What's on Brits' ultimate bucket list?
01 July 2014 10:23
Seeing the Northern Lights is people's ultimate bucket list wish
Travelling to see some of the world's most famous landmarks and spectacular natural wonders feature strongly on a new list of people's ultimate bucket list wishes.
Compiled by the National Lottery, the top 50 includes a host of experiences which would require travellers to go equipped with a good worldwide travel insurance policy.
The list is headed by a trip to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights, with three more natural wonders - Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon, both in North America, and the Norwegian Fjords - also in the top 10.
But manmade tourist attractions also feature high up on Britons' wish-lists with the Great Pyramids in Egypt and the Great Wall of China ranked fourth and sixth respectively.
Swimming with dolphins and a safari both make the top 50, showing that people want to get closer to nature, while many animal lovers would like to do their bit by taking in a rescue dog or cat.
People often say the joy of travelling is in the journey itself rather than the destination and two more items on the wish list - flying first class and going on a cruise - highlight people's wish to travel in style.
Others want to spend a break surrounded by luxury, the survey found, by staying in top hotels such as the Ritz, Caesar's Palace or the Burj Al Arab.
Other famous landmarks that people want to visit include New York's Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal in India, Rome's Coliseum and Machu Picchu in Peru.
A drive along Route 66 in the US also makes the top 50 as does visiting the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Some are even bolder when compiling their ultimate bucket list, saying they'd like to reach for the stars with a trip into space while others are more down to earth, saying they'd like to retire comfortably, buy homes for their relatives and design their own dream house.
Others' first thought is for food and drink with sipping cocktails at Singapore's Raffles Hotel and eating at Michelin starred restaurants.