Regional landmarks are monuments to "home" according to a new study among 1,000 people across the UK.
Asked to name their favourite landmark attractions in the UK, respondents chose their local landmark. 75% admitted that landmarks were the most important factor in providing an identity for their region, compared with 44% who thought accent was significant, 51% regional food and drink, and 60% regional events.
While overall the UK's favourite landmarks were found to be Big Ben, the London Eye and Stonehenge, in the North East the majority of people pointed to the Tyne Bridge and the Angel of the North; in the South West the top answer was the Eden Project and the Clifton Suspension Bridge; in Scotland it was Edinburgh Castle and the Forth Road Bridge. Enhancing the local landscape was thought to be a more important quality in a landmark than economic benefits, providing a leisure facility or attracting tourists.
Professor Ian Woodward - a specialist in tourism economics and marketing at the University of Luton, former Director of Research at the British Tourist Authority and policy adviser to UK Government - said: "Landmark projects are an easy target for criticism. But the fact is the UK needs its landmarks. They help give identity to places and whole regions. They offer a reference point for both locals and visitors alike at a time when a shared global culture is increasingly making one place much like another.”
The survey was carried out on behalf of the landmark east project, an initiative led by East of England Development Agency to find ideas for a major landmark for the East of England. The report is to be used to help inform the work of four project teams who have won funding for feasibility studies in an international ideas competition.
Marcie Bell, Project Manager for landmark east, said: “The East of England is a very diverse region, with different kinds of strengths and qualities, from centres of innovation to rural and coastal landscape. In running the landmarks east competition we’ve always kept in mind the importance of identity, of finding landmarks that could offer striking reminders of the character of our region and something for residents to be proud of.”
The latest updates on the progress of the landmark east projects and more information on the survey can be found at www.landmarkeast.org.uk.
Ends
Notes to editors:
1. Survey results
Region
Favourite UK landmarks (in order of preference)
Least favourite
London
1. London Eye
2. Big Ben
3.St Paul’s Cathedral
Angel of the North
Yorkshire/Humberside
1. London Eye
2. Angel of the North
3. Big Ben
Royal Liver Building
North West
1. Big Ben
2. St Paul’s Cathedral/Stonehenge
3. Royal Liver Building
Angel of the North
North East
1. Angel of the North
2. Tyne Bridge
3. Edinburgh Castle
London Eye
Scotland
1. Edinburgh Castle
2. Forth Road Bridge
3. Big Ben
London Eye
South East
1. Big Ben
2. Stonehenge
3. London Eye
Angel of the North
South West
1. Eden Project
2. Clifton Suspension Bridge
3. Stonehenge
Angel of the North
Wales
1. London Eye
2. Big Ben
3. Cardiff Opera House
Angel of the North
East of England
1. = Big Ben/London Eye
2. St Paul’s Cathedral
3 = Eden Project/Stonehenge
Angel of the North
East Midlands
1. Edinburgh Castle
2. St Paul’s Cathedral
3. = Big Ben/London Eye
Cardiff Opera House
West Midlands
1. Big Ben
2. Stonehenge
3. Edinburgh Castle
London Eye
Which factors are most important in giving an identity to your home region?
|
Landmarks
Architecture
Food and drink
Accent |
75%
61%
51%
44% |
90% in North East and South West, 81% in Yorkshire – compared with 56% in London
82% in North East, just 48% in Wales
61% in North East, 48% in South East
68% in North East, 61% in West Midlands, compared with 28% in East Midlands and South East
Which factors, in your opinion, make a landmark worthwhile?
|
Enhances a local landscape
Is educational
Provides economic benefits for the area
Attracts international tourists
Provides fun activities |
79%
77%
76%
74%
61% |
87% in Wales, 72% in London
91% in East of England, 69% in the South East
90% in Wales, 87% in Scotland – 61% in East Midlands
87% in North East, 86% in East of England – 66% in South West
71% in Wales, 57% in South East and East Midlands
2. The landmark east international ideas competition was open to anyone with the ability to develop and deliver a visionary idea for a landmark – a sustainable, major landmark representing the region to the rest of the world. The judges were looking for ideas that would attract significant funding, stimulate tangible economic benefit and inspire a sense of pride and unity in the region.
The judging panel was chaired by Anthea Case, former chief executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund and comprised: Helaine Blumenfeld, sculptor; Tim Bishop, head of regional programming, BBC East; EEDA’s new chief executive David Marlow, Yasmin Shariff, EEDA board member, leading landmark east; Professor Sir David King, chief scientific advisor to the Government; Bill Macnaught, Head of Cultural Development, Gateshead Council; Alex Lifschutz, Lifschutz Davidson and Simon Loftus, Chairman of the Adnams Brewery.
3. For more information and images of the winning landmark east projects, go to www.landmarkeast.org.uk
4. The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is the driving force behind economic regeneration in the six counties of the East of England: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. For further information about EEDA please visit www.eeda.org.uk
5. Landmark facts
With £55.4m of funding from the Lottery, The Eden Project is estimated to have generated £462m for its local economy. In addition to around 15,000 tourists a day, the Eye is said to have become a community venue for weddings, birthdays and other special occasions. Bars and restaurants on the South Bank claim the landmark has led to a threefold increase in customers.
The Angel of the North is seen by more than one person every second, 90,000 every day or 33 million every year, making it one of the most viewed pieces of art in the world.
The B of the Bang is the UK’s tallest sculpture at 184 feet (56 metres). Locals have nicknamed it “Kerplunk” because of its resemblance to the 1970s game. Its actual title comes from Linford Christie’s claim that he tried to leave the starting block on the "b of the bang".
When The Tyne Bridge was built in 1928, the cost was £700,000. A recent makeover cost £1.8 million.
Proposed landmarks for the East of England include sculptures off the coast of Suffolk marking the lost Anglo-Saxon city of Dunwich; a tropical reef for Norfolk; a movable festival bridge; and a bridge of reeds linking Cambridge to what is planned to become a vast nature reserve. The projects are currently in the feasibility study stage. Latest info can be found at www.landmarkeast.org.uk
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