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How Big? The Relative Footprints Of London Landmarks



Walking around the British Museum at the weekend, we were struck, as always, by its sheer scale. And to think there's a new extension on the way. It got us pondering...how does the museum compare to London's other sizeable landmarks? There's a simple test. We've cut out various venues from Google Maps, all zoomed in to the same scale. (Slight variations in camera angle don't seem to be a significant problem – most shots are directly overhead.)

The selection is somewhat whimsical, and in no way a comprehensive guide to London's biggest structures, but nevertheless offers a few interesting insights. The size of the O2 dome may surprise some. It could easily encase the British Museum with room to spare. Even the Houses of Parliament could just about squeeze in, at least in its length. And then there's the ExCeL exhibition centre, which dwarves even the dome. Here's the full guide.