Traditionally a working class dish, fish and chips first became popular during the nineteenth century with the development of trawl fishing. Railway charges subsequently fell and it became more feasible for fish to be transported inland.

The first fish and chip shop opened in the early sixties, and there are now over 8,000 'chippies' across the UK.

The poll of 7,000 Brits was conducted by Holiday Inn to find out the 50 things we love most about Britain.

Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended the throne in February 1952, takes second place in the survey, whilst the Royal Family appears at number 10 despite being criticised for spending too much money.
 
And - despite his sometimes controversial antics - Prince Harry was the only other Royal to make it onto the top 50. Maggie Thatcher still holds a place in the nation's heart - not only was she the only woman apart from the Queen to make the list, but she was also the only politician.

Meanwhile the public house, of which there are over 57,500 across the country, takes third place.

Andrew Smith, spokesman for Holiday Inn said: ''As a nation we are rightly patriotic. This list gives a fascinating insight into exactly what it means to be British - our food, history, Royalty, our many wonderful characters and all the fabulous places we love to visit.

''It's great to celebrate the things we love about our country. Over the last few years there's been a big surge in the numbers of people spending their holidays touring around this wonderful land - and this tells us why.''

Sunday roasts and red phone boxes complete the top five.  Approximately 2,000 red telephone boxes are now listed, but many were sold off under the privatisation of British Telecom.

Transport such as black cabs, ice cream vans, Mini Coopers and Jaguars appear in the top 50 - as do the traditional 1954 Routemaster red buses, of which there are 1,000 of the original 2,876 left on Britain's streets.

Some of the best celebrated food on the list includes the Sunday roast, cream teas, cheddar cheese, and Cornish pasties.

Historical buildings and monuments such as Stonehenge, Big Ben, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace also appeared in the top 50.

Andrew Smith from Holiday Inn continued: "Although we all knock it sometimes, Britain is still truly great - Holiday Inn says get out and enjoy it. I can't quite get the image of the Queen sitting in a pub eating fish and chips watching Ant and Dec on the box out of my head.''

The results found Manchester United come top in the sporting league (19), with cricket (28) narrowly stumping Wimbledon (29).

Stephen Fry (21) beat Monty Python (23) in the funniest stakes whilst cider came 35 beating Real Ale (40) and Pimms (41).
 
'BEST OF BRITISH' TOP 50
1.         Fish and Chips
2.         The Queen
3.         Old fashioned pubs
4.         Sunday roast
5.         Red phone boxes
6.         Big Ben
7.         Cream teas
8.         The Beatles
9.         The Pound
10.        The Royal family
11.        Buckingham Palace
12.        Shakespeare
13.        Black cabs
14.        NHS
15.        James Bond
16.        Red Routemaster buses
17.        Cheddar Cheese
18.        The Houses of Parliament
19.        Manchester United
20.        Ant and Dec
21.        Stephen Fry
22.        Cornish Pasties
23.        Monty Python
24.        The Tower of London
25.        Aston Martin
26.        BBC
27.        Stonehenge
28.        Cricket
29.        Wimbledon
30.        Glastonbury
31.        Camden Market
32.        Blackpool
33.        Mini Coopers
34.        J K Rowling
35.        Edinburgh Festival
36.        Scrumpy Cider
37.        Concorde
38.        Yorkshire Puddings
39.        The Queen's English
40.        Real ale
41.        Pimms
42.        Jaguar E-type
43.        David Bowie
44.        Prince Harry
45.        Harrods
46.        Ice cream vans
47.        The Red Arrows
48.        Margaret Thatcher
49.        Covent Garden
50.        Morris Dancers