What part of the UK is a notorious shithole, but is highly underrated?
Posted by Simple-Courage-3948@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 1371 comments
Or I suppose the contrary of that.. What is considered great, but is actually a shithole?
JamitryFyodorovich@reddit
Growing up as a southerner it was always assumed that it is "grim up north", but I have visited Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield in the past year and quite liked all of them.
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
This is crazy to me. Do southerners actually talk about a huge part of the country like that?
Moist-Application310@reddit
Southerners call northerners poor and thick, as much as northerners call southerners posh. The funny thing is it's not true but the jokes still going strong
Hank_Wankplank@reddit
I'm from Leeds and worked down South for a few years, and as soon as people found out where I was from they loved to tell me what a dump and a shithole it was and how much better it must be to be in the South.
It always baffled me because Leeds was far nicer than the towns I was living in down there. I think it's just a stereotype from decades ago that's yet to stop being perpetuated.
Ok-fine-man@reddit
It's pretty common on Reddit too, to dunk on Leeds for some reason.
I remember seeing a whole thread of people who'd clearly never been to Leeds, discussing how much of a shit hole it supposedly is.
Yet, I'm sitting in my lovely flat in one of its many leafy suburbs, looking at this thread thinking 'wtf, my home city is way nicer than all of these other shitty dreary towns being mentioned'.
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
That's crazy. I moved to Leeds for uni and haven't looked back at all. It's such a lovely city.
I travel to London sometimes and I get why people may prefer it, it's great having everything at your doorstep, but it certainly doesn't feel cleaner or significantly nicer than somewhere like Leeds.
audigex@reddit
Manchester has almost everything London has now, except closer together and 2/3 the price
Hank_Wankplank@reddit
Agree, I really like Leeds. I've travelled a lot with work and spent time all over the country, and genuinely think Leeds is one of the nicer cities. It's not the biggest or best at anything, but it's just a good alrounder and I've never had a desire to move elsewhere.
I think it's just ignorance and people parroting things they've heard. Most of the people saying it had never been to Leeds.
Simon170148@reddit
I second that. When I moved down there they genuinely believed up north was a 3rd world country
joebearyuh@reddit
I always agreed with them so the lager swillers are less likely to visit. Northumberland is the UKs best kept secret, surely to be ruined by cockneys if they find out how great it is.
Extension_Drummer_85@reddit
Yes, they absolutely do, I'm foreign and have been warned off go anywhere north of St Albans basically.
thetreescanhearyou@reddit
I mean northerners do it too. It's just part of living in the UK. I am from the south but work remotely for a northern company and all my coworkers are constantly talking about how shit the south is. It's just the way it is.
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
What do they have to say about the south?
EndearingSobriquet@reddit
Yes. I work remotely with people all over, but one of the offices is in London and the born and bred Londoners talk about people who have moved North as if they've died. Like anything north of M25 is a burning wasteland. Not in a jokey manner either, just in a flat factual way. If it's not in London, it's "in the sticks" and it's irrelevant.
Littleloula@reddit
Lots of northerners also talk about all of the south as if it's all posh when some of the roughest, most deprived places are in the south.
And many people forget Wales altogether! And also the Midlands gets somewhat overlooked
Livinglifeform@reddit
Outside of parts of london there aren't places in the south as rough as the north
positivenergyforever@reddit
Jaywick & Luton want a word
Livinglifeform@reddit
Luton is midlands, Jaywick ain't that bad.
positivenergyforever@reddit
Jaywick is the most deprived part of the country iirc and luton in midlands is a rogue shout, not sure they’d agree with that
Livinglifeform@reddit
Jawick is a tiny village of 4,000 and if you watch videos it's not even that rough, just poor.
ThenMolasses6196@reddit
Tell me you haven’t been to Jaywick without…etc. It’s a fucking shanty town.
Livinglifeform@reddit
Pretty unlikely to get fucking stabbed though is the main thing
Also, what's with this "tell me you haven't been there" bullshit like you actually have. There's no reason to visit and a boderline no chance you've ever lived there so stop with the shite.
InfinityEternity17@reddit
Luton is definitely not the Midlands lol it's below Oxford and that's not even in the Midlands
shootforthunder@reddit
Norfolk is pretty dire at times
novalia89@reddit
I am not massively aware of the south, but I know Plymouth is quite rough in parts.
just_burn_it_all@reddit
I grew up in the North East, but my family moved to Northampton when I was about 12.
I was kinda hated by most of the kids there for being a stupid and poverty-stricken Northerner (neither of which was true), and even some of the teachers embraced this stereotype too.
One teacher decided it would be a good idea to make the entire class watch a 1950's black and white film about living in the North East.
It was basically old men riding around on horse and cart, scraping together a living scraping coal from the beach and selling it. All it did was reinforce these stupid stereotypes, and my school life became hell after that
Poisoneraa@reddit
One of them did to my face.
While standing in the queue to enter Liverpool’s Eurovision village, I struck up a conversation with a family from Portsmouth I think. The dad straight up was like “I’m surprised. I thought your city would be a shit. But everyone here is so friendly and it has some lovely buildings. I was expecting a dump, no offence. People told me never to come here, but I’m glad we finally did. I think it’s my new favourite place now”
As someone who just wanted to chat about the fun eye makeup his wife was wearing, I was a bit gobsmacked tbh
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
In LIVERPOOL?! I can't believe the cheek of that 😭
atheistwithfaith@reddit
To be fair, Leeds looks like a bit of a shit hole and not much to keep you uniquely entertained (i.e. a reason to travel there instead of anywhere else in the UK) if you are visiting for a couple of days. As somewhere to actually live and have a life though, it's great!
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
Idk, I've had plenty of people visit me and be impressed by the city and the events going on :) even people from abroad. we get a lot of tourists
Still_Fam_Geez@reddit
My dad, a Sussex boy, certainly did…
gympol@reddit
It's a stereotype / "banter". Even in the south relatively few people are ignorant enough to think it's true across half the country.
KILLERMAnti123@reddit
For the most part yes
ripsa@reddit
It also scales exponentially with wealth. I know people from the more expensive leafy London suburbs who regard solidly Toryshire Southern home counties as some kind of apocalyptic wasteland. Let alone the North & Midlands. They'd probably think you need hazmat suits to travel there.
RedEarth42@reddit
This may be more of an urban vs hinterland thing. As a person who could never countenance living outside of a massive city, I can understand the inclination to think anywhere that doesn’t have 24 hour supermarkets within 15 mins walking distance is a shithole
TheChiliarch@reddit
I live in the South and absolutely hate the North, not for economic or cultural reasons, it's just that it's quantitatively colder, greyer and wetter up North throughout the year, and weather is about 70% of what decides my predisposition to a place.
Aside from that, no, I've never really experienced any kind of common let alone denigrative opinion about the North, except perhaps wherein it overlaps with my own.
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
Hahaha fair enough. What part of the UK has the best climate to your liking then?
JamitryFyodorovich@reddit
Kind of, when you are younger you take what people say at face value and as the north generally has a worse economy you figure there is less investment, so you don't really question the notion until you see places for yourself. It is completely ignorant obviously.
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
So sad. They're missing out on so much!
Cardo94@reddit
Shhhhhhhhh, let them think it's shite so they don't come here and fuck it up!
PurpleEsskay@reddit
Not as much anymore but overall yes. When I moved from North London up north family couldn't understand why I wanted to do that. All the usual comments about it being poor, a dump, ugly, horrible people, low wages etc were made.
The only one thats true is lower wages (nowhere near as bad as it was mind you). People are significantly nicer up here, housing is (marginally) more affordable and it's overall a far nicer place to be.
derekfishfinger@reddit
My mate came to Leeds from snobby Hertfordshire. His friends said he would be able to buy a mansion in Leeds with the proceeds of his house sale. Not in North Leeds he couldn’t,prices are very similar.
I’m from Middlesbrough and it’s a shithole in places but I miss living there as the people are fucking class and there is a beach and beautiful countryside a ten minute drive away.
DeTroutSpinners_@reddit
No we dont. Don't listen to mongs on reddit.
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
Southerner here with the majority of my family being northern. Yeah a lot of southerners are ignorant of it. Then again it's faster to get to France on the train than Newcastle. It's a disconnect for sure.
georgecoxyy@reddit
As someone who grew up south of Bristol, no, I was unaware of a north/south concept completely until I went to uni further north and met people with strong stances on it.
