.

 

[shelli]

There are even cells within the clock tower where Members of Parliament can be imprisoned for a breach of parliamentary privilege, though this is rare; the last recorded case was in 1880.

there have been so many breaches since they've stopped recording them!

 

[Penners]

Personally I love the whole building. It's magnificent inside and I always feel a sense of prIde when I go there.

I completely agree. It's magnificent from every angle, inside and out, and has an appropriate "presence" about it, for the seat of our Government. Big Ben [sic] is its crowning glory.

Can you hear me in there, Shelli? :wink:

 

[shelli]

La La La La - have fingers in ears!

Oh alright I'm sorry - of course it's the quintessence of an iconic British building - I'm just bitter about buildings generally at present