Tourists draw famous landmarks from memory with some VERY mixed results

UK and U.S tourists were asked to draw some of the world’s most famous landmarks from memory and the results range from the amazingly good to the shockingly bad.

And overall, it seems that it’s Americans who are the better artists with higher accuracy scores than the Brits.

In total, 132 people aged 18 to 64 were asked for their renditions of 12 of the world’s most recognisable tourist attractions, with the Statue of Liberty the best-drawn and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa the least accurately rendered.

UK and U.S tourists were asked to draw some of the world’s most famous landmarks from memory and the results range from the amazingly good to the shockingly bad (but note that the drawing of the bell is actually entirely accurate…)

Overall, it seems that it's Americans who are the better artists, with higher accuracy scores than the Brits

Overall, it seems that it’s Americans who are the better artists, with higher accuracy scores than the Brits

The Eiffel Tower came in at second place in the study, with an average accuracy score of four on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the most accurate. 

This was followed by the Taj Mahal in India (four), the Parthenon in Athens (3.5), the Sydney Opera House (3.2) and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (2.7).

While the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx in Egypt require little in the way of artistic ability to roughly recreate – a ‘pyramid’ being the giveaway pointer – the site only scored 2.7 on the accuracy scale, with one tourist going off-piste with a few circular shapes.

In at eighth place was Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa (2.6), followed by Big Ben in London (2.6) and Christ the Redeemer in Brazil (2.3).

In total, 132 people aged 18 to 64 were asked for their renditions of 12 of the world's most recognisable tourist attractions, with the Statue of Liberty the best-drawn and the Burj Khalifa the least accurately rendered

In total, 132 people aged 18 to 64 were asked for their renditions of 12 of the world’s most recognisable tourist attractions, with the Statue of Liberty the best-drawn and the Burj Khalifa the least accurately rendered

U.S. participants frequently scored higher marks for their drawings (67 per cent) than people from the U.K. (33 per cent)

U.S. participants frequently scored higher marks for their drawings (67 per cent) than people from the U.K. (33 per cent)

Although Dubai hosted nearly 16 million overnight visitors in 2018 (more than New York City, Singapore and Tokyo) it was landmarks in the Middle East where artists struggled the most.

Rounding out the top ten, the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai earned a 2.4 out of 10 for average accuracy, followed by the Burj Khalifa with a score of two. 

Considering Europeans have more holiday time each year, and a swathe of Americans don’t have passports, you might expect that U.K. residents have a leg-up when recalling landmarks outside the U.S.

The Eiffel Tower came in at second place in the study , with an average accuracy score of four on a 10-point scale with 10 being the most accurate

The Eiffel Tower came in at second place in the study , with an average accuracy score of four on a 10-point scale with 10 being the most accurate

Some attempts at Christ the Redeemer look more like stick figure cartoons than one of the New Seven Wonders of The World

However, U.S. participants frequently scored higher marks for their drawings (67 per cent) than people from the U.K. (33 per cent) – and that doesn’t just include sights within their country.

Indeed, Americans managed to draw more faithful pictures of Big Ben in London with U.K. residents scoring below eight per cent for their average accuracy for this building. 

Some of the worse drawings include a rendering of the Golden Gate Bridge that is better compared to a taco shell, and one attempt at Christ the Redeemer that looks more like a stick figure cartoon than one of the New Seven Wonders of The World.

