Impressive Britain? Nope, say tourists

Published Jun 22, 2015

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London - Despite London being named the world’s most popular destination in a recent study, it appears nothing can please some visitors when they’re touring the capital and the rest of the UK.

Hilarious TripAdvisor reviews reveal the apparently underwhelming impact some of Britain’s famous landmarks have had on holidaymakers, including one who wanted to rename London’s iconic bell tower to “medium Ben”.

The disgruntled sightseers took to the travel website to leave a series of one-star reviews, going as far as slamming Buckingham Palace as “an empty building”.

Arguably one of London’s most famous landmarks, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II was ridiculed by tourists.

Ron K from Scotland wrote: “Wasn’t that exciting. It seemed unoccupied. The soldier in front was very smart. I waited for something to happen but nothing did.” Another was similarly unimpressed, calling it “shocking tat, over-priced, uninspiring, minuscule access and disgusting opulence.”

When viewing the Royal Crescent, one unhappy contributor, CecMilan, from Glasgow, said: “It is no more spectacular than any other Georgian terrace in any other part of the UK. However, by the attitude of the security, you would be mistaken for believing you were visiting the crown jewels.

“I do understand that people live in the buildings but if you do not want tourists to visit do not advertise it as a ‘must see’.

“(I) was not permitted to walk on the street, take pictures or walk on the grass, treated as an outcast for daring to look at the buildings – from a distance.”

Proving you can’t please everyone, one unhappy visitor said the White Cliffs of Dover weren’t white enough.

 

There was one silver lining to visiting the Angel of the North, however – free parking.

Jenkinsv wrote: “Walked up to the Angel, looked at it, turned around, got back in the car.

“Only good thing was the parking was free. (It was a) waste of five minutes.”

Slamming the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Bell known as Big Ben, Aimee T from London wrote:

“Let me tell you we should rename it medium Ben. I’ve seen bigger LEGO towers! (I) will return if they build it higher.”

Iliya M added: “Absolutely terrible, I would never ever go again. I’m glad they blew it up… It’s just a big clock and the whole experience left me unsettled.”

This is what Andrew R had to say of Stonehenge: “Yes, they’re old and, yes, it might hold your interest for a second or two, wondering how they did it all those years ago… Until you realise that at about the same time 2 000 miles away, The Great Pyramids (of Giza) were being built. Look at a picture of Stonehenge, google it, then book a flight to Egypt.”

Nick W from London said: “A pile of large bricks in the middle of a field. Best time to view is when it’s raining and cold and windy, so you get the real feeling of futility of the building site called Stonehenge.”

Daily Mail

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