York Minster has been declared one of our greatest treasures after being ranked among the top 21 icons of England alongside the mini-skirt, pubs and Big Ben.

A Government-funded project, ICONS - A Portrait Of England, attracted hundreds of thousands of votes for the nation's favourite assets.

Launched in January, the venture aims to create an online snapshot of life in the 21st century to help people explore, enjoy and celebrate our cultural treasures and encourage visits to museums and galleries.

It is also credited with offering tourists an insight into what makes England tick.

Four waves of new icons of England will be announced this year until there are 100 in the collection which is being assembled at www.ICONS.org.uk

The new list of 21 was chosen from nominations from thousands of people across England and the globe.

As well as featuring the Minster it also includes St George's Flag, The Domesday Book, Blackpool Tower, Hadrian's Wall, HMS Victory, Morris dancing, The Eden Project, Jane Austen's novel Pride And Prejudice, and cricket.

Jerry Doyle, managing director of ICONS, which is funded by Culture Online, part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said: "We are delighted with the response from the public.

"It has been overwhelming, with around a quarter of a million visits to the site, more than 5,000 suggested nominations and around 300,000 votes. Nominations have ranged from popular national treasures like Wallace And Grommit and Dr Who to controversial suggestions like fox hunting, where the debate rages on."

He said ICONS offers a "tantalising mix of things about life in England".

"ICONS does what the best teachers do, helping us to learn lots of things without realising that we are learning at all."

Gillian Cruddas, of York Tourism Bureau, said: "The English brand is very strong.

"To be recognised as an English icon is excellent news for us as it is an endorsement of one of the must-see attractions in England. Our research shows that people think York is very traditional and, by implication, very English.

"There's a real buzz about York as a place to come and visit which is good because there's a lot of competition out there."

Many celebrities have also made nominations with Bob Hoskins proposing the career of York-born actress, Judi Dench. Eddie Izzard put forward the South Downs; Darcey Bussell OBE nominated the Royal Opera House; and Graham Norton, the pub sign.

Peter Carson, from English Heritage, said: "ICONS Online is an exciting initiative that will encourage greater public awareness of the many marvellous cultural treasures of this country."

England's Top 21 Icons

York Minster

St George's Flag

The Domesday Book

Blackpool Tower

Hadrian's Wall

HMS Victory

The Globe

The Notting Hill Carnival

The mini-skirt

Cricket

Brick Lane

The Hay Wain (painting)

The Sutton Hoo helmet

The Lindisfarne Gospels

Pride And Prejudice

Big Ben

The Origin Of Species

Morris dancing

The Pub

The Machin (Queen's head) stamp

Updated: 10:46 Friday, April 28, 2006