Some of the worse drawings include a rendering of the Golden Gate Bridge, which is better compared to a taco shell

Although Dubai hosted nearly 16 million overnight visitors in 2018 (more than New York City, Singapore, and Tokyo), it was landmarks in the Middle East that artists struggled the most with

Although Dubai hosted nearly 16 million overnight visitors in 2018 (more than New York City, Singapore, and Tokyo), it was landmarks in the Middle East that artists struggled the most with

Americans managed to draw more faithful pictures of Big Ben in London that U.K. residents, who scored below eight per cent for their average accuracy for this sight

Americans managed to draw more faithful pictures of Big Ben in London that U.K. residents, who scored below eight per cent for their average accuracy for this sight

While the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx in Egypt require little in the way of artistic ability to roughly recreate - a 'pyramid' being the giveaway pointer - the site only scored 2.7 on the accuracy scale with one tourist going off piste with a few circular shapes

While the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx in Egypt require little in the way of artistic ability to roughly recreate – a ‘pyramid’ being the giveaway pointer – the site only scored 2.7 on the accuracy scale with one tourist going off piste with a few circular shapes

Most people seemed to get the angle right when drawing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, although the shape of the structure varied

Most people seemed to get the angle right when drawing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, although the shape of the structure varied 

While the average confidence score for the Parthenon was among the lowest of all 12 landmarks (1.9), participants still managed to convey this ancient Greek landmark with surprising accuracy

While the average confidence score for the Parthenon was among the lowest of all 12 landmarks (1.9), participants still managed to convey this ancient Greek landmark with surprising accuracy

The Palm Jumeirah complex in Dubai earned a 2.4 out of ten for average accuracy

The Palm Jumeirah complex in Dubai earned a 2.4 out of ten for average accuracy

When asked to draw the Sydney Opera House, one participant submitted a dome-shaped building with a rather large front door instead of the multi-dimensional shapes and textures of Sydney's prized architectural landmark

When asked to draw the Sydney Opera House, one participant submitted a dome-shaped building with a rather large front door instead of the multi-dimensional shapes and textures of Sydney’s prized architectural landmark

The Taj Mahal left some artists stumped, while others managed to draw the domes and reflecting pond as they appear

The Taj Mahal left some artists stumped, while others managed to draw the domes and reflecting pond as they appear

While no single American participant was unfamiliar with either the Golden Gate Bridge or the Statue of Liberty, UK residents struggled slightly with both. Nearly three per cent of British residents couldn't recall the Statue of Liberty

While no single American participant was unfamiliar with either the Golden Gate Bridge or the Statue of Liberty, UK residents struggled slightly with both. Nearly three per cent of British residents couldn’t recall the Statue of Liberty

Creators of the study found UK participants only outscored those from the U.S. when asked to recreate four of the world's most iconic sights: the Parthenon in Greece, the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx in Egypt, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai

Creators of the study found UK participants only outscored those from the U.S. when asked to recreate four of the world’s most iconic sights: the Parthenon in Greece, the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx in Egypt, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai

While no single American participant was unfamiliar with either the Golden Gate Bridge or the Statue of Liberty, UK residents struggled slightly with both

While no single American participant was unfamiliar with either the Golden Gate Bridge or the Statue of Liberty, UK residents struggled slightly with both

Overall, it was Christ the Redeemer (14 per cent of UK residents and 19 per cent of Americans), the Parthenon (33 per cent and 24 per cent), Palm Jumeirah (39 per cent and 56 per cent), and Burj Khalifa (22 per cent and 52 per cent) that left people drawing the biggest blanks

Overall, it was Christ the Redeemer (14 per cent of UK residents and 19 per cent of Americans), the Parthenon (33 per cent and 24 per cent), Palm Jumeirah (39 per cent and 56 per cent), and Burj Khalifa (22 per cent and 52 per cent) that left people drawing the biggest blanks

In the Middle East, more than 50 per cent of Americans drew a blank

In the Middle East, more than 50 per cent of Americans drew a blank

Each person was asked to spend a minute drawing each landmark while using only his or her memory. Afterward, participants were asked to rate their confidence level on a scale of one to ten, with ten being completely confident in their drawing. This confidence rating was used to calculate the average confidence score

Each person was asked to spend a minute drawing each landmark while using only his or her memory. Afterward, participants were asked to rate their confidence level on a scale of one to ten, with ten being completely confident in their drawing. This confidence rating was used to calculate the average confidence score

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