In general, there is no collective “southerners” opinion. My area of upbringing has a lot more similarities with my friend’s village from near Barnsley than it does with my friend’s area in central London.
thefooby@reddit
I mean to be fair us northerners do the same. I wouldn’t dream of moving south, but having spent a lot of time working all over the country, the “south” consists of a whole range of different parts with their own culture. I don’t just see everything south of Derby as the south anymore, same as Manchester feels nothing like Newcastle.
If we’re actually going to draw a cultural north south divide, I reckon it would be the A66. Having grown up in Northumberland and lived in Newcastle, I’ve felt way more at home in Scotland than the other big northern cities.
Pleasant_Jim@reddit
When you consider how many folk have very passive, racist views of other countries then this suggestion about Southerners becomes reasonable.
AllOne_Word@reddit
Crazy. You never hear a northerner being rude about e.g. London.
talking_heads_90333@reddit
because Northerners are famous for never saying anything bad about the South
Ill-Storage-1345@reddit
Oh waahhhh
talking_heads_90333@reddit
there's that famous northern wit, utterly breath taking
Sailing-Cyclist@reddit
So many of my school friends have kept within their circles here in the south. It’s not everybody, but you do get cliques that didn’t go to uni or explore a bit with these views.
evenstevens280@reddit
Now visit Dewsbury, Bolton and Doncaster
UnchartedPro@reddit
What's wrong with dewsbury 🤣 I feel it gets too much hate, I feel safer there than Leeds
evenstevens280@reddit
It probably is safer, but it's still shit
UnchartedPro@reddit
Yeah you are right wouldn't really choose to live there
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
This is pure unbridled ignorance. I will take Bolton as an example since I live there but the same applies, in some regards, to the other two.
Bolton is a decent sized town. To write the whole place off in one fell swoop is idiocy. How can you say that the whole of Bolton is grim when it is not a homogeneous entity?
When you imply that all of Bolton is grim... does that mean that living in 6 bed mansion on a leafy street in Heaton or Lostock is the same as living in a dilapidated two up two down in Daubhill or Breightmet? Does this mean that living in semi-rural parts in the hills like Blackrod or Rivington is the same as living in a more urban suburb like Farnworth?
I will give that like many similar sized towns, the formerly grand centre is on its uppers and in need of regeneration and that, as always has been, there are areas of dilapidation and relative social deprivation, however, it is not all grim and there are also many people living happily in prosperity amongst pleasant and beautiful surroundings.
No-Body-4446@reddit
This is exactly how I feel when Reddit takes great glee in shitting on Blackpool, where I am from. Sure the town centre is a bit dilapidated. Most mid size towns in the UK are. The fact is most redditors are quite snobby, so anywhere considered working class is immediately branded a shithole.
But they're visiting the town centre and make a judgement from it.
Mysterious-Fortune-6@reddit
"a bit"
It is exceptionally run down and ugly. Most midsize towns are not in fact this bad (I've lived in poorly regarded bits of West Yorkshire and it was a pleasure to return there from Blackpool).
The town also suffers from very serious social problems.
gaspoweredcat@reddit
yeah blackpool is grim and i say that as someone living in stoke!
No-Body-4446@reddit
None of these problems are exclusive to Blackpool. Pretty much every mid size town outside of the south east is similar. As the user from Bolton stated, and as i also stated, you probably visited literally the town centre.
bigjoeandphantom3O9@reddit
Not to the extent Blackpool does. It isn't snobby to point out how dilapidated and run-down the area is.
Mysterious-Fortune-6@reddit
The centre is the town, as far as anyone is interested. I'm sure the residential areas look much like anywhere else.
Bolton town centre is not as run down as Blackpool. I can't personally think of anywhere that is. Maybe bits of Teesside. Can't speak for Burnley, Blackburn etc.
thefooby@reddit
There’s a street in Stockton that was known as “Crack Alley” when I used to work for a courier. Almost every house was boarded up to some extent and the streets were lined with people openly injecting god know what. That’s the worst part of the UK I’ve ever seen. It was only a street though weirdly.
joebearyuh@reddit
I was about chime in with North Shields. I'm from South Shields and I've never felt on edge in any part of the North East, but some parts of North Shields are straight up scary.
I got off the metro there once and there was three alkis on a communal sofa drinking tinnies right outside the station at about 1pm.
TheSilkyBat@reddit
Burnley has always been rough as hell.
No-Body-4446@reddit
fair enough mate. agree to disagree.
marquoth_@reddit
True, but also disingenuous. Let's not pretend it's not significantly worse in some areas than others.
Blackpool is objectively one of the most deprived areas of the country. That's not an opinion, and acknowledging it is not snobbery.
Eight of the 10 most deprived neighbourhoods in England are in Blackpool
throwpayrollaway@reddit
Blackpool imports other towns social problems more than most.
Magneto88@reddit
Blackpool is literally need or at the top of practically every social deprivation metric in the UK. Sure there’s some alright bits of it but it’s actually statistically terrible, it’s not a subjective view.
apainintheokole@reddit
It is also one of the only seaside towns in the country to still make a massive profit from tourism ! It has a great beach, a decent funfair and plenty of attractions, which is more than many seaside towns around the UK.
They also put on some huge events for free. Yes it has its trouble, but it is far safer than most cities !!
AlternativePrior9559@reddit
Well said. I actually came here to say that my lovely late mum was a Blackpool lass and seeing it through her eyes was quite different. It does have 7 miles of golden Beach and in the summer the pleasure beach – which is quite good by most standards – is absolutely packed. The trams remain iconic, particularly during the illuminations.
A lot of mismanagement by successive shit councils and the ridiculously high rates for businesses have driven it into the ground. It’s a great shame because in its hey day day even Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra played there. The piers used to have the most amazing summer shows, and Ken Dodd at the Opera house was legendary. The Grand Theatre still remains one of the greatest examples of Victorian theatres in the country in my view.
markedasred@reddit
I like what they have done with making it a destination for digital nomads these days. People from all over the world come and work in Blackpool for really low long stay room rates in a few of the old B&B's.
The_39th_Step@reddit
I would say Blackpool is worse than most towns, I have to say
FileParty7039@reddit
Agreed - smoking capital of the uk iirc
dmmeyourfloof@reddit
I live in Bury, and even to me Blackpool is pretty dire.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
The thing about Bury, the Metropolitan Borough of Bury that is, is that it's rather big, and holds a lot of different places. Reaching all the way from Ramsbottom to Prestwich.
Big-up the Sunnybank massive!
No-Body-4446@reddit
That.....was my point. Blackpool is the exact same. Blackpool is a lot more than the town centre where most people visit for the day.
Also, there's sample size, very few are visiting Bury for the day, Blackpool is a resort which gets millions of day trippers a year.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
That would be Bury, with Britain's favourite market of 2022 - https://nabma.com/the-great-british-market-award-winners-are-revealed-including-britains-favourite-market/
Which receives 1000 coaches of visitors a year.. Yes, people do visit Bury.
No, it doesn't get 20m visitors like Blackpool, but it doesn't have a beach or a theme park, so I kind of get that. Given the number of visitors though, Blackpool does have an exceptionally rough reputation.
If you're offering £1 burgers as a draw, it kind of sets the bar low.
It just suffers from the same deprivation that has happened to many other seaside towns.
I'm sure if you live there, and don't hang around the centre of town, it's alright. Much like many towns.
dmmeyourfloof@reddit
To be fair, I have lived within 20 feet of Bury market for 10 years at this point.
Yes plenty of people come for the "World Famous" Bury market (😂), but they're mostly the Walking Dead....
No-Body-4446@reddit
I didn't wish to start a weird bury v blackpool debate - quite frankly both of them are shit.
The question was - 'which town is underrated' and i believe blackpool is due to the sheer amount of things to do. Yes its rough. But so are a lot of places. Certainly compared to most towns excluding major cities.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
Oh, I live in the South now, so just think it's all a bit shite and miserable up North anyhoo :) So here's a Southern one - I don't think Slough is quite as shit as it's made out.
No-Body-4446@reddit
I went to slough once for a meeting in one of the many car manufacturers based down there. I don't remember it being anymore shit than your average south east commuter town tbh
dmmeyourfloof@reddit
I live directly above the shops near Bury Market.
