Best and worst towns in Britain

[Dando]

Dover and Clacton.
Inland Luton and I've heard Dartford is a khasi now, once a thriving market town but once all the big employers left the writing was on the wall.

Dartford has had some ££ chucked at it and there’s lots of new housing going in but the high street is pretty poor and the market had long gone.
the retail park has the usual - costa, b&q, matalan, carpet shop and an m&s food hall

 

[spongebob59]

Dartford has had some ££ chucked at it and there’s lots of new housing going in but the high street is pretty poor and the market had long gone.
the retail park has the usual - costa, b&q, matalan, carpet shop and an m&s food hall

A lot of the houses on the place I used to work

 

[Fade and Die]

Dartford has had some ££ chucked at it and there’s lots of new housing going in but the high street is pretty poor and the market had long gone.
the retail park has the usual - costa, b&q, matalan, carpet shop and an m&s food hall

What High Street isn't pretty poor now days? I visited Haverhill last weekend, Had a bit of time to kill so had a walk up the High Street. Just charity shops, pound shops and coffee shops. Thoroughly depressing. Mind you Hornchurch is only a few steps up, almost all chains and takeaways.

 

[Dando]

What High Street isn't pretty poor now days? I visited Haverhill last weekend, Had a bit of time to kill so had a walk up the High Street. Just charity shops, pound shops and coffee shops. Thoroughly depressing. Mind you Hornchurch is only a few steps up, almost all chains and takeaways.

They sound just like my local high street - welling

 

[SocketRocket]

Off to Bridport for a short break. I like Bridport.

 

[BiMGuy]

What High Street isn't pretty poor now days? I visited Haverhill last weekend, Had a bit of time to kill so had a walk up the High Street. Just charity shops, pound shops and coffee shops. Thoroughly depressing. Mind you Hornchurch is only a few steps up, almost all chains and takeaways.

Its not called Haverhole for nothing.

 

[OntheteeGavin]

Its not called Haverhole for nothing.

I'm from Sudbury, exactly what we used to call Haverhill! Sadly more employment in Haverhill now. I agree, very few places have good high streets now unfortuntely.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Off to Bridport for a short break. I like Bridport.

Done the walk from Seatown up the Golden Cap and back to the Anchor for a pint many times. Also like Eype to the Anchor and back.
Will be doing one of them in October. Bridport and Lyme are great places as a base for doing stuff. Going to do the tram ride again from Colyton to Seaton this year.

 

[Fade and Die]

Done the walk from Seatown up the Golden Cap and back to the Anchor for a pint many times. Also like Eype to the Anchor and back.
Will be doing one of them in October. Bridport and Lyme are great places as a base for doing stuff. Going to do the tram ride again from Colyton to Seaton this year.

Yep I’ve done them walks, I like Chideock and the Clockhouse pub. Good food and a fun quiz. Landlord always makes you welcome. Also hiring a row boat in West Bay and rowing up to Bridport is fun.
Couldn’t find anything for a sensible price this year, but next year will go to Rousden. Lovely place.

 

[4LEX]

I went to Blackpool numerous times as a kid on day trips when the lights were on. Roll on 2004 and went on my stag do. What a total sunni hole! Stayed in a faulty towers type hotel on the front. I had a TV- old style 14 inch with a coat hanger for aerial! The reception guy was dealing drugs. The breakfast was unedible as we're the others we tried. I was sad that Blackpool did not win the super casino that towns were bidding for a few years ago. It sure needs it and would no doubt prompt a massive regeneration. Would be a good test case to see if the old adage that you "cannot polish a turd" is true or not!

My only two experiences of Blackpool are being sick as a kid after going on the the Big One and then years later being threatened at knifepoint in a toilet by a Scottish crackhead. Was a brilliant night bar that though

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Every town has it's upsides and downsides. Some of the dreariest and poorest towns may have the most helpful and friendly people; some of the handsomest and wealthiest can be full of arrogant miseries. You takes your choice - but I am not really into denigrating any place for what it looks like rather than understanding why it is and has been through; just as I am not into eulogising about other towns that have been able to sup from the silver spoon through patronage or good fortune. And I have lived in both sorts.

 

[upsidedown]

Ah Blackpool, Young Farmers AGM's cant remember much ??

 

[Doon frae Troon]

It annoys me when people say the 'High Street' is failing and blaming recent problems/situations/decisions
High streets have been failing for about 25 years

 

[stefanovic]

Blackpool is only a bit rough because of who it attracts.
I'd prefer to live there than in London (I did once).
It has a good coastline, even if the sea is usually grey.
To the north is Morecambe Bay and the Lake District.
To the east, the Yorkshire Dales and Bowland.
I've also walked the Lancashire Coastal Way and found many quiet areas to the north of Blackpool leading up to Cumbria.
They even had a good football team once.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Blackpool is only a bit rough because of who it attracts.
I'd prefer to live there than in London (I did once).
It has a good coastline, even if the sea is usually grey.
To the north is Morecambe Bay and the Lake District.
To the east, the Yorkshire Dales and Bowland.
I've also walked the Lancashire Coastal Way and found many quiet areas to the north of Blackpool leading up to Cumbria.
They even had a good football team once.

Disagree with your first point.
if you go a few streets back from the sea front Blackpool is a right dump.

 

[stefanovic]

if you go a few streets back from the sea front Blackpool is a right dump.

But not as bad as the Digbeth area of Birmingham, best seen by train pulling into Moor Street Station.
It looks like you have entered a junkyard.

 

[SteveJay]

Blackpool is only a bit rough because of who it attracts.
I'd prefer to live there than in London (I did once).
It has a good coastline, even if the sea is usually grey.
To the north is Morecambe Bay and the Lake District.
To the east, the Yorkshire Dales and Bowland.
I've also walked the Lancashire Coastal Way and found many quiet areas to the north of Blackpool leading up to Cumbria.
They even had a good football team once.

As someone who has moved nearby (to Cleveleys) in the last 2 years, I agree with this. Yes, the prom is tacky and best avoided, largely because of the chavvy visitors it attracts. The town itself is being regenerated and the north end of the prom towards Cleveleys is a nice walk and so unlike the rough southern end.
The surrounding area is lovely, as is the coastline, but I get why it gets bad press, much like most UK resorts (I grew up in Devon and know Torbay is much the same!).

 

[stefanovic]

I'm going to call it for the best town and say Cheltenham is about as good it gets.
Clean town centre.
Beautiful buildings.
Scenic parks.
Early spring flowers.
Good climate as it lies partly surrounded by hills.
Good connections by rail and road.
Within half an hour you are in the heart of the Cotswolds, or if you prefer, the Severn Vale leading down to the Bristol Channel.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

But not as bad as the Digbeth area of Birmingham, best seen by train pulling into Moor Street Station.
It looks like you have entered a junkyard.

Absolute tosh!

You clearly have not been on the ground in Digbeth for years.

But then you don't know Birmingham based upon your comments re: accents.

Brummies do not say "Yam", that is strictly Black Country and is why folk from the BC are known as "yam, yams" and Brummies are called "yo, yoes".

 

[SocketRocket]

Absolute tosh!

You clearly have not been on the ground in Digbeth for years.

But then you don't know Birmingham based upon your comments re: accents.

Brummies do not say "Yam", that is strictly Black Country and is why folk from the BC are known as "yam, yams" and Brummies are called "yo, yoes".

Reminds me of the old Elephant who was retired from Dudley Zoo to an elderly elephants enclosure in Longleat.
They checked him over on the first day then released him with the other Elephants on the second. An old elephant wandered up to him and asked "Have you come here To Die"
He replied "No I came here Yesterdie"