Monuments: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, definitely. Whenever I visit a new city, checking out the major landmarks is usually top of my list. I find they give you a real sense of the local history. For instance, when I went to Edinburgh last autumn, I spent hours just walking around the castle and admiring the stonework.

Not really, to be honest. It's quite a modern commuter town, so there aren't many grand structures. There's just a small war memorial in the central park, which gets decorated with wreaths once a year. People usually travel into the capital if they want to see proper historic sights.

I'm especially drawn to ancient ruins and old fortresses rather than modern statues. There's something fascinating about touching walls that have stood for centuries. I love trying to picture what daily life was like back then, especially in massive stone structures that have survived battles and harsh weather.

Yes, my school organised quite a few day trips. I clearly remember visiting a ruined abbey in year six. We had to complete a quiz about the architecture, but my friends and I were more interested in exploring the underground vaults and playing hide-and-seek among the arches.

I'd love to see the ancient pyramids in Egypt one day. Seeing them in photographs is one thing, but standing right beside something built thousands of years ago must be breathtaking. It's been on my bucket list since secondary school, so hopefully I'll manage it soon.