They're demolishing the whole thing in the next year 😐
SpamJavelin00@reddit
A BIT dilapidated ?? It’s a hovel of the most exquisite kind. I struggle to think of anywhere else with such fun down, low grade facilities & low expectations amongst residents. The fact a large hospital was required to house all the heroin enthusiasts , tells its story right there.
BigPecks@reddit
Blackpool isn't helped by the weather. Like many other parts of the UK, it's spectacularly grim when it's grey, and no matter when I've been to Blackpool, it's always been pissing it down and cold.
No-Body-4446@reddit
I said this in another post tbf. Blackpool on an albeit rare, sunny day is a much nicer place than the average rainy cold windy day it gets due to it being coastal on the irish sea.
Outside_Error_7355@reddit
Of the 10 most deprived districts in the UK something like 7 are in Blackpool
This is not snobbery, it's an objective fact
No-Body-4446@reddit
Sure its deprived, because it gets social problems imported, but the question asked what town is underrated.
There aren't many places outside of cities, that offer the range of things to do than Blackpool does.
Bammo88@reddit
Blackpool roads that run off the strip are in a pretty bad way, I was there a couple of years ago and there was a family sat out on the front and the house next door had the complete front half of the house missing. You could see the back half of the house on show like a dolls house. Just a bath and some bits of a kitchen below.
Different-Use-5185@reddit
I moved to Blackpool (Bispham) and I think it’s absolutely fine! No better or worse than most of Bristol where I lived before moving!
itsableeder@reddit
I shit on Blackpool quite a lot but mainly it's because my fiancée is from there and it's fun to tease her about it, and that seeps into my day to day conversation. I grew up just outside Wigan, though, so I can't really say anything serious about Blackpool.
I do still ask her parents if it's okay that there's no sharps bin in our toilet at home, though.
AzizThymos@reddit
Most coastal towns fare way worse also and is silently allowed to go to further ruin and is also under reported
Novel_Structure8833@reddit
Isn’t Rivi in a different council and technically not classed as Bolton, sure it comes under Chorley.
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
I had to check it out - I knew it was on the border and I also knew Blackrod was Bolton so assumed Rivington would be but you are correct - Rivi falls under Chorley council although it is still in a Bolton postcode. I guess some of what I assumed was the southern part of Rivi are actually classed as Horwich which is Bolton council.
Novel_Structure8833@reddit
My old room at my mums is in Bury, her room was in Bolton. We had a Bolton number but paid Council to Bury. Boundaries are very odd. My Nan has swapped between Bolton and Salford a few times over the years.
D3M4NUF4CTUR3DFX@reddit
Parts of the wider borough are lovely, I agree. But Bolton town itself is a festering turd these days, which is a sad state of affairs. This is through no fault of the populace, but something I blame entirely on the indefensible decision to convert the grand old market hall and it's wonderful assortment of independent traders into a parade of wannabe boutique storefronts, presumably in some misguided attempt to draw big spenders away from Manchester and Trafford. Talk about screwing over your local demographic... The only other decent reason for families to visit the town for a day was the Water Place, til they killed that off as well. Still, Bolton could have it worse. Imagine being a town centre so devoid of life that even McDonald's pulls out. Cough Rochdale cough...
Lamenter_@reddit
Its always the same on this snooty website. Donny for example is a great day out with some nice pubs. they are the ones missing out.
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
I don't know Doncaster that well, but it seemed fine to me.
But yes, UK Reddit is certainly pretty snooty. Anywhere other than the right parts of London, Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester etc. is apparently a shithole full of working class oiks.
tictac59015@reddit
There's a lot more Daubhills and Breightmets than Lostocks and Heatons.
SpamJavelin00@reddit
Bolton is a fucking lavatory. There are degrees of lavatory , granted , but I notice the only places you quote as decent are further and further from the central /built up areas referred to - so not even included unless you take the boundary line as gospel. You know as well as I do the decent areas are fewer as the centre deteriorates regularly to new lows.
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
Heaton and Lostock are walking distance to the town centre. There are also nice parts of Little Lever, Bradley Fold and Harwood that are fairly close in to name but a few.
SpamJavelin00@reddit
Anywhere is walking distance if someone is determined enough, but the fact remains lostock is on the very outskirts of the town. Your quote , in a town the size of Bolton, of only ‘parts of’ three small areas being not as shit , tells its own story.
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
I named 5 different areas close to the centre that are nice... I said 'parts of' because I don't know the entirety of all of those areas with intimate familiarity enough to know that every square inch of them is amazing. I do know for sure that they definitely have nice parts though.
sheslikebutter@reddit
This ignorance stems from two places:
Just people never having been to these places
Brits ALL just thinks where they come from is a shithole. From Derby, to Milton Keynes, to Richmond, to Stockport. Even if they don't, they'll tell people it is.
2 feeds into 1, because you get bad first hand knowledge that your assumption was correct and the place you've never been to is indeed a shithole.
joebearyuh@reddit
The caveat to number two is that people who have lived somewhere worse than their home town (from the north, lasted 1.5 years in Essex) come home with a new found love of their home town.
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
I'm not even from Bolton; I happen to live in a nice part of it at the moment though. Regardless, I try to take pride in wherever I live.
sheslikebutter@reddit
As you should! I do too and actually I like on the "shit" side of my town.
Nice people and a good place to live as far as I'm concerned!
skippygo@reddit
I don't really have a horse in this race and have no first hand experience with any of the particular places you're talking about here, so I'll talk in generalities.
I've found that it is generally true that everywhere has good and bad areas. I also think there is an enormous difference between a nice place with some bad areas vs a "bad" place with nice areas. It obviously depends too much on the specifics, but overall I'd lean much more towards living in a grim area of a nice town than a lovely area of a shithole.
I guess all this is to say that just having a few nice parts doesn't fully redeem a place. Whilst there is undoubtedly a lot of people who paint areas with a broad and unkind brush, IMO saying somewhere has nice parts doesn't automatically invalidate people's opinions of it as a not very nice area overall.
I say this all as someone who lives in a in a nice house, in a nice estate, with a pretty great setting, some fantastic natural landscapes within a stones throw, some great independent food and drink places close by etc., but the town centre is frankly a bit of a shithole all things considered, and all else being equal (mainly house prices) I would probably choose to live in any one of the closest 20 towns and villages over where I am.
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
I get what you are saying but when people refer to such a substantial settlement where there are whole suburbs full of rich and prosperous people - it seems crazy to label the whole town as grim. It is just nonsense.
We are talking about a town of over 300,000 people.
BigBlueMountainStar@reddit
I feel like it’s not they places have nice and bad areas, it’s that some places have higher proportion of bad areas, which make them grim.
Take Bath for example, Twerton is a shit tip, but mostly the rest of the city is desirable (inc the centre) and so overall it would be considered as a nice place.
Go to Yeovil, not may neighbourhoods would be considered even to be nice, and the town centre is not pleasant at all, so overall gets a shit rating.
TheSockMonster@reddit
I grew up in Westhoughton and my parents still live there now.
I agree to an extent. There are very nice towns and surrounding areas that come under the Bolton postcode, and some that are not.
However, if I said I had visited Manchester and liked it, I would most likely to be referring to the city centre, not Cheetham Hill or Longsight.
Bolton town centre actually is grim and completely lacks any character. It never used to be - it all went tits when they changed the market and then the bus station. They sucked all the life out of it.
CoffeeandaTwix@reddit
The town centre isn't even grim per se. It is struggling but it still has some beautiful parts e.g. Le Mans crescent where there are film crews seemingly ever other week at times.
TheSockMonster@reddit
Yea, I'll give you Le Mans Crescent :-)
havaska@reddit
Bang on. I live in Bolton and people always look down when I tell them. It’s just pure ignorance.
zephyrthewonderdog@reddit
Yep. I agree. I worked in Bolton many years ago there are some very nice areas. People just go to the town centre and decide the entire place must be the same. It’s like visiting London and deciding it’s all a shit hole because you saw one small part of it. Most northern towns are similar to be honest. People must assume that all the doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants and business owners must live in the shit estate they walked through, rather than there being good and bad areas.
It’s like people having an opinion about Liverpool or Glasgow but have never actually been there. Both really nice cities and people.
newbris@reddit
I always assumed people were talking proportionately. This town has a higher % of bad areas than this one, no?
dan__wizard@reddit
agreed, my inlaws lived in a very nice part of Bolton, i always enjoyed visiting, miss it
Beanruz@reddit
And Bradford and batley.
