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Google Earth-Viewing British Icons

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By KCC Big Country


Hop aboard KCC Big Country's version of the English Double-Decker bus! We're exploring Great Britain Google Earth style!
Hop aboard KCC Big Country's version of the English Double-Decker bus! We're exploring Great Britain Google Earth style!

I've only lived in Texas. No where else.

In fact, I've lived within about a 20 mile radius of where I am right now all my life.

So, when I had an opportunity, not once, but twice, to visit England, I jumped on it.

But, what if you don't have that opportunity? What if you're living paycheck to paycheck? What if you feel you've grown too old to travel that far? What if you fear the 10-hr flight to London?

Does that mean the end of a dream? Do you quietly let a tear slide down your cheek as you mark "England" off your bucket list?

No.

It's time to load up Google Earth and let's go have some fun!


Some Ideas of Placing That Would Be Cool to See in Great Britain via Google Earth

Lots of these iconic places will come to the mind of most, but it'll be easier if you open this hub while you have Google Earth up. Some of these have incredible clarity. My daughter and I spent hours looking each of these up tonight and had a wonderful time. Our favorites were some of the theme parks towards the end of this list.

  • Tower Bridge
  • Big Ben
  • Westminster Palace
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Buckingham Palace
  • City Hall, The Queens Walk, London (love this unique building! Check out its shadow)
  • The London Eye
  • White Horses (see the video below for ideas)
  • St. Paul's Cathedral, Millbank, London
  • Stonehenge (you'll know you've found it when all you can see on your Google Earth screen is a sea of green fields and a million blue photo squares....zoom in into the middle of the photo squares and there it is)
  • The Eden Project, Cornwall
  • Windsor Castle, Castle Hill
  • Hadrian's Wall, Carlisle (sometimes hard to pick up, but look for blue photo blocks)
  • Minack Theatre (You HAVE to go to their website and check out their 360 degree camera interactives-click on the link)
  • St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall
  • Blackpool Tower & Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool UK
  • Brighton UK Pier (great detail, look at the people!)
  • Don't forget crop circles (see my link below for my hub about English crop circles that has a great video)
  • Raj Pavillion or Brighton Royal Pavillon Brighton UK
  • Cerne Abbas Giant, Giant Hill
  • Hampton Court Maze in Richmond, UK (nice circle, oval and rectangle of water areas)
  • Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol UK
  • SS Great Britain built by Brunel Bristol, UK
  • Thousands of Cars to be Exported near Avonmouth Bridge (51 degrees 29' 53.43"N : 2 degrees 42' 27.18" W)
  • Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent UK
  • Harewood House Trust, Leeds, West Yorkshire (impressive lawns)
  • Drayton Manor Theme Park near Tamworth UK
  • Adventure Island Amusement Park, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
  • Alton Towers Theme Park, Alton, Stroke-on-Trent (hard to see much because of trees)
  • Fantasy Island, Ingoldmells UK (I could spend hours in this area. There is so much to see here. Lots of mobile homes for holiday camping, weird configurations, some look like dominoes set up to knock over!)
  • Gulliver's Land, Milton Keynes UK
  • Sherborne Old Castle, Castleton, Dorset UK (I love the moat and drawbridge!)
  • Milky Way Adventure Park, Clovelly, North Devon (see if you can go thru the maze and check out the Crazy Golf course (like our Putt-Putt))
  • Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth UK

Video of Hill Figure Horses in England


Rick Steves' England 2009 Rick Steves' England 2009
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Video Visits: Discovering England Video Visits: Discovering England
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Frommer's England 2010 (Frommer's Complete) Frommer's England 2010 (Frommer's Complete)
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Passport to Europe: England, Ireland and Scotland Passport to Europe: England, Ireland and Scotland
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Frommer's Best Day Trips from London: 25 Great Escapes by Train, Bus or Car Frommer's Best Day Trips from London: 25 Great Escapes by Train, Bus or Car
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Visions of England Visions of England
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USAopoly New England Patriots Yahtzee USAopoly New England Patriots Yahtzee
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Yankee Magazines Travel Guide to New England Yankee Magazines Travel Guide to New England
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New England Patriots 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Travel Mug New England Patriots 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Travel Mug
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Umbro England Travel Beanie (2 Pack) Umbro England Travel Beanie (2 Pack)
Price: $10.88
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Comments

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BristolBoy profile image

BristolBoy  says:
4 months ago

Nice to see Bristol and Cornwall playing such a big part in your list!

