With Nintendo having released its Super Nintendo Mini console last year to capitalize on the nostalgia for all things 16-bit, pixels are very cool again. For those of us who grew up in the late 80s and early 90s, this trend is a welcome reminder of more innocent times and classic video games that meant the world to us. It also means that there’s lots of modern takes on pixelated graphics to enjoy, and if you love them too, you’re in for a treat.
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Pixelated video games may be a part of our history more than our future, with video games having come on in leaps and bounds since then, but they’re a great way to celebrate other historical landmarks. In that spirit, they’ve been used to recreate 8 iconic scenes from Great Britain by holidaycottages.co.uk and the results are incredible.
White Cliffs of Dover (Kent, England)
One of the most famous sights you’ll see in Great Britain, the white cliffs of Dover have historically been many people’s welcome to the country, whether arriving on vacation or returning home from war, meaning they’ve featured in plenty of songs and poems.
Castlefield Canals with Beetham Tower (Manchester, England)
Manchester’s history and present both feature in this 16-bit recreation, with the canal and Industrial Revolution mills in the foreground and the tall (for British standards) modern Beetham Tower looming in the background.
Borough Market (London, England)
This market dates back to the 13th Century and is still a vibrant and essential part of life in the capital, visited by thousands of people every day looking for goods from across the world. In this image you can also see the very modern and very big Shard, representing 21st Century London.
Blackpool Central Pier (Blackpool, England)
Much like 16-bit graphics, Blackpool’s seafront could be said to have seen its best days long ago, but there’s also lots of us who say that it’s just as good as ever. The best time of year to visit is September to November when the world famous Illuminations light up the promenade for miles.
The West Highland Line over the Glenfinnan Viaduct (Glenfinnan, Scotland)
If you’ve seen Harry Potter, you’ll have seen the Hogwarts Express whisking the children off to their magical school and this real life viaduct view shows what that scene would look like in a SNES Harry Potter game.
Glastonbury Festival (Somerset, England)
Everyone from Beyonce to Dolly Parton has played Glastonbury in recent years, making it one of the world’s most famous music festivals and this retro version captures all of the flashing lights and spectacle.
Angel of the North (Gateshead, England)
One of Northern England’s most iconic sights, Anthony Gormley’s sculpture welcomes travelers to the North East, although the sun isn’t often quite so bright and shimmery as it is in this pixelated snapshot.
Snowdon (Snowdonia National Park, Wales)
Britain’s mountains don’t tower quite as high as in other countries but they’re just as famous and popular, with half a million people climbing Snowdon every year, taking in the beautiful sights of North Wales.