TheShakyHandsMan@reddit
I’d put Bradford as one of the underrated ones.
Yes a lot of it needs to be avoided but the parts that are still nice are very nice.
Ok-fine-man@reddit
As someone from Leeds, I honestly dread having to drive through Bradford. Most if it seems like an actual slum.
TheShakyHandsMan@reddit
Leeds Road isn’t a great example of the best of Bradford. The areas around the centre are grim. Leeds is the same. You need to get away from the centre to find the best bits. The centre does still have some fantastic architecture and a few key attractions.
Hank_Wankplank@reddit
Yeah Bradford has some lovely suburbs.
given2fly_@reddit
Baildon, Saltaire, Apperley Bridge - it's really good value for houses around there too, with easy connections to Leeds.
Forsaken_Instance_18@reddit
Tong is quite nice too, most of the back roads have peacocks and tong garden centre is a decent one for Christmas shopping
spOoky_hevs@reddit
Save the worst till last…. Castleford
MissWiggleNjiggle1@reddit
😂😂 casvegas n pontecarlo!
yearsofpractice@reddit
I visited PonteCarlo for the first time a few weeks ago and really liked it - my youngest had a squash competition at the impressive squash club… we took a family trip down from Newcastle and got really good vibes. The fact that we bought our body weight in sweeties from the Haribo factory shop may have put a shine on things, but PonteCarlo delivered!
Ponte19@reddit
Ropergate actually has decent pubs now
Thin-Dragonfruit2599@reddit
Yeah Ropergate is actually pretty good now. I don't even mind Cas to be honest. Can get a good pint in the Doghouse or Junction, or across the road at Yorkshire Craft Beer, then watch a band in the Lion come 9.30pm.
Ponte19@reddit
Never go round cas. Even Mrs who is from cas would rather go round ponte. But hey, least we finally getting some love on here. Never thought I'd see day
Thin-Dragonfruit2599@reddit
Yeah I'd rather Ponte too for a more eventful night out. Cas for a more chilled evening. But yeah, weird to see our towns getting mentioned for something positive for a change haha
Ponte19@reddit
Exactly. Id have expected both to be on discussions about places you are most likely to see 5+ fights during a Saturday evening 😂
bumlove@reddit
Both seemed a bit rough and rundown to me but I guess everywhere has some hidden gems if you know where to look.
Ponte19@reddit
Ponte and cas definitely are..but if you go to xscape / junction 32 in cas and ropergate in ponte, honestly they are both not fair off anything you'll get in Yorkshire in terms of shopping or entertainment or drinking
MissWiggleNjiggle1@reddit
I keep being told to go to a nightclub called biggies in pontecarlo!
Thin-Dragonfruit2599@reddit
If you go and can manage to unstick yourself from the floor come closing time, let us know how you found it.
Haunted_Jacuzzi@reddit
I took a couple of foreign friends to Biggies and they loved it. It was on a racing weekend. They enjoyed it because it was an 'authentic' experience :-)
King_Kongs_fingers@reddit
Who by? if you consider these people friends, you need to re-evaluate your friendships.
MissWiggleNjiggle1@reddit
I was in Normanton at an after party a few weeks ago and it was recommended. I’ll obviously pass now!
TheNorthernMunky@reddit
It’s not that bad, as long as you don’t set your expectations in line with some of the bigger clubs in Leeds etc. It’s definitely not glitzy, but it’s also not the worst place I’ve seen.
DecoConky@reddit
For the love of god do not do this
MissWiggleNjiggle1@reddit
😂😂 that bad?!
DecoConky@reddit
Whoever suggested you to go there isnt your friend 🤣
YorkshireFudding@reddit
Glad you liked the Squash Club, I've been a member for over a decade. Not a squash player myself but I always catch the tournaments when they're on.
yearsofpractice@reddit
Yeah, the squash club was superb. I don’t play, but my daughter does and she was playing in a juniors tournament last month. Everyone from her club was super impressed with the organisation and facilities at your club! Hope to visit again soon. Lovely part of the world too. All the best from Newcastle Upon Tyne!
YorkshireBev@reddit
Don’t forget Featherlyhills!
Future-Inevitable-26@reddit
PonteCarlo. I love it. Lmfao. Thanks for this.
CaptainMexicano@reddit
Don't forget to pass through Vietnorm and Featherly Hills
WasACookqua@reddit
Featherly Hills! I've not heard that one before!!! 🤣🤣🤣
No_Negotiation5654@reddit
Don’t forget Middlesbrough
Scarboroughwarning@reddit
Pmsl...been a while since I've heard "Casvegas"
Fikkia@reddit
Only if you're not planning to visit Huddersfield
dops@reddit
then Rochdale surely
MinMorts@reddit
Castleford has a indoor ski slope and it's great, so in my mind Castleford is great
bumlove@reddit
The Xscape? Never been skiing so I imagine I'd look like a fool falling over and holding everyone up if I went there.
DecoConky@reddit
The Lamplighters in Cas is the worst pub I've ever been to. If you enter and aren't a regular, the jukebox stops, pints stop being poured and darts stop flying mid-air to stare at you. I've never felt such unease entering a new pub before
brickne3@reddit
We went to a pub in Pontefract a few years ago and ordered before seeing it was one of those "no devices" pubs. They were extremely serious about the no devices thing. Most awkward pint ever, especially since we were planning to look up our bus times while there and it was freezing out. I hope they have gone out of business, and I NEVER say that about a pub.
bumlove@reddit
No devices? What else are you supposed to do?
No_Breakfast_9267@reddit
NEW? This sort of treatment is usually reserved for really old local boozers. Think the Builder's Arms in Spitalfields on the early 90s.
DecoConky@reddit
New as in new to me at the time 😊
meinnit99900@reddit
No joke there was a horse and carriage parked outside there the other day that was being ridden by a traveller boy no older than 10 (whilst presumably his parents were inside drinking) who asked if I liked big horses but I didn’t hear him at first so instead of a hilarious moment for him we both just kind of looked at each other
King_Kongs_fingers@reddit
Most of the old pubs in Cas are like that, I went into one on Front Street Glasshoughton (can't remember if it was The Houghton or the Malt Shovel) and they were all watching Coronation Street on a mounted TV, looked at me like I'd just walked into their front room.
Flinglish200@reddit
Honestly the worst place in the UK I’ve been to
OGSkywalker97@reddit
Hull
JonS90_@reddit
I like to hum the cantina theme from Star Wars in my head when I walk round Castleford market. It really fits the vibe
Villianofthepeace@reddit
Went into a pub in Colchester once like that… full of space cadets.
Jimoiseau@reddit
There used to be a bar in Walsall that was like an off-brand Hard Rock Cafe that had this vibe too.
Uhura-hoop@reddit
The rising sun perchance?
Jimoiseau@reddit
Have just text my dad for the name because I couldn't remember, it was Chicago Rock, down opposite the library.
Uhura-hoop@reddit
Oh not the one I’m thinking. I think there was one called the guild hall down that way
mimisburnbook@reddit
Barnsley
FreeShat@reddit
Keighley
jabbathefoot@reddit
I grew up in Micklefield, god awful place. Mum always took me to Castleford to the market. The amounts of old bids shopping trolleys that I had to dodge were ridiculous.
R-Didsy@reddit
I see your Castleford and raise you a Rotherham.
scud121@reddit
That's an odd way to spell Keighley.
tmstms@reddit
Boo!
Be Loyal, Be Loud, Be Cas, Be Proud!
Superb_Application83@reddit
Keighley is the cherry on that cake.
steamonline@reddit
Bradford? Who are we kidding here, there is no underrated part of Bradford, it's all... Dismal
Beanruz@reddit
That was the point. He was being sarcastic and now I've added to thr list of sarcasm of shit
JT_3K@reddit
Unpopular opinion: the centre of Bradford isn’t awful. The architecture is interesting, it’s clean and modern. Unfortunately everything around it is awful and sometimes it bleeds in.
Jolly_Constant_4913@reddit
Bradford architecture is more than interesting. Its better than Leeds to the power of 100 and dare I say most of the houses are built better too. More stone than brick everywhere
apex204@reddit
Interesting fact — Bradford’s city centre is full of incredibly well-preserved Victorian architecture because the city was so badly affected by the collapse of the manufacturing industry that it was too poor to tear it down and replace it with ‘utopian’ brutalism.
