Is it normal to think that the uk's skylines are horrible?

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21 Comments

Everybody knows that a skyline makes a city good. A huge amount of tall, colourful buildings to show off power and wealth.

But it's not fair. America gets tons of skyscrapers, miles of them, everywhere. And from a distance, they look so cool.

But my country the UK? Nope. Some of our skylines are absolutely awful. IMO my country lacks skyscrapers really much. Most of our skylines are like little humps and bumps, and what we kill our "city centres" just look so boring to me. Old fashioned, greyish buildings.

Look at Stoke-on-Trent's image on Wikipedia for an example of us.

Why don't we have so many skyscrapers? London and Birmingham are decent, Manchester is lacking, Liverpool needs improvement. And from there on, almost every other city looks like nothing from a distance.

I mean, if you gave someone a picture of Seattle and picture of Brighton and you asked a tourists to compare, they would all pick Seattle. America makes itself look so big. But thanks to our skylines, we give a poor impression of ourselves. Tourists like big clumps of skyscrapers and bright lights.

I mean, I'm certain that the US probably finds our skylines hilarious compared to theirs, because a city looks good because of skyscrapers.

Is this normal, to think that the UK needs better skylines? Or am I being overly critical?

Voting Results
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Based on 58 votes (29 yes)
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Comments ( 21 )
  • randomjelly
    12 years ago

    Looks trashy to me. I love the UK skylines.

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  • squirrelgirl
    12 years ago

    I'm from America and I don't think that skylines are what make cities great. Personally I like the UK's old-fashioned buildings and natural scenery and would love to visit there someday.

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  • ThroughRock
    12 years ago

    You do realise that most people find an overabundance of skyscrapers horrible, right? Especially in this country. Skyscrapers are frowned upon. Americans love 'em but here we are proud to have few tall buildings, and most of our tall buildings are clever and look nice like the Spinnaker Tower and Gherkin.

    Are you SERIOUSLY jealous of America over their tall buildings?!

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    • [Old Memory]
      12 years ago

      I researched images of and comments about the phallic looking Gherkin building. One person wrote:

      "The only thing it's missing is a giant fountain on the roof".

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  • 53739
    8 years ago

    Most buildings in the UK are old.

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  • reh
    11 years ago

    Obvs never googled St Asaph...

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  • POM
    12 years ago

    A sky line doesn't imply sky scrapers in the city. Look at for instance Dresden, where there are no sky scrapers but only baroque buildings- I'd say that sky line is amazing, from an architectural point of view.

    On another note, I think sky scrapers are hideous buildings.

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  • Legion
    12 years ago

    The city, a good place to visit, but never to live in!
    New york city, there isnt anything good there! the only place in new york i would want to see is times square at night. St louis has got some things, i do like all the smaller cities around st louis, like manchester for all the intersting little businesses. I wish american cities had more historic buildings!

    But, i prefer living in the country. Lots of clean air, lots of room, friendly people, and green as far as the eye can see.

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  • Legion
    12 years ago

    The city, a good place to visit, but never to live in!
    New york city, there isnt anything good there! the only place in new york i would want to see is times square at night. St louis has got some things, i do like all the smaller cities around st louis, like manchester for all the intersting little businesses. I wish american cities had more historic buildings!

    But, i prefer living in the country. Lots of clean air, lots of room, friendly people, and green as far as the eye can see.

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  • disthing
    12 years ago

    What an odd thing to rant about...

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  • lilylily
    12 years ago

    I think most of UK's buildings are beautiful! Skyscrapers are very ugly in my opinion, but UK's buildings have so much history and detail! I would love to have them here in America in place of the skyscrapers.

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  • dinz
    12 years ago

    London wouldn't be London without it's historical charms from it's older buildings.

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  • georgienne
    12 years ago

    aaa83, you've clearly never been to the UK. We've tons of engineers and architects.
    Your American architects are descendants of ours, ..chew on that.

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  • lil
    12 years ago

    Maybe, but alot of uk places are full of humble old fashioned tradition, America has alot of built up cities yes, but the uk have amazing well preserved and proud countrysides, uk is known for our beautiful countrysides, America you go for the city sites, Paris, the culture and the ifle tower, Australia, the sea and beachsides, the uk, amazing countryside and traditional towns, you've got to see the good in everything.

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  • wigsplitz
    12 years ago

    I only really like the NYC skyline. I prefer older and rural landscape anyway but there is just something special about NY. When I think of UK "skylines" I think of Mary Poppins and it fits, don't try to be something you are not! The old charm is good. Ever think the tourists come for that reason? I sure would!

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    • wigsplitz
      12 years ago

      Oh and I like the decrepit and decaying but interesting buildings of Detroit. It's unique.

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  • Faceless
    12 years ago

    I like a good skyline too.

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  • howaminotmyself
    12 years ago

    I didn' know Americans loved skyscrapers. Although Seattle does have an amazing skyline. But it isn't the buildings that make it beautiful. The Emerald city is nestled between the Cascades and the Olympic mountain ranges. It's the background vistas that make me pause, not the buildings. However I am biased as I just drove through Seattle and found myself smiling at the synchonicity of this post. But really, the fact that the sun is shining and everywhere is green or blue and white - this gives the city a nice skyline. Yeah nature is beautiful and man did a pretty good job here.

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  • alv1592
    12 years ago

    but...there are castles in england. i think those are prettier than skyscrapers and tall buildings.

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  • aaa83
    12 years ago

    Pal... The ground condition of UK not very good unlike NYC which is on rock bed
    Secondly, UK is where old style building and also there are no many good engineering around lol

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  • georgienne
    12 years ago

    I hate skylines, and while skyscrapers are a fascinating example of architecture they're really ugly.
    I like that low, unimposing, less-wasteful buildings in England. I prefer seeing the town around me, instead of having a multiple-million heap of concrete between me and the scenery.
    Plus, who goes anywhere for the skyline? The UK has enough things to boast, we don't need skylines.

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