Many Brits over 50 have seen less than half of the top iconic sights of the world, according to a new study by the UK’s leading holiday rental specialists HomeAway.co.uk.

Forget the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Taj Mahal and Niagara Falls – a large number of those over 50 admit the only places they have managed to visit so far in their lifetime are Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower, according to the research.

The findings come as HomeAway.co.uk launch 'Places To See Before You Die’, a new interactive game showcasing some of the world’s must-see attractions and destinations.

Using a checklist that included Great Wall of China, Statue of Liberty, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Niagara Falls and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, most of those questioned said they had only seen one or two. Sights closer to home such as Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower are the two most popular choices for the not so adventurous over 50s.

One user explained: “Many places are on my bucket list but time and my lifestyle get in the way. I go past Big Ben on my way to work and I have seen the Eiffel tower on a weekend to Paris, but that’s about it so far. If I’m going to go somewhere further afield, I’d rather it was a beach.”

Another admitted: “As you get older it gets even harder to go out of your comfort zone – however, I feel guilty that I am not more adventurous.”

"Erica Chang, Regional Director of HomeAway.co.uk said: "Whilst we were quite surprised by the outcome of this study, we understand that people can become overwhelmed by the huge choice of holiday destinations and simply stick to what they know. 

HomeAway.co.uk’s  'Places to See Before You Die' analyses user profiles and interests to create a bespoke travel plan intended to inspire you and encourage to travel outside of their comfort zone”.  

“We believe people will be pleasantly surprised by their personal passport and be more aware of some of the more unusual destinations around the world that are there for people to discover. Whether they want to visit ancient worlds or modern cities, majestic mountains or stunning beaches, massive museums or iconic architecture we've got some amazing and different ideas that can help create an ultimate travel bucket list. We hope it encourages some travellers to go out of their comfort zone,” she added.

The Places to See Before You Die game and travel guide can be seen at places.homeaway.co.uk

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Notes to Editors:

*Social media study carried out among users of the HomeAway.co.uk’s twitter and Facebook sites (Facebook: 13,205, Twitter: 8,366)

Founded in 1996 and part of HomeAway Inc., HomeAway.co.uk is the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, listing over 650,000 properties worldwide. The site provides a simple, cost-effective way for holiday home owners and managers to market their property and manage bookings, with unrivalled worldwide exposure for a fixed annual fee. For holidaymakers, HomeAway.co.ukoffers the best choice of any UK website.

For more information, images or quotes please contact Eveleen Hatch at Seriously PR – (0)1491 822647/07815002276 eveleen@seriouslypr.co.uk or Natalie Trice at Natalie@seriouslypr.co.uk