Sir Christopher Wren's St Paul's Cathedral came up short in a survey of Britain's most recognisable landmarks on Sunday as Anthony Gormley's "Angel of the North" sculpture proved a convincing winner.

While 83 percent of Britons identified a photograph of Gormley's steel sculpture of an angel sited near Gateshead in northeast England just 38 percent recognised Wren's iconic structure in a test of contemporary and classical landmarks.

The old St Paul's was destroyed in the great Fire of London in 1666 and Wren was commissioned to design the current building shortly afterwards, but nearly a quarter of Britons mistook his masterpiece for St Peter's in Vatican City.

Over a third of Britons thought Brighton's Royal Pavilion to be the Taj Mahal in India.

The poll of 3,015 Britons made uncomfortable reading for London's tourism industry, with only 48 percent identifying Trafalgar Square, the site of Nelson's column, with landmarks in the north of England taking three of the top four places.

World heritage site Hadrian's Wall, an ancient Roman fortification regarded as the most important Roman monument in Britain was second, with Liverpool's Liver Building in fourth, while Bath's Roman baths came third.

"Britons seem to be too focused on destinations and attractions overseas and are missing out on the fantastic breaks they can enjoy in their own country," said Tom Wright, chief executive of tourism body VisitBritain.

"That they are confusing domestic destinations with those abroad proves holidays here can rival any other country in the world."

Commissioned by budget hotel chain Travelodge, the poll was carried out in April.