ArapileanDreams@reddit
Loads of the Utopian brutalism has been torn down.
AmaroisKing@reddit
Unfortunately.
Jolly_Constant_4913@reddit
That is interesting.
It's just ironic this place that gets so much stick compared to Leeds and has better buildings. For someone like me who can't go to Egypt it's the next best thing these massive stone buildings. And they won't make them again either
My uncle lives in what was a middle class neighborhood there and despite the houses looking the same as 40 years ago it still feels nicer than the Leeds suburbs with brick houses and student rubbish everywhere.
pab6407@reddit
Egypt is just outside Bradford near Thornton.
Four-legged-rabbit@reddit
Yay, for poor cities!
agbrigg@reddit
Bradford was booming in Victorian times. So the centre is full of interesting architecture and the housing stock is mainly large Victorian terraces.
Leeds is very much "new money".
AmaroisKing@reddit
How is Bingley though?
StrictlyMarzipanOwl@reddit
There's this cool band I like from Bradford. Sang about the whales and the dolphins.
marknotgeorge@reddit
They're getting a bit old and forgetful these days. When I saw them the last time they were at Rock City, they were 3 songs in before they mentioned where they were from...
TheLordJalapeno@reddit
Did they drink Tequila ?
BarnsleyOwl@reddit
The centre isn't clean. There are large rats running in the back alleys behind the Alhambra. I reported it to the council. They weren't interested. The Interchange is literally falling apart and the traffic flow is dire at present.
grimdwnsth@reddit
I remember them opening Bradford Interchange. To replace a dilapidated old station- which ironically, with a bit of TLC and a decent sandblast would still be standing there today.
brickne3@reddit
Ugh, Bradford Interchange is just so ugly.
brickne3@reddit
I mean, what city in Britain doesn't have large rats though? I see them in Leeds city centre all the time.
Alternative-Loss-441@reddit
Bradford has a good cathedral also.
Everyone thinks its horrible up north but come to Chatham in Kent or the Isle of Thanet. I would choose living in Castleford over those place any day of the week
ConfidentCarpet9726@reddit
Or any of the Medway towns really...
Weak-Newt-5853@reddit
I'm from Thanet and think that's a bit daft. You can't really tell me you think Broadstairs is rough? Even Margate is absolutely buzzing these days. Chatham...yeah fair point.
Alternative-Loss-441@reddit
Yeah actually margate has changed a hell of a a lot I spent a lot of time in Thanet as had family there but that was a while ago now. Broadstairs was always nice. Other bits not so much. When I was a kid I swear margate was just kosovan drug dealers and heroin addicts
Weak-Newt-5853@reddit
Yeah growing up in the 90s Margate used to genuinely scare me. Live up north now, but when I visit these days I think it's really pretty lovely.
Alternative-Loss-441@reddit
Funny you say that whenever I'm up north I always think what am I doing paying out the arse to live down south!
Weak-Newt-5853@reddit
Well, I moved north so I could save to buy south! 😂 But might just stay now.
pocketsreddead@reddit
I lived in Chartham till I was 18, then came to Bradford. Tbh Bradford is better than Chatham, but not by much.
kreemy_kurds@reddit
Last time I was in Bradford I was amazed at the amount of human shit everywhere, at one point we walked past a car full of blokes doing Co2 canisters and when we walked back there were a shit and a load of tissues where the car was
marknotgeorge@reddit
It must be rough if they were huffing the wrong gas...
tommybhoy82@reddit
Bradford and Bingley
CyberGTI@reddit
And Halifax
reclusivemonkey@reddit
Halifax is now the “Shoreditch of the North”. The Piece Hall is a marvel any town in the UK would love to have. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/18/halifax-burgeons-with-new-shoreditch-of-the-north-tagline
Wolfen1982@reddit
Bolton used be a nice place to live 😔
Lost-Droids@reddit
And stoke
filepeter@reddit
I was born in Bradford, grew up in Batley, and live in Dewsbury so I feel personally attacked by these comments… but yeah they are all shitholes.
Magneto88@reddit
Gotta get Dewsbury in there as well. Complete the set.
Solsbeary@reddit
and Burnley!
FokRemainFokTheRight@reddit
And Harrogate and York
Beanruz@reddit
Think you got the wrong assignment.
Scottladd@reddit
Batley is 'fine'. It's boring but it's not awful.
Gherkiin13@reddit
I had a great day out at the National Media Museum some years ago.
Azzymetrical@reddit
💀
Christovski@reddit
Blackpool, Grimsby, Huddersfield
evenstevens280@reddit
Huddersfield is alright
Christovski@reddit
Yeah tbh I love it
MetalCoreModBummer@reddit
Been to all of them and they’re not that bad. They’re not great obviously but no worse than places in the south
theroch_@reddit
Rotherham?
evenstevens280@reddit
Rotherham gets a pass because the Chuckle Brothers are from there
theroch_@reddit
Now that is a fact I did not know. Cheers
Spottyjamie@reddit
Whitehaven, barrow, redcar, hartlepool, consett
evenstevens280@reddit
I drove through Consett to get to Lanchester.
What a rubbish town
scoringspuds@reddit
Doncaster has come on leaps and bounds
orbtastic1@reddit
Yeah I was going to type Doncaster. I’ve lived here most of my life (was born here) so feel perfectly entitled to comment
Cakeo@reddit
https://youtu.be/DOnqBFYSQK0?si=kaEhNZ1pOsXYLYru
StrictlyMarzipanOwl@reddit
Been to Rotherham. It was..... something.
stnectan@reddit
Doncaster is hugely underrated, gets a bad rep from anyone that's not spent a decent amount of time there
poisonstudy101@reddit
We lived as a family in Salisbury..
I was around 9, when my dad cheated and so my mom moved me to her closest family.. in Doncaster. Fuck was it a culture shock!
16thfkinban@reddit
And Grimsby.
Lear_ned@reddit
And Redcar and Byker. Grim. I did a NE tour when I was 17/18 and shared that with somebody from up that way, they said they are places even they wouldn't venture to
TiredWiredAndHired@reddit
Don't forget the jewel in the crown of South Yorkshire - Rotherham
Fit_Manufacturer4568@reddit
Keighley is a delight, gateway to the Dales.
idk7643@reddit
Middlesbrough.
Great if you want to buy various drugs in broad daylight at 4pm on a Sunday though!
Cottonshopeburnfoot@reddit
The interesting point here is the major cities (Manchester, Sheffield etc) are all better than their historic reputation, whereas the secondary or satellite ones to those major cities are now much worse.
anneomoly@reddit
There was a massive amount of money pumped into inner City regeneration in the late 90s/early 2000s so that's not surprising.
Toffeemanstan@reddit
According to reddit they are, having visited a lot of these places mentioned they have good bits and bad bits same as everywhere
MisterrTickle@reddit
And Hull.
SMTRodent@reddit
I really liked living in Bolton! And we were in one of the shit parts! The train was convenient, the local shops weren't actually bad and you can't beat a really good bin lid.
Former_Wang_owner@reddit
All are better than Luton
evenstevens280@reddit
Nowhere is worse than Luton
Former_Wang_owner@reddit
Except maybe grimsby. Although grimsby does have Cleethorpes attached to it, which is surprisingly nice for a day out.
itsableeder@reddit
Go to Blackpool and marvel at it.
skend24@reddit
And sunderland
LeonardoDaCringey@reddit
I don't think Sunderland is too bad. There's revitalisation going on at least. Middlesborough however looks like some town you'd find in eastern ukraine.
TheDawiWhisperer@reddit
ahh, Doncatraz
foddtlanders@reddit
I went to Doncaster earlier this year and I thought it was lovely. It has a great vibe around the wool market
Wd91@reddit
Theres plenty of parts of London and the South East that are just as bad. London has higher peaks but the troughs on either end of the country are just as deep.
brucieballoypap666@reddit
Donny used to be OK. Always some rough bits but it's a terrible place now. Real shame. A lot of good memories for me at Warehouse !
