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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Historic Scottish landmarks named in top 10 'most boring' tourist attractions by visitors
These hot spots were labelled as 'dul' and 'tedious' Two Scottish historic landmarks have been named among the 10 most boring tourist attractions in continental Europe, according to new analysis of TripAdvisor reviews. The Real Mary King's Close and Edinburgh Castle were both flagged in a study by World of Card Games, which examined boredom-related comments from visitors to 50 of Europe's most celebrated destinations. Despite their rich history and strong ratings, many travellers say the sites didn't live up to the hype. The Real Mary King's Close in Edinburgh topped the list, with 2.42 percent of visitors describing their experience as 'boring', the highest boredom rating of all attractions surveyed. Edinburgh Castle also featured in the top 10, ranking eighth with 1.78 percent of reviews labelling it a let-down. To determine where tourists felt the most underwhelmed, the World of Card Games team sifted through thousands of TripAdvisor reviews, scanning for terms like 'dull,' 'lifeless,' 'tedious,' and 'mediocre.' The result paints a picture of rising expectations, and growing disappointment, at some of the continent's most iconic sites. 'A lot of travel guides focus on the top attractions and must-see landmarks, but we wanted to explore where boredom truly sets in for visitors,' said Holger Sindbaek, founder of World of Card Games. 'By analysing real reviews and tracking how often people mention feeling disappointed, we gained a better understanding of which European destinations aren't meeting expectations. It turns out, even some of the continent's most iconic sites aren't delivering the excitement they promise.' At The Real Mary King's Close, visitors descend beneath Edinburgh's City Chambers to explore a preserved maze of 17th to 19th-century streets once teeming with life. The underground site, described as 'a time capsule beneath the Royal Mile', is rated 4.4 out of 5 based on more than 23,000 TripAdvisor reviews. But despite its eerie charm and immersive storytelling, some tourists were left unimpressed. One visitor wrote: 'It was pretty disappointing, poor and boring unfortunately. The lady who presented and told the information was pleasant and worked hard at giving all of the information, but the actual experience left a lot to be desired sadly, it was just mainly dull sadly. "The tour takes about forty-five minutes to an hour, but we were honestly hoping it'd finish only a few minutes into the tour. Also, the ticket prices are £22.50 each for adults, which is vastly overpriced for what it is. The tickets should be fifteen pounds each maximum for adults.' Similarly, Edinburgh Castle, one of Scotland's most visited attractions, holds a 4.4 rating with over 53,000 reviews and is a centrepiece of the capital's World Heritage Site. The historic stronghold houses the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, Mons Meg, and the National War Museum of Scotland. But even with its impressive credentials, some visitors left feeling deflated. One reviewer said: 'Me and my son (7 years) went to this expecting a castle. It was more like a smaller Tower of London type place. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "I have to say, despite this being one of the main attractions, I was a bit underwhelmed by it... It has a lot of museums in the grounds, but they were a bit boring for us both (sorry!)... The crown jewels is just one room with a crown/sword etc. It's not very much for the 15–20 minute wait we had.' Though both sites continue to attract huge numbers of tourists, the findings suggest that high expectations and large crowds are making it harder for historic landmarks to leave a lasting impression. Other iconic sites with surprisingly high boredom ratings included Florence's Gallerie Degli Uffizi (2.27 percent), The British Museum (2.24 percent), and Buckingham Palace (2.08 percent). According to the study, common complaints included overcrowding, lack of interactive exhibits, or simply underwhelming experiences compared to the anticipation.
