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The 10 Greatest London Views Revealed

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FROM ST PAUL’S TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND PORTOBELLO ROAD

  • Parliament and Big Ben as seen from Westminster Bridge tops poll of London views that bring Brits infinite pleasure
  • Ancient and modern British sights celebrated in nationwide study, as Brits found to take over 1,000 pictures each year, many of which are scenic views
  • Views of St Paul’s, Tower Bridge and deer in Richmond Park all feature in top ten
  • Study commissioned by Samsung to launch new Galaxy S8, alongside photography project with Landscape Photographer of the Year capturing incredible views nominated
  • Giant 7x 3 metre phone installed at London’s Coin Street Observation point to frame city view

The view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben from Westminster Bridge is London’s most iconic sight, according to a new study that celebrates the most incredible views, both ancient and modern, in the capital today.

More than 2,500 people took part in the study which asked respondents to vote from a longlist of incredible views which was created by a panel of leading travel experts from publications including Rough Guides, Mr and Mrs Smith, Wanderlust and Good Housekeeping.

The study was specially commissioned to mark the forthcoming launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone which boasts an innovative ‘Infinity Display’ screen and premium best-in-class camera which has been used to capture a series of stunning photographs of many of the views listed.

Topping the list of the greatest London views, all of which are from ‘ground-level’, is the sight of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben from Westminster Bridge, which is followed by an eclectic mix of stunning sights across the capital, from skylines to buildings to complete the top ten.

The full list of the 10 greatest London views is:

  1. Parliament and Big Ben, viewed from Westminster Bridge
  2. Tower Bridge, from the Southbank
  3. St Paul’s, viewed from Millennium Bridge
  4. Richmond Park, deer in the morning mist
  5. Buckingham Palace as viewed from down The Mall
  6. St James’ Park, beyond the lake with the London Eye in the background
  7. London skyline from Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath
  8. Little Venice, barges on the canal
  9. Canary Wharf from Greenwich Park
  10. Portobello Road, multi-coloured terraced houses

Just missing out on the top ten London views were the sights of The Thames Flood Barrier in Woolwich and Columbia Road Flower Market in Hackney.

The study also pinpointed the five key factors that make up a quintessentially British view, with rolling countryside coming top (42%), followed by rugged coastlines (21%), country villages (20%), historical landmarks (15%) and spires, cathedrals and architecture (15%). 

Samsung has celebrated the greatest British views by commissioning a new photography project from Matthew Cattell – Britain’s reigning Landscape Photographer of the Year which will be shot entirely on a Galaxy S8.  Matthew is travelling the length of the UK in March and April to capture a series of stunning shots at locations which were named in the study, including the London skyline, the Lake District and St Ives Bay.

 Selected views named in the study are also being framed by the giant Infinity Display on a 7x3m scale model of the Galaxy S8, which Samsung are taking on tour throughout April to locations which featured in the top 20, including St Ives, London and Stonehenge.  The giant S8 phone will be positioned at London’s Coin Street Observation point from Monday 10th April.

Sam Grant, Marketing Director at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland said: “We wanted to mark the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S8, with its unique and groundbreaking Infinity Display, by celebrating the beautiful views in our country of mountains, highlands, beaches and urban skylines that are best enjoyed unconfined.” 

Landscape Photographer of the Year, Matthew Cattell said: “The Galaxy S8 has the most evolved smartphone camera in the world today creating impressively sharp pictures, even in low light conditions – which is just as well as we encountered a fair few spring showers and grey days whilst shooting the project! I hope people enjoy the results and are encouraged to get out and shoot the amazing views closest to them.”

 

The findings shine a spotlight on some of the most photographed sites in the UK revealing that the average British adult takes in excess of 1,000 pictures each year, predominantly on smartphones – the majority of which focus on landscapes and city views which was cited by 66% of those surveyed as their favoured photographic subject matter.

The study also revealed the subjects which are most likely to make pals envious when they were posted on social media sites.  Topping the list were awesome views (48%), followed by pictures of friends and family (10%), food and drink (6%) and selfies (5%). In addition to provoking jealousy, pictures of beautiful locations were also inspiration, with half of us (50%) admitting we are more likely to visit a place having seen a posted picture.

The Samsung S8 is available for pre-order until 19th April and launches in the UK on 28th April, and will be available from selected retailers as well as the Samsung e-store – for more information and stockist details visit www.samsung.com/uk.