Scarboroughwarning@reddit
I can get behind the West Yorkshire nominations...but South Yorkshire is way nicer
Hobgoblin_Khanate@reddit
They’ve totally changed. The bigger cities in the UK have relentlessly been building
gaspoweredcat@reddit
Liverpool is well worth the trip too
EyeAlternative1664@reddit
+1 to this. Leeds is really nice, on the flip side I’ve lived in Portsmouth and Southampton and I’d say they are both shitholes despite being south coast.
precious_times_205@reddit
As a resident of Pompey it was a proper shit hole up to the turn of the century (2000ish) but has massively improved since then. So long as you don't need to visit the town centre which is indeed grim and really needs knocking down and turning into housing.
EyeAlternative1664@reddit
Ahhh fair, and sorry to be mean about your hometown, turn of the century was when I was there! Staying in ex naval barracks in the city centre. Hated the place pretty much but met some good (local) people and had fun. Loved the Tricorn btw!
precious_times_205@reddit
No offence taken whatsoever. I headed away for a bit in 2000 and told everyone Pompey was a dive. It was also a very 'fronty' city. In my experience growing up at that time you couldn't just go on a night out and chat to the people on the table next door in the pub/club. Unlike most of the other cities I visited.
Was chatting to my wife about it and she agreed that had we met aged 18 she wouldn't have so much as glanced at me let alone spoke to me as you had to be in her group of friends.
Might just have been my perception but I do feel its less cliquey in general now. And better presented, its shed some grot.
NorthWestTown@reddit
Southerner living in Leeds. Best shithole I've moved to!
Vidya-Man@reddit
Need to go further north. I lived in greater Manchester for a while and that place was grim, there was always a weird vibe that something could go wrong at any given time.
Once you hit the Lakes district, thats when you get to the good stuff. Just stay away from west Cumbria.
kendalthrowaway@reddit
And Kendal.
lewisw1992@reddit
Wait, you guys consider Sheffield to be "up North"?!
Mick-Jones@reddit
I agree with Manchester, went there for the first time this year and expected a total shit heap. I was pleasantly surprised. It's a thriving city full of culture. Can't say the same for Leeds though
JamitryFyodorovich@reddit
That is interesting. In terms of the centre itself, I found Leeds to be the prettier of the two.
dyltheflash@reddit
As a northerner who's lived in both, I much prefer Leeds centre to Manchester. Nicer atmosphere, less hectic and less ugly. Manchester is just full of half-occupied skyscrapers now.
Federal-Mortgage7490@reddit
I think the half occupied thing is a myth. How come they keep building more and they keep selling with about 20 more at planning stage. Even an overseas landlord would not just keep them empty when they could easily take 15 or 20k plus in rent per year.
Not saying they are a great solution to the housing problem but I think occupancy is high.
Hank_Wankplank@reddit
Manchester is absolutely better in terms of things to do and having more of a big city feel to it, but Leeds feels like a nicer place to be to me.
LosingAllYourDimples@reddit
That's just a lie we Northerns spread to keep you lot down south
Illustrious_Goal9730@reddit
Try Grimsby bud that will change your mind!
Nohopeinrome@reddit
Yorkshire is one of the nicest parts of the uk, as long as you stay out of the big cities.
Snoo_13018@reddit
Depends where you go and if you are white 🙃
Cirias@reddit
Those same people probably haven't been to Luton or Stevenage.
Love to shit on Stevenage but I was born there and it's not all that bad and in my opinion never has been that terrible. My dad used to joke about building a wall round it like some sort of Under the Dome scenario but I secretly always liked it there.
whooptheretis@reddit
North of the M4 is "The North"
TheFlyingHornet1881@reddit
Stevenage has a big M&S now, must be going up the social ladder now.
Dontbeajerkdude@reddit
It's infinitely better than it was when I grew up there, but that's a testament to how shitty it really was.
ripsa@reddit
Stevenage and Luton get so much hate especially from people who have grown up there (a mate of mine would tell people at our City firms he was from Welwyn instead of Stevenage lol), but they're really not that grim. Both have affordable housing, plenty of amenities, and large employers.
The nightlife is a bit crap in both compared to say Cambridge or Hertford but other than that there really are worse places. It's probably due to the brutalist post WWII architecture and slightly bigoted racist & classist reasons, as both are heavily blue collar/working class and Luton ethnic compared to other parts of the home counties.
spiffing_@reddit
I lived in a former 'pit town' Consett after uni. I actually really miss it. Im from London and the North East is just no like other place. So friendly, everything has a different atmosphere and life seems more traditional.
SilyLavage@reddit
Consett is one of the nicer towns of that type to live in, as you’re right on the edge of Weardale and it’s still got a bit of a community – Crook isn’t bad either.
arfski@reddit
I'm of that age where I can't hear Consett without thinking of Medomsley Road, and of course Phileas Fogg.
PipBin@reddit
I’m glad it’s not just me.
spiffing_@reddit
I get the impression it wasnt always? its had a true glowup/gentrification in the last 10-15 years. House prices have gone up hugely and the town has expanded.
Stanley / washington on the other hand, just miles away is continually one of the cheapest places to buy a property in the UK. Real parallels.
Important_Ruin@reddit
Stanley is slowing getting its glow up. Lived here all my life.
They are constantly building new estates because land is cheap and it's close to Durham/Newcastle and the M1, also some lovely countryside nearby.
Nearby-Percentage867@reddit
I’m from Stanley originally- it was in a very sorry state when I left almost 20 years ago and seemed to be getting worse, but the last few times I’ve been it is definitely looking a lot better. New stuff opening….
Important_Ruin@reddit
Yes, Stanley itself was a shithole and the centre still isn't the best the main street is hanging on but dying.
Though alot of nicer areas on the outskirts of stanley. The centre however is still in need of major overhall and rethink.
Hufflepuffins@reddit
I left Consett (or, at least, a village near to it) in about 2011 and I can tell you that prior to that it certainly was not "one of the nicer towns of that type to live in." Does seem better these days, though.
spiffing_@reddit
I lived there 2010-2012. Drove through over the years, inc this year. I want to buy an investment property now because its changed so much. The dream would be to retire to Alnwick though, lush.
SilyLavage@reddit
A few towns in County Durham have gone through that process recently – Bishop Auckland is currently in the middle of it, with the restoration of the castle spurring all sorts of other developments. Combined with Durham and Barnard Castle it’ll make a good long weekend destination for tourists, I think.
I’m not sure of the exact history of Consett, but many Durham towns were hit hard by the end of mining, as you’d imagine. A lot still haven’t recovered, and might never do so as they’ve lost their reason to exist.
sc00022@reddit
I’ve been to Darlington a few times. Expected it to be quite rough and downtrodden like Middlesborough, but it’s actually a nice place. Loads of independent shops and nice brunch places, thriving nightlife, nice parks.
SilyLavage@reddit
They're quite different places, yes. Middlesbrough was essentially started from scratch as a coal port in the 1830s, whereas Darlington began life as an Anglo-Saxon market town. It later became a railway town, but because of that agricultural link it wasn't quite as exposed to post-industrial decline as Middlesbrough.
Important_Ruin@reddit
Consett had an enormous steel works, which now has a Tesco on the old site.
Notagelding@reddit
I'm currently visiting Newcastle after doing uni here almost 20 years ago. It's my first time back and I can definitely feel the warmth.
Scary-Potato4247@reddit
Is it because someone, or something pissing down your leg hence the warm feeling??!
Notagelding@reddit
Do you know how hard it is to find someone of the opposite sex who'll do that without money exchanging hands 😂
thefooby@reddit
Where’s this warmth you speak of? It’s bloody freezing.
Notagelding@reddit
Yes, it is bloody freezing but the people are still canny :)
Calm-Experience-1014@reddit
And that's mad to me as I've lived here my whole life and it feels really dead and lifeless to me since the start of COVID
Notagelding@reddit
Compared to when I lived here it does feel a bit dead. Hardly recognised any businesses in the city centre but still a pleasant place.
Fit_Manufacturer4568@reddit
80s and early 90s it was very grim after the steel works closed.
Things improved afterwards.
fishypooos@reddit
Consett always seems too big for being from crook lol
Hefty_Schedule643@reddit
I live in swalwell not to far away really
CapoOn2nd@reddit
Now try and visit anywhere up north that isn’t a major city and it will blow you away. The views and landmarks are phenomenal. The sad fact is the north has for years been underfunded and represented by governments for the exact same reason you assume it’s “grim up north”. The fact of the matter is, the north is the jewel of the country.
AdBubbly3609@reddit
Dunno about Manchester, my experience is the place is a complete dump but my experience is probably with the worst parts like Rochdale and oldham, burys not bad though tbf.