Philipo profile image

Philipo  says:
4 months ago

Nice one. It must be a place to be.

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
4 months ago

Thanks Bristol Boy and Philipo! England is a wonderful place to explore, in person if you can, if not, Google Earth is the next best thing.

dohn121 profile image

dohn121  says:
4 months ago

Ooh. This looks awesome. I can see why so many people get addicted to viewing Google Earth. I did have a chance to go to London and Stratford (Shakespeare home) one semester while in college and didn't go. I still think about it to this day :(

ethel smith profile image

ethel smith  says:
4 months ago

We Brits take most of this for granted and always think that we have nothing to offer. Thanks for the reminder. I bet there are some great American sights on google earth also though. The grand canyon is the first to spring to mind :)

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
4 months ago

Thanks for stopping by Dohn! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I bet you are kicking yourself for not going! You really need to go. It's not as expensive to fly over there as one might think. I flew non-stop from DFW to Gatwick for less than $400 the first time and $525 the second time.

Thanks Ethel! This is just a tip of the iceberg for what Great Britain has to offer. I tried to find things that are interesting to look at from an aerial view. A few places have so many trees around them, that it doesn't allow for good overhead viewing. All of those show above, I personally looked at last night on Google Earth. FYI, I am working on a similar hub for the United States, and yes, the Grand Canyon is on it.

Thanks guys/gals!

AsherKade profile image

AsherKade  says:
4 months ago

I never thought about Google Earth for that type of thing...I will try this sometime when I am not so tired...wish I had thought of that!

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
4 months ago

Thanks AsherKade! Glad you figured out a new use for Google Earth!

The Old Firm profile image

The Old Firm  says:
4 months ago

Thanks KCC, I'll check all these out as time allows. When I go on Google Earth I'm sure to write off several hours!

Cheers, Peter.

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
4 months ago

Hey there, Peter! I haven't seen you in a while! Yeah, I know what you mean. Time goes out the window when I turn on Google Earth. It's quite addictive though! Thanks so much for stopping by!

ninglie profile image

ninglie  says:
4 months ago

We Brits take most of this for granted and always think that we have nothing to offer. Thanks for the reminder. I bet there are some great American sights on google earth also though. The grand canyon is the first to spring to mind :)

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
4 months ago

Wow, thanks ninglie! I don't think Ethel Smith could have said that better if she said it herself.....oh wait...Ethel Smith did say it! (scroll up folks)

knell63 profile image

knell63  says:
2 months ago

Great hub KCC, Glad to see England made a good impression on you. Loved the fact you went all around the country. Most people just stick to London. Blackpool tower and Clifton Bridge are classics. Carry on enjoying Googleearth, its great fun. I used it to make an alphbet from shapes in the landscape. That was fun too.

http://umbriart.blogspot.com/2009/05/umbrian-alpha

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
2 months ago

OMG...that is so cool! Thanks for sharing the link! I am very much in love with England. I can't wait to go back. I've been twice and STILL haven't seen London. I keep thinking I really should try to see some of it...LOL

BlissAngel profile image

BlissAngel  says:
2 months ago

Great info however i don't see ONE mention of anything Scottish!!!! Great Britain isn't just England, we have stunning scenery, beautiful castles and architecture, lochs, famous distilleries, etc up here you know!!! Perhaps i should start a visit Scotland Hub.....now there's a thought.....

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
2 months ago

I hang my head in shame! You are so right, BlissAngel and I do apologize! I have only been a few miles into Scotland and I know virtually nothing about it. I would love it if you'd write a hub about Scotland! I'll put a link to it here on my hub!

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
2 months ago

Well, BlissAngel has written a hub you must see! I've provided a link up in the links on this hub. Scotland is absolutely gorgeous!

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