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| Monday, 5 August, 2002, 14:50 GMT 15:50 UK What are the seven wonders of Britain? The House of Commons and Big Ben have topped a poll to find the seven wonders of Britain. Wiltshire's prehistoric landmark Stonehenge also features in the list alongside the London Eye and Cornwall's Eden Project.
Most controversial on the list is the London Eye, which many consider to be a blunder rather than a wonder. Do you agree with the list? What would be your seven wonders of Britain? What would your seven blunders of Britain consist of? This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.
David Sherrit, Scotland The biggest blunder has to be the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth which though recognised as the ugliest monstrosity ever built is still standing in a dilapidated form. The Eden Project is my favourite wonder. It's entertaining, cool, educational, caters for all ages and it's a miracle it was finished, but the people stuck with it and it's grand.
Mrs Mac, Cornwall The best: The Iron Bridge, Wenlock Priory, Tintern Abbey, York Minster. The worst: Cribbs Causeway, Merry Hill (or Hell) as it is known locally and the Dome. Perhaps the biggest "wonder" of this country is how we ended up in the mess we are in! Interesting that most people who have criticised the all English choices have chosen natural wonders in the other parts of the UK. It's supposed to be about man-made wonders. I don't think anyone built the Scottish Highlands! To James King: There are a number of wonderful structures worthy of inclusion from outside England. Caernavon Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Forth Rail Bridge, Millenium Stadium, Portmeirion, Harlech Castle, Britannia Bridge, Beaumaris Castle, Skara Brae and Eilean Donan Castle. Although agreeing with many of the choices, it's a shame that the wonderful sites outside England were ignored.
Roland Marslin, UK No 1 greatest wonder? The Eden Project without question! Absolute genius, the whole thing. As for the worst - the Dome!
Andy Hine, England The Tower of London. For sheer weight of history, no other building comes close. I'd put Scotland's top ten against the English any day! Beat that! 1. Boddingtons brewery No others. I would propose Snowdonia national park for its beautiful mountains and lakes, and Portmeirion village as an example of a man-made feature perfectly complementing the landscape. The biggest wonder of Britain must be to ask why people commission such stupid surveys.
Shaun McGall, Somerset, UK One must assume that Yellow Pages didn't travel too far out of England for their survey to find these wonders of 'Britain'. Although I am proud to be English, I am very disappointed to see that there are no wonders in any other British country in this list. For sheer grandeur and tranquillity, it's got to be Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, one of the few World Heritage sites in this country. Coming in a close second must be the Yorkshire Dales for their breathtaking majesty and sense of natural antiquity. Oh, of course not forgetting the Lords Pavilion, sheer class! Wonders of Britain? For a start weren't they all English? What about the likes of the Giant's Causeway and the Scottish Highlands? I mean the London Eye? They are joking I assume. None of the most beautiful things in Britain are on that list. Famous? Yes. Wonders? Not a chance. The Houses of Parliament are one of the seven wonders of the UK in my opinion. As for blunders, I think the contents of this building would not be far from the top ten. How about Spaghetti Junction and the new Severn Bridge, and of course the most amazing technological achievement of them all, the Channel Tunnel!?!
Peter, UK Windsor Castle? It wouldn't even make my list of top castles in Britain. Having been on the London Eye at sunset, I can't think of a better way to see the city of London. Remember the Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower at first... For my suggestion, Edinburgh Castle. Simply magnificent. Best: Worst: As a Bristolian I endorse Bob Harvey's nomination of Cribbs Causeway Retail Park as a blunder. Other follies in this area include -
Steve T, England Um, I could be wrong, but I reckon someone had to have built Stonehenge. One of the seven wonders would be Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light. Blunders? St James's Park would obviously be a contender... My choice reflecting Britain's architectural and industrial history would be... Canterbury Cathedral, Lost Gardens of Heligan (Cornwall), Dover Castle, National Railway Museum, York, Snowdon from the top, Bodiam Castle, Kennet and Avon Canal. You can spend a day at each one unlike some of the others e.g. Stonehenge. I propose the Forth Rail Bridge. A fabulous, useful, Scottish monument. As for blunders, need I say more than Dome? | See also: 30 Jul 02 | UK Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Talking Point stories now: Links to more Talking Point stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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