Stonehenge

Photo: dannysullivan

Kids these days…like Stonehenge?

According to findings from a new children’s tourism report, Stonehenge is Britain’s best-loved national landmark. The survey, conducted with 2,500 children aged between eight and 15 years old in September 2009 by budget hotel chain Travelodge, revealed that young Brits are more in thrall to historical sites than modern attractions.

Hadrian’s Wall came in second place, The London Eye third; Scotland’s famous Edinburgh Castle — built in the mid 1700s and perched on an extant volcano — was fourth.

Then again, further research showed that the same kids would prefer to take a holiday with Simon Cowell over Barack Obama.

The only natural landmark to make the list were the White Cliffs of Dover (seventh), and the only example of modern sculpture was Antony Gormley’s ‘The Angel of the North’ (eighth).

Overall the poll seems to indicate a generation of Britons that are more historically minded but keen to preserve these oldest of national treasures — a heartening counter-balance to the media stories of youthful binge drinking and teenage consumerism.

Then again, further research showed that the same kids would prefer to take a holiday with Simon Cowell over Barack Obama. Well, you can’t expect kids to have taste in everything.

Top 10 British iconic landmarks as voted by young Britons:

1. Stonehenge
2. Hadrian’s Wall
3. London Eye
4. Edinburgh Castle
5. Buckingham Palace
6. Tower of London
7. White Cliffs of Dover
8. Angel of the North
9. Blackpool Tower
10. St Paul’s Cathedral

What else do kids like on the road?

Top 10 favourite activities whilst travelling in the car/train to their holiday destination:

1. Listening to their Ipod
2. Playing games with family members
3. Playing on their games console
4. Reading a book or comic
5. Watching a DVD
6. Sleeping
7. Catching up with mum and dad
8. Doing a puzzle book
9. Listening to a story on CD
10. Colouring

Top 10 games kids like to play in the car / train en-route to their holiday destination:

1. I-Spy
2. 20 Questions
3. Singing games
4. The Yes / No game
5. Memory games
6. Telling silly stories
7. Card games
8. Counting games
9. The Theme song game
10. Simon Says

Top 5 celebrities kids think would make a fun holiday companion:

1. Cheryl Cole
2. Simon Cowell
3. Barack Obama
4. Hannah Montana
5. David Beckham

Community Connection

Do you have anything to add to these lists? Feel free to share below!

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About The Author

Paul Sullivan

Paul Sullivan has been a freelance writer and photographer since 2000. Operating primarily in the realm of music, travel, lifestyle, and culture, his work has taken him around the world. His work has appeared in/on the BBC, Dazed and Confused, DrownedInSound, Electronic Beats, The Face, The Guardian, DJ, Intelligent Life, iDJ, fRoots, The Independent, Observer Music Monthly, National Geographic Music, Time Out, Wax Poetics, The Wire, and others. He currently lives in Berlin.

  • http://www.travelandtravails.com Dee Andrews

    We created a new car game in Morocco with our two daughters, 6 and 10. The classic ABC game but the letters had to be for different countries around the world. Our Moroccan guide was game too!

  • http://www.poorpenmanship.com Erin

    I still like to play the game where you spot the alphabet letters on signs. Even when I’m driving. If you look at the picture below, you can see how that’s a little more do-able on Interstate 80 through Utah.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/erinealberty/3380959779/

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