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Games Making A Comeback: 7 Ways To Improve Stress And Work Connections
Office games are making a comeback, and some of the newer ones can help you manage work stress and ... More solidify relationships with your team. Feeling mentally foggy, overwhelmed or just can't seem to focus? You're far from alone. According to the American Psychological Association, 76% of adults in the U.S. report at least one stress-related health symptom. And a recent Google Trends report reveals searches for 'chronic stress' reaching an all-time high, coinciding with Stress Awareness Month, signaling a growing mental health crisis. But what if the key to mental clarity and workplace relationships wasn't to sit and talk about it or meditate on it but instead to play it out? You could be rolling your eyes, yet there's a trend of games making a comeback, helping employees manage workplace stress and build team connections. I spoke with game expert Laura Robinson, who told me that games made a comeback during the pandemic when we were all locked down. 'They kept us connected when we were isolated,' she says. 'As AI and automation overtake the work world with the potential to further disconnect us from one another, parlor games have enjoyed a renaissance.' And she ought to know. Robinson (no relation to me) has built a professional career from creating parlor games to producing TV game shows. She co-created the international mega-hit, Balderdash and was the Emmy-nominated executive producer and creator of the hit show, Celebrity Name Game. The game aficionado believes games are important in today's world because people everywhere are hunched over their cell phones, passively watching videos and interacting, isolated in their own little worlds—perhaps to escape the troubling times in which we live. Her observations underscore Gallup's Global State of Social Connections, showing that 24% of the global population feels lonely, and young people aged 19 to 29 are more lonely than older adults from ages 65-plus. Holger Sindbaek, founder of World of Card Games, explains how board games can serve as micro-breaks--short bursts of time away from work that reset your mind and boost your well-being. 'When everything feels overwhelming, a board game brings you back to the moment," he told me. "You're not checking your phone or thinking about tomorrow—you're just here, focused and having fun. That break alone can do wonders.' Sindbaek offers seven benefits of board games to reduce stress: 1. Create Mindful Focus. 'Board games demand present-moment attention, temporarily shifting focus away from worries, similar to mindfulness meditation but in a more engaging format.' 2. Promote Social Connection. 'Face-to-face interaction during gameplay triggers oxytocin release, a hormone that counteracts cortisol and promotes feelings of security and bonding.' 3. Provide Controllable Challenges. 'Unlike work or life stressors, board games offer challenges within a controlled environment with clear rules, giving you a sense of agency often missing during stressful periods.' 4. Trigger Positive Emotions. 'Laughter and enjoyment during gameplay stimulate endorphin release, the body's natural mood elevators that can reduce perceived stress.' 5. Establish Healthy Routine Breaks. 'Scheduling regular board game nights creates anticipated breaks from stress, giving your mind something positive to look forward to during difficult weeks.' 6. Engage Multiple Senses. 'The tactile experience of moving pieces, shuffling cards and manipulating game components provides sensory grounding that can help interrupt stress-response cycles.' 7. Foster Achievement Without Pressure. 'Games provide opportunities to experience success and mastery in low-stakes environments, boosting confidence that can transfer to handling real-world stressors more effectively.' Dr. Nikki Scheiner with Ben's Natural Health, identifies four games proven to relax the brain by influencing its stress response systems, focus mechanisms and neural pathways. 1. Pick up a racket and calm your thoughts. Scheiner explains that racket sports like tennis are one of the most effective ways to reset your brain and clear mental clutter. The mix of movement, focus and fast-paced decision-making creates what experts call a flow state--where your brain becomes deeply focused and inner noise fades. 'Playing tennis improves how your brain connects different regions,' she explains. 'It helps you stay focused and think clearly for the rest of the day.' The science: People who play racket sports have significantly lower stress levels and better cognitive performance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2. Play your stress away with strategy games. Scheiner suggests that you don't need to break a sweat to boost your brain. She mentions games like Sudoku, chess or even mobile puzzle apps can redirect anxiety into structured problem-solving, offering quick mental relief. 'Strategic gaming triggers a surge in alpha brain waves,' she says. 'This creates the ideal neurological state--calm yet alert--where stress dissolves and mental processing thrives.' The science: Playing strategy games improves working memory by 12-18%--measurable progress in just a few sessions. Computers in Human Behavior found. 3. Try archery to quiet your inner critic. If you're looking for mindfulness without meditation, Scheiner insists that target sports like archery deliver fast, focus-enhancing results. How? The deliberate aiming process activates your brain's sensorimotor systems and shuts down background stress signals. 'Activities requiring precision, like archery, force complete present-moment awareness," she notes. 'This integration calms racing thoughts and boosts focus within a single session.' 4. Play music to build stress resilience. Scheiner suggests that the most powerful tool for mental clarity is playing a musical instrument because it activates multiple brain regions at once, helping to regulate emotions and lower stress hormone levels. 'Musicians show stronger connections between the areas of the brain responsible for emotion and planning,' she points out. 'This leads to better mood control and long-term stress reduction.' The science: Regular musical practice boosts brain connectivity by 10–25%, depending on the time invested. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. Some experts contend that the key to mental calm and clarity isn't always to sit still and 'clear your mind,' but instead to actively engage it in the right way. That's why there's a trend of games making a comeback. If you're a game beginner, Scheiner suggests choosing just one activity and practicing it for 15 minutes twice a week. 'You'll start noticing clearer thinking and improved mood in just a few weeks.' And Sindbaek concludes, 'In a world that feels increasingly fast and digital, board games invite us to slow down, connect and be present. That's not just fun—it's necessary.'
