British wonders: 1 Stonehenge

Location: Wiltshire, Wessex
What’s the damage? £6.50
We expected some heated debate over which of Britain’s myriad national wonders should top our list. But when it came down to it, one name was never far from anybody’s lips.
One of the world’s most unforgettable and fascinating prehistoric sites, Stonehenge continues to awe today, just as it has for the past 5,000 years. This ancient ring of monolithic stones has attracted more pilgrims, poets and philosophers than any other national treasure. And it still maintains a mystical, haunting aura despite being inundated with visitors and a short hop from a busy road.
But far from being an isolated wonder, Stonehenge forms part of an extraordinary prehistoric landscape criss-crossed by ceremonial avenues, ancient tombs and other, equally intriguing stone circles – not least the one at Avebury, which forms part of the same World Heritage site as Stonehenge itself.
So, having read our countdown of Britain’s unmissable national attractions – tell us what you think.  Do you agree with our selection? Would you add anywhere – and if so, which would you substitute? Let us know here.

British wonders: 2 Eden Project

Location: Near St Austell, Cornwall, south-west England
What’s the damage? Adult £15
It might seem rash to rate this extraordinary series of space-age bubbles a position above attractions several hundred times older (the project is a mere eight  years old), but its name was crowed time and time again in our hunt for Britain’s most enchanting places. Clearly, this is a modern wonder so close to our hearts it deserved to be up there with the world-beaters.
The project’s gargantuan greenhouses – or biomes – are the largest in the world. Squatting in a 50m-deep derelict clay pit in the rolling Cornish countryside, they are made of eco-friendly, Teflon-coated, hexagonal panels – described by their creators as “cling film with attitude”.
The project showcases the planet’s utterly diverse plant life, replicating climatic zones from the steaming rainforests of South America to the parched deserts of Africa. Equally impressive are the stunningly landscaped external grounds, cloaked in vivid flowerbeds and crops.

British wonders: 3 The Great Glen

Location: eastern Scotland
What’s the damage? Free
When it came to sheer scenic splendour, Scotland was at the top of almost everyone’s list – travel expert and public alike. And the Highlands region most often name-checked?  The Great Glen.
This spectacular chain of silvery lochs, heather-clad hillsides and precipitous mountains stretching from Inverness to Fort William is home to Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain at 1,343m, Loch Ness and the achingly beautiful and equally poignant Glen Coe. Besieged on all sides by staggering mountains, this was the scene of the infamous Massacre of Glencoe in 1692 and the bloody battle of Culloden in 1746.
Fort William is arguably outdoor capital of the UK, backed by the mighty Ben Nevis and end point of the 73-mile Great Glen Way hike. Meanwhile Glen Nevis is the heart of the local ski scene.