New poll reveals worst tourist sites
Rushda:
August 17th, 2007
A new online survey poll from Virgin Travel Insurance has revealed the tourist sites which Britons think are most overrated and left them feeling disappointed and uninspired. Topping the list are attractions such as Stonehenge and Angel of the North in Gateshead in the UK, and the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in Paris.
It is probably not surprising that so many people voted for Stonehenge, given that ultimately it is really just a pile of stones, and as travel writer Felice Hardy described it, it is “an isolated pile of rocks in a usually muddy field”. It is also near a busy motorway and therefore not a very spiritual setting. The Stonehenge director explains that this is just an unfortunate coincidence and a bid has already been made to the government to divert the motorway. However, the numbers voting for the Eiffel Tower seem alarming given that it is one of the most well known sites in Europe. As one respondent on the poll said:
“So long to get to the top and when you get there it’s not even impressive. The queues are ridiculous and the lasers beamed from it at night just make it look super-tacky.”
What is most ironic about the poll results, particularly Stonehenge and the Eiffel Tower, is that they were recently among the top nominations in July’s announcement of the seven new wonders of the world. Interestingly, the poll also revealed the best things to see in Europe and none of these were included in the seven wonders of the world. In the UK the top results include the lesser well known sites such as Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, and (I was pleased to see) The Backs in Cambridge. Overseas, favourites include Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Treasury at Petra in Jordan. Maybe our ideas of wonders of the world do not match what we’d truly like to see!