Grand_Master_Punk@reddit
And now go to Accrington, Blackburn and Burnley.
RedEarth42@reddit
It’s mostly the northeast coast that’s grim. Skegness, Grimsby, Boston etc
LIKE-AN-ANIMAL@reddit
People talk in sweeping generalisations everywhere. For example, people mix up “the south” with London all the time. London receives a lot of investment, “the south” does not. There are plenty of shitholes in the south.
Al_Marag_Dubh@reddit
Try Blackpool.
discoveredunknown@reddit
My dad (staunch southerner) made out places like Manchester, Liverpool etc were ends of the earth and barely got electricity. His opinions seemed to have been formed form working at various industrial parks for a job during the 70s/80s. So my 18 year old self was pleasantly surprised when I went to these places to study/visit.
Cardo94@reddit
Hmm
Your Dad might have issues with context clues
fishypooos@reddit
Visit the weardales, we'd gladly have you. County durham is full of old villages but also of that way inclined big trade towns and Durham ofc
DoctorOctagonapus@reddit
The South: "It's grim up north!"
The North: "Southerners are wusses!"
TheLastSamurai101@reddit
To be honest these cities have really cleaned themselves up in the last 20 years. I lived in Sheffield for a while recently and locals would always tell me about how drastically it had changed.
bumder9891@reddit
Wait till you see Scunthorpe, Grimsby or Hull
Agile-Day-2103@reddit
Hate to tell you but you probably visited the three most south-like places in the north. Go past the river tees, that’s the real north
Littleloula@reddit
I don't think there is a "south like". Go to Luton, Swindon, Southend, Swindon, Gloucester, many parts of Essex
This is a difference between major cities, wealthy places vs places that aren't and they exist throughout the country
Jlc25@reddit
The only thing I have found grim up north was the weather Vs the south - and it's not like the weather anywhere in England is particularly great. People were nicer, more nature to enjoy, pubs and independent shops busy on the high street, beautiful architecture - I'm aware there're a lot of places up north that are being left to die by the government, and trains and public transport are underfunded - but most homeowners in the south could sell up, upgrade to a nicer house and unless you're a millionaire (and even then, a 4 bed house on a busy main road sold for 1 million near me) an upgrade in the area you live in.
Plus the ale! Got told they put something on the tap, but I preferred it to the cask ale stuff that's flat and warm we get here
Littleloula@reddit
The northeast generally gets less rain. Parts of the south west / Midlands often have worse weather
The North West does get an awful lot of rain though
bezdancing@reddit
The thing we ut on the tap up north is called a sparkler.
oovavoooo@reddit
If you like the urban areas then you'll love the rural ones. The grim up north label is so unfair. Yes, the north has more than its fair share of poverty and less salubrious towns, but they're not representative of the whole north by any means. There's plenty of very wealthy places up here too often with a much better quality of life than you'd find in the south east. Even places that some southerners might look at and think they're a bit grim might turn out to be not what they expect - things just look and sound different here. There's lots of soul, history and creativity to be found in most places. Just avoid the absolute worst places, just as you would anywhere else in the country.
Shod3@reddit
Not really “up north”, try Basra in Furness
smushs88@reddit
I’d heard the same and thought the same, Manchester, Liverpool and on the other coast Newcastle were all great.
However, last time we detoured on the A19 into South Shields eventually and “it’s grim up north” could not described the bit through Middlesbrough/Stockton-on-tees any more accurately.
Unless you like industrial building after industrial building.
fleksandtreks@reddit
Bits of Stockton are really nice - Yarm, Hartburn, Norton. Middlesborough is an unrelenting shitheap, though, you are correct
zwcropper@reddit
I was surprised how quickly you can get to countryside from Manchester city centre.
Embarrassed_Cup3571@reddit
Try out Rotherham
SceneDifferent1041@reddit
Me too!
Birmingham, Leicester and even dare I say I enjoyed visiting Blackpool.
Liverpool was a bit of a shit hole once you step foot outside the lovely center though. Other than that, it's all excellent.
skrabbles@reddit
Liverpool is very nice and leafy if you go South side (Mossley Hill, Aigburth, Woolton) but maybe not the sort of place you'd think to go as a tourist/daytripper. Rough if you go North to see the stadiums, unless you keep going to Crosby/Formby beaches which are upmarket
SceneDifferent1041@reddit
My experience was more docks and shopping center which was great. Just outside that it gave an "Oliver twist workhouse" vibe. I'm sure there are nicer bits.
shark-with-a-horn@reddit
No offence but this feels less like somewhere being underrated and more just complete ignorance. Of course three major cities aren't complete shitholes
JamitryFyodorovich@reddit
I am hugely offended! No you are right, it is complete ignorance. I guess I just expected them to be bigger versions of somewhere like Ipswich or Southend. Maybe some nice buildings dotted around but mostly grim buildings with empty shops, but they are all nice and lively places.
shark-with-a-horn@reddit
It feels like there's a higher concentration of proper large "cities" in the north (and midlands), places that are built up and busy like I would typically expect from a city.
There's large patches of the south where big cities are sparsely distributed so I can see how people in the south might expect less.
PaperWeightGames@reddit
People who 'visit' places usually visit the nice parts, just to note.
Mccobsta@reddit
It's mostly the weather and Rotherham that's grim up here
Nemo_3rd_line@reddit
Leeds is a shit hole and has no rating. Awful place and awful people.
PaintingJams@reddit
I agree with Leeds, I personally found Manchester to also be a shithole with a decent city centre
Resipsa100@reddit
Tees Street has probably got a Gregs now
https://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?11459-Birkenhead-amp-The-River-Streets
JoeResidence@reddit
Coventry.
It's really improved in the last few years since getting city of culture. Great location with trains to London in less than an hour, 20 minutes into Central Birmingham, and next to major motorways.
Some really nice areas like Earlsdon, Stivichall, and up and coming areas too. Spon Street is a gem.
House prices and rent is cheap.
Only 10 minutes drive and you're out in the countryside in lovely Warwickshire or Solihull for nice walks.
Birmingham Airport is 9 minutes on the train and only £15 in an uber.
When HS2 is finally done it will be even better connected to London.
NicePinstripe@reddit
I lived in Coventry city centre for a few years, it's the worst place I've lived. Wasn't awful, but far from great. My last day in the city I watched someone snort a line off a bin 👍
Westgateplaza@reddit
I agree. I work in Coventry but don’t live in the area. You did the right thing by leaving.
100_wasps@reddit
Yeah I used to live there and never understood the hate. Super walkable, decent amount of stuff to do, well connected. I get that I was a blow in but it always felt safe (for a city).
Whenever I go back to visit friends there's always a little voice in my head that wants to move back
HorrorGirlie98@reddit
I've been there once to go to some heritage buildings and the cathedral, was ready to clutch my pearls but the center was very modern and developed. Saw mostly families around, I felt very safe - would go back.
consciousmanchild@reddit
Speaking as someone born in Cov and recently revisited...yeh they've tarted up the city centre, Earlsdon is alright, but Binley is still a shithole. Hillfields is still a shithole. Willenhall is even worse.
Can't polish a turd
JoeResidence@reddit
True, there are shit parts of every city though.
hairychris88@reddit
Plymouth. The city centre itself is horrible but the waterfront areas like the Barbican, the Hoe, Royal William Yard etc are top tier. That whole stretch of coastline is absolutely stunning too.
doubleohsergles@reddit
Yup, Royal William Yard is amazing and yet walk ten minutes away from it towards either Stonehouse or Mount Wise and it's like nope and more nope. There are nice areas of Plymouth, but they are a few. The Luftwaffe really did a number on Plymouth.
chat5251@reddit
Luftwaffe were just doing their thing.
The real crime is the council who rebuilt it; and then decided to list the civic centre building 🤢
boostman@reddit
Why are the British all such tories about architecture? A building like that would be rightly celebrated in many countries.
BlondBitch91@reddit
They can have it then. Take it down and rebuild it somewhere that wants a towering office block in grey concrete.
Butterhopandscotch@reddit
I like to think they have kept it as a warning to architects to never build an inverted roof like that again.
chat5251@reddit
Ah yes, tourists from around the world would gather to bask in its beauty! Devon's answer to Stonehenge...
boostman@reddit
Have you heard of Brasilia? Chandigarh? Tourists absolutely do go to places specifically to look at modernist architecture.
