Missed the Northern Lights? Study reveals the phenomenon is a top bucket list sight for many Brits

• A new study has revealed the Northern Lights rank amongst the most popular bucket list landmarks for Brits – but are far cheaper to see than other destinations

• Google search data for the most impressive landmarks was used to create the ranking, with ticket and flight costs totalled for price data
• A travel expert offers advice for Brits who missed out on the Northern Lights last week

The Northern Lights have been revealed as one of the most common destinations on Brits’ bucket lists, as the cost of ticking off the list is revealed.

A new study, conducted by travel experts at Desert Safari Dubai Tours & Tickets, used Google Keyword Planner to determine the monthly average Google searches for each tourist destination, and the average travel expense.

The study has also identified the months when tourists are most likely to flock to each destination, and when you’re most likely to get an uninterrupted view. 

It turns out that the number one destination Brits are desperate to see is Niagara Falls, which is searched for around 160,661 times per month, 1,087% more than the average destination on this list (13,535 searches per month), launching it into the top spot. In July, these searches skyrocket to a staggering 331,190, with demand for flights, hotels and transport driving up the average price.

The falls are free to visit, though the sightseeing tours are ticketed. However, according to Skyscanner, return flights to the closest airport to Niagara Falls from the U.K. cost a minimum of £1,166 per adult. During peak seasons, and closer to the landmark, hotel prices skyrocket, and the cost of car hire and food increases British tourists’ total spend.

Second place is the iconic Eiffel Tower. With 90,109 average monthly searches – 566% more than the average bucket list destination – the French landmark is the most visited paid landmark in the world. Searches for the site peak in June each year. One of the cheapest destinations on this list, a return flight to Paris can be as cheap as £30 per adult, with a ticket price of £22.46 to ascend to the top of the tower bringing the total spend up to £56.46.

In third, Alcatraz Island is high on the bucket list for Brits. The maximum-security prison, located on an island off the coast of San Francisco, closed to prisoners in 1963 but is still a popular tourist attraction, searched for 88,423 times per month, on average. The average cost of flights and tickets to Alcatraz would set a British tourist back approximately £543.77, but with such long flight durations, hotels, food and transport would undoubtedly be necessary, thus increasing the expense.

The fourth most-common bucket list destination is Central Park, located in New York. The first landscaped park in the US, the site is searched for around 73,454 times per month, most commonly in June. The average cost of a visit to Central Park is £1,574, with free entry to the park offset by expensive flights. The attractions inside the park also cost extra.

In fifth place is the Northern Lights. Whilst these lights have been seen in locations around the world, and have recently been spotted across the UK, many people complained of having missed out, failing to catch a glimpse of the lights. Heading to the Arctic Circle will increase your chance of a clear view. 

With 67,215 average searches per month, 397% higher than the average destination on this list, Greenland, Norway, Canada and the other Arctic Circle nations are high on the bucket list of many Brits. A trip to Norway, one of the most common viewing destinations, would cost just £44 for a return flight, per adult, making the trip the cheapest abroad destination on this list.

The most searched-for bucket list destinations 

A little closer to home, Buckingham Palace takes sixth place. Popular with British and foreign tourists alike, the palace is the royal residence of King Charles III. Whilst anyone can view the palace, guided tours of its interior are only available for a few weeks of the year. 

The landmark receives 65,916 average monthly Google searches, 387% above the average cultural destination on this list, and is Britain’s only entry into the top ten. Saving money on the cost of a flight makes this destination the cheapest on the list, with tour tickets costing just £32.

The Grand Canyon lands in seventh, with 60,609 average monthly searches. Millions of years old and home to an estimated 1,000 hidden caves, it’s predominantly located in Arizona and is a visual spectacle attracting around five million visitors each year. 

It is also one of the most expensive on the list, costing the average Brit £1,366.12 for flights, and an entry pass to the national park.

In eighth, Times Square is a major commercial intersection in New York, famous for its theatres, restaurants, and billboards. Around 55 million people visit the square every year, and it receives 54,030 average monthly searches, increasing in July. Whilst there is no cost to visiting the square, flights set British tourists back more than £1,574 per person, making the destination the most expensive on Britain’s bucket list, alongside Central Park.

Ninth place on Brits’ bucket lists is the Taj Mahal, which began construction in 1632 AD and has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. The site attracts between seven and eight million visitors each year and is searched for 44,237 times monthly. The total expense of flights and entry to the Taj Mahal is £467.80 per person.

Rounding out the top ten destinations from Brits’ bucket lists, Machu Picchu is searched for 43,258 times per month on average. The Incan citadel welcomes 1.5 million visitors every year, setting each Brit back a minimum of £210.99 for flights and tickets.

Magdalena Petrusic, a travel expert from Desert Safari Dubai Tours & Tickets, offers advice to Brits who missed out on ticking off the Northern Lights from their list last week:

“The iconic sights in this ranking are on many Brits’ bucket lists, and for good reason. However, that can mean getting to see them in person, unobstructed by swathes of other tourists, can be a challenge. Their popularity can also drive up the price of flights, tickets, hotels and transport, meaning the average British tourist would have to spend more than £7000 to see the top ten most popular destinations alone. 

“Many who missed out on the Northern Lights will be feeling unhappy, and a little jealous, particularly when confronted with pictures from everyone they know on social media. However, taking a trip to the Arctic Circle will allow tourists to capture the lights in all their beauty. By visiting off-season, you increase your chance of seeing the lights, and can take to social media at a time when your friends and family will be jealous instead!

“And while the above destinations are deservedly tourist hotspots, some of the less-searched destinations on this list might be equally as special to visit. The spectacular Moai Statues, the Santorini Cliffs, and the Library of Celsus, for example, are beautiful cultural landmarks, which receive far fewer average searches and are therefore more likely to be peaceful and inexpensive sites of interest. If you missed out on this bucket list sight, this is the best and quietest time of year to go and tick off some others from your list.”