Brits can't tell the Brighton Pavilion from the Taj Mahal, St Paul's Cathedral from the Vatican and Ireland's Giant's Causeway - from Iceland's.
A study, Mercure hotels, of 2,000 adults, highlighted how many beautiful spots the UK is home to, with nearly a tenth (nine per cent) thinking Hadrian’s Wall was the Great Wall of China.
Humber Bridge in Kingston-Upon-Hull was also mistaken for San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge by 22 per cent, while exactly one in 10 thought Blackpool Tower was Paris’s Eiffel Tower equivalent.
Meanwhile, a sixth (16 per cent) had no idea where the Angel of the North can be found. Admittedly, 29 per cent believe they have a gap in their knowledge when it comes to UK sights and landmarks, with 46 per cent wanting to explore more local spots.
Chris Timbs at Mercure, which commissioned the poll to promote its collection of local guides across Europe, said: "We want to inspire people to travel and explore more, both at home and abroad. The study shows that you don't have to travel far to enjoy great views, local hidden gems and incredible landmarks."
“Millions of people are living close to something wonderful without even realising it. There’s so much to explore in the UK, whether its mountains, beaches, or historic landmarks, you could holiday here for a lifetime and still not see it all.”
Mercure has launched a new curated list of authentic ‘Discover Local’ experiences for its guests to enjoy in Europe’s top cities, from hotspots to hidden gems. Travellers can access the easy to use online itineraries of the must-see local recommendations, including local landmarks, heritage sites, art venues, culinary delicacies and more. The Mercure Discover Local digital guides enable guests to be immersed in the city by visiting, eating and drinking like the locals do.
The hotel chain has also designed a quiz to find out how well you know your landmarks – do you recognise the Marble Arch from the Arc de Triomphe or St Michael’s Mount from Mont-Saint-Michel?
More than a quarter (26 per cent) of respondents admit they haven’t visited many UK landmarks. But 35 per cent make sure to see all the big sights when they travel abroad, even if they don’t do this closer to home. On average, adults haven’t visited a UK landmark for nearly 11 months with 17 per cent having waited two years or longer.
Another 15 per cent would only rate their knowledge of UK cities, locations and landmarks as ‘poor’, according to the [OnePoll.com] figures. However, exactly four in 10 believe their knowledge of UK locations has actually become better since the pandemic because of all staycations it enforced.
Of those planning trips away for the rest of 2023, 37 per cent have scheduled in a staycation, while 27 per cent are keen on some kind of holiday in nature. But 12 per cent are keeping their powder dry for a last-minute, impromptu trip away with the destination currently unknown.
Chris Timbs added: “Travelling – either at home or away – is really important to keep the mind fresh and discovering a destination like a local feels different. Of course there are world-renowned landmarks to see in the UK and across Europe but exploring a place with local insights gives you a feel for a place and its people and culture."
“If you feel like you need to brush up on your local knowledge and see the sights of the UK, then the summer’s coming around quickly and it’s the perfect opportunity. Just remember, that impressive bridge in Yorkshire is the Humber Bridge, not the Golden Gate Bridge – it’s also longer than its San Francisco counterpart!”
Mercure is rooted in its locality - locally inspired, high quality midscale hotels that awaken people’s appetite for discovery. The new free Discover Local guides, curated by local experts, will help guests truly discover a destination and feel the hotel’s local culture.
Mercure’s Discover Local Guides are available for travel in:
- UK – London, Edinburgh, Bristol
- Germany – Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich
- Poland – Warsaw, Krakow
- Netherlands – Amsterdam
- Romania – Bucharest, Timisoara
- Austria – Vienna
- Hungary – Budapest
To find out more visit mercure.com
To Discover like a Local visit Mercure Discover local (accor.com)