Revealed: The Northern Lights, Niagara Falls and the Maldives are among Brit’s top 10 bucket list destinations – does YOUR favourite feature?

The Northern Lights, Niagara Falls and Maldives sea bungalows have topped a new poll of travel bucket list destinations.

The research also revealed that eight in ten UK holidaymakers are planning to travel somewhere new in the next 12 months – with 82 per cent hoping to visit one of their dream travel destinations.

It comes as peak viewing season for the Northern Lights in the northern hemisphere approaches – running from September to March – with the longer and darker nights creating stronger displays.

Many want to walk through the Rome Colosseum (29 per cent), enjoy the best beaches of Bali (29 per cent) and experience the cherry blossom season in Japan (30 per cent).

Experiencing the Northern Lights in Iceland was voted the number one attraction Brit travellers most wanted to see on their bucket list

In second place, Britons most wanted to see Niagara Falls – the three waterfalls which form a natural border between the United States and Canada

A trip to the Blue Lagoon – again in Iceland – marked the number three spot on the list

In fourth place, many dreamed of staying in an over water bungalow perched over the shallow waters in the Maldives

Japan’s famous cherry blossom (sakura) season featured in the number five spot on the list. Above is the country’s Himeji Castle wrapped in cherry blossom 

Visiting the dramatic Amalfi Coast in southern Italy, close to the ruins of ancient Pompeii, was number six on Britons’ bucket list of destinations

Also on the ultimate bucket list, according to Post Office, is Greek island-hopping (31 per cent), visiting the Amalfi coast in Italy (30 per cent) and soaking up the atmosphere in the middle of New York’s Times Square (29 per cent).

And for the more adventurous, there is flying through the Grand Canyon in a helicopter (27 per cent) and ticking off the “Big Five” animals on safari in Kenya (24 per cent).

According to the poll, Australia is the country most UK travellers would love to visit next (45 per cent), followed by Italy (43 per cent) and the USA (43 per cent).

Some 85 per cent of those surveyed believe they are better travelled than their parent’s generation, with Gen Z (16 – 24-year-olds) the most likely to be planning the trip of a lifetime (60 per cent), compared to just 32 per cent of Britons over the age of forty.

It comes as Post Office, who carried out the survey, is urging UK travellers to check what their travel insurance covers and when to buy it to ensure their trips are protected in the case of any unexpected turn of events.

Watching a sunset over the island of Santorini in Greece was voted 12th on the list

The ancient Colosseum in central Rome was Italy’s second top ten location at number 8

Standing in the middle of Times Square (pictured) in New York came in an number nine

Paul Paddock, Head of Travel and Protection insurance at Post Office said: ‘With Brits intending to travel further and to new travel destinations, it’s essential to have holiday protection and ensure this is purchased at the right time so that you’re covered financially if things go wrong while you’re away, or even before you leave.

‘It’s also important to check exactly what your travel insurance covers to avoid any nasty surprises. Not everything is included as standard. For example, trip disruption cover caused by extreme weather can often be added but for an additional premium – and sports travel insurance may not include activities like jet skiing.’

Over half fail to purchase travel insurance whilst booking travel and accommodation, and seven per cent even leave it until the day before or even the day of their departure.

BRITS’ TOP 40 TRAVEL BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS 

1. Experience the Northern lights in Iceland

2. See Niagara Falls

3. Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland

4. Stay in an over water bungalow in the Maldives

5. Go island hopping in Greece

6. Visit the Amalfi coast, Italy

7. See the cherry blossom in Japan

8. Go to the Colosseum, Rome

9. Stand in the middle of Times Square NY

10. Enjoy the best beaches in Bali

11. Walk the Las Vegas strip

12. See a Santorini sunset

13. Fly in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon

14. Walk across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge

15. See turtles in Cape Verde

16. Safari in Kenya to see the “Big Five”

17. Swim with dolphins off the coast of Mexico

18. Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef

19. Enjoy the view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower

20. Visit a Costa Rican rainforest

21. Visit historic Lucca, Italy

22. See the wildlife in Galapagos

23. Take a boat trip down the Amazon River

24. Enjoy tapas in Barcelona

25. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, Rome

26. Visit the Taj Mahal, India

27. Island-hopping in Croatia

28. Climb up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio

29. Party at Mardi Gras, New Orleans

30. Accomplish a Machu Picchu Trek, Peru

31. Go wine tasting in the Napa Valley

32. Go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

33. Arrive in Venice by speedboat

34. Travel to the Golden Triangle in Thailand

35. Visit the Karnak Temple Complex, Egypt

36. Tiger spotting in Bandhavgarh, India

37. Visit Jerusalem

38. Visit Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

39. Wander the old town of Montenegro

40. Go to a Michelin-star restaurant in Copenhagen

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