But some architectural masterpieces from the reign of Queen Victoria have sadly been lost to time.
Grand hotels, stunning civic buildings and ornate market places are among the greatest works of the Victorian era which have sadly been demolished over the years.
Some fell victim to fire or to bombs, while others succumbed to architectural vandalism, in many cases being replaced by monstrosities.
All of these buildings are mourned by those who remember them.
Several were torn down in the face of huge public opposition, and there have been campaigns to replace what should never have been lost in the first place.
These lost landmarks include a record-breaking ‘palace’ which was dismantled and moved at great expense, only to be consumed by fire; a famous tourist attraction, described as the London Eye of the North; and some truly magnificent railway stations.
How many of these remarkable buildings do you remember, and which do you miss most?
f you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, you might like this retro photo gallery of lost railway stations, taking you back to the golden age of train travel.
5. Royal Arch, Dundee
The magnificent Royal Arch in Dundee was built in 1848 to celebrate a visit by Queen Victoria four years previously. It was sadly demolished in 1964 | Getty Images Photo: London Stereoscopic Company/Hulton Archive
6. Cookridge Street Baths
The Cookridge Street Baths, also known as known as the Oriental and General baths, were once among the finest buildings in Leeds. They opened in 1867, having been built at a cost of £13,000. They remained in use for around a century, before eventually closing and being demolished in the late 1960s. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
7. Manchester Assize Courts
This gem of a building in the Strangeways district of Manchester was a victim of the Blitz. When it was built in 1864, it became the tallest building in the city and was described as the country's most important building outside Whitehall. Sadly, it was severely damaged by bombing during the Second World War, and the remains were demolished in 1957. | Getty Images Photo: Mason Jackson/The Print Collector/Heritage Images
8. Great Wheel, Blackpool
Blackpool's Great Wheel was a landmark to rival the seaside resort's famous tower. Built in 1896, on the south-west corner of the Winter Gardens, the Victorian masterpiece has been described as the London Eye of its day. Sadly, it only lasted a little over 30 years, before being dismantled in 1928. | National World