AmorphousBlob-0001@reddit
I'm a fan of the building and it's an important piece of architectural history
doubleohsergles@reddit
Omg, that building is such an eyesore. I can't believe that instead of knocking it down they decided to convert lower floors to PCC facilities. What about other floors? They are still hideous 😵💫😄
CitiBankLights@reddit
See also: Southampton.
That_Organization901@reddit
I don’t know why people think the city centre was bad, especially when you see how they’re sterilising it now.
I like the covered pavements and the art deco styling. I also like how the cars are scurried away to make space for pedestrians. South of the sundial is aesthetically pleasing if you discount the people there which isn’t a decorative choice is it..? Not knocking Janners either because I think one of the best things about Plymouth is how friendly people are.
Now the bit from Drakes Circus to the sundial looks like every other town. Armada way with its kooky ‘river’ bits is cool, just destroyed by the landlords who occupy either side.
darkdetective@reddit
I think the river bits are being removed sadly. I'm sad I never saw it flowing, as I bet it looked good. I think once the rows of wooden boards are down it'll look much better.
There's some big developments coming in the town centre, so hopefully that improves some visuals.
CDRK33N@reddit
can remember thinking it was a great idea to jump in the flowing water when I was a little lad
mum wasn't happy with me for some reason
MZFUK@reddit
Plymouth was always a tale of two halves when it came to the city centre. You reach the sundial and head towards the market and immediately you know you’ve left the money behind. Similar to Exeter in a sense. Nowadays it’s just a few nice places to visit at best.
Was interesting to see the barcode, I still prefer Vue over Cineworld. Drake Circus just felt like a lot of shops I didn’t really care to visit and it just gets worse when you get deeper.
My issue is, if the best of Plymouth is in the retail parks and locations outside of the centre, it leaves me with little to no desire to go. The worst part? I can’t even live in nostalgia and visit the Disney store. The coolest part of my last trip was discovering that at the back of Sports Direct was a GAME with a bunch of battlestations.
I didn’t buy anything or use the computers but it did leave me feeling like I’d had a Narnia experience. One minute I’m looking at clothes and the next I see 4 shelves of dungeons and dragons rulebooks.
blu_riot@reddit
My son went uni there and had digs on Royal Parade so we've been a fair bit, it is rundown in general but there is such a charm to the waterfront that's worth a visit.
madjones87@reddit
There's a pub on the outskirts called the Dog and Duck, used to be somewhat pirate themed years ago. On international talk like a pirate day, myself and a few friends dressed as pirates, took the train to Plymouth and went to the Dog. They used to do a drink called the terminator; 2 pints, 5 shots topped up with orange juice, for a fiver. Needless to say, it was a very cheap way to start a night out.
I've got good memories of Plymouth despite it being a hole. And the centre isn't the worst I've ever been too either - but then, I grew up in Cornwall and there's precisely fuck all down there.
JamesWoolfenden@reddit
You are right but the negatives far out weigh the good, some of the worst years of my life in that town and i'm not over it. For each nice part there's ten others that are a horror. Great Pasties though, and a jasperiser and a cup of tea cloud persuade me.
Goaduk@reddit
Great pasties... in Plymouth? Be gone with ye.
JamesWoolfenden@reddit
My survey could be out of date.
Lopsided_Rush3935@reddit
I think they were simply thowing a punch at Devon and suggesting that Cornish pasties were better.
What's funny is that Cornwall and Devon were once the same Celtic tribe and it's unknown which county the pasty actually originates in.
JamesWoolfenden@reddit
i think pasties are more of a 19th century thing so probably a bit past the whole tribal thing. I mean the odd Cornish pasty can be great, but they don't know shit about scones and clotted cream.
Lopsided_Rush3935@reddit
Much older than 19th century, but yeah not Celtic. Cornwall's oldest surviving pastymakers/bakeries go back to the mid-19th century, but pasties themselves have been around for far longer. The 1870s Great Cornish Emigration was caused by potato blight (the same that affected Ireland) is actually sometimes referred to as 'the pasty famine' because obviously potato is the primary filling.
It led to pasties being introduced to the US (even today, states like California and Michigan have operating pasty chains), Australia and South Africa where Cornish diaspora flourished as immigrant mining communities. Jamaica and Mexico have dishes that are twists on the pasty from this era.
The scone debate is dumb, and it's even dumber that there are people who will genuinely get offended when you say that you don't care about it. It all tastes the same. That being said, the nation's #1 clotted cream is Cornish, so... maybe it's sacrilegious to prepare scones with it the Devonian way.
I don't even use scones. Not a big fan of them. If I'm eating jam and cream, I prefer it on something less dense like a bread roll.
trysca@reddit
Caused by potato blight? First I've ever heard of that!. Was a recession in copper & tin prices followed by new fields of ore all round the world- US, Australia Mexico even India - Cornish & Devonian mining & engineering expertise was in huge demand and they were very well paid elsewhere.
(I know this because I just went to the museum in Tavistock ( Part of UNESCO Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape)
Lopsided_Rush3935@reddit
It was a combination. Redruth was the mining capital of Northern Europe until then, but then the reserves dried up locally. While this caused some emigration, it wasn't until the blight struck in the 1870s that the mass emigration really occured.
International travel (via steamer ships, at the time) was expensive as hell. Most miners could not afford to emigrate for economic opportunity abroad.
Contemporary newspaper sources report of families living on a single pot of parsnip stew a day (with little actual parsnip in it - mostly just water or broth) and soup kitchens were initially set up similarly to how they were in Ireland. If you know about the Irish famine, then you'll know that British government of this era was incredibly laissez-faire and viewed inability to adapt to famine as a regional or community failure rather than a governmental one.
However, the situation eventually grew so desperate that the government offered an incentive to families in the region - reduced price tickets on steamers, with the objective being to send working age men overseas to send economic relief back to their families. While produce could be bought at markets (carted down from further up the country) it's travel expense made it notably more expensive. Add this to the already dire mining situation that had developed and this was the situation that made the government offer this incentive.
With this offer now in place, more men were able to save up the money necessary to afford a ticket abroad.
But, without the famine, there wouldn't be this incentive. It never would have happened. There would have been some emigration, but not nearly as much without the affordable travel scheme.
One of the Cornish emigrants to the US actually became a pretty notable bounty hunter in the old west frontier.
trysca@reddit
I've never heard that, interesting. There are quite a few famous Cornish Americans- Mark Twain is the best known . Have you ever looked up Mineral Point in Wisconsin? https://youtu.be/9LT3UXoz6kQ?si=Y2PNIdR0FStyrZ0k
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_Americans
hairychris88@reddit
WW3 incoming
Choccybizzle@reddit
Fancy an Oggie?
anarrowtotheknees@reddit
Friary Mill is the way to go. Best pasties imo
JamesWoolfenden@reddit
I currently prefer Chunks pasties.
The_Pajamallama@reddit
PLYMUFF REPRESENT
hairychris88@reddit
Geddon bhey
neverarriving@reddit
It's a bit of a treasure trove for brutalist architecture if that's your thing too.
trysca@reddit
The only brutalist building in Plymouth I can think of was the old Drake Circus which was knocked down about 20 years ago. Everything else is post war modern
GreenWoodDragon@reddit
My son's there at uni. Spends his non study time fishing by the Hoe. He's having a great time.
The big shopping centres are horrible though. Could be anywhere, no character whatsoever.
AlpsSad1364@reddit
Came here to say this. It's only 15 minutes from Dartmoor too as well as the south hams and shudder Cornwall.
Plymouth Sound/The Hoe has to be one of the most spectacular views from a city centre in the country.
pip_goes_pop@reddit
Visited for the first time a couple of years back and after parking up and starting to walk through the centre I thought oh dear this is pretty crap and run down. Then I got to the Barbican area and blimey, it's like being transported to completely different place. Really lovely.
JamitryFyodorovich@reddit
Can say the same about Swansea really, architecturally the city isn't great, but the nature around it is unbeatable imo.
Albert_Herring@reddit
I've always found Plymouth to be rough but kinda endearing, even the concrete jungle in a way. Miss it a bit, used to go to Maker camp a lot.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
Not sure it’s considered a ‘shithole’ but Norfolk is considered backward, flat, dull and generally not worth visiting. Until you actually visit.
There’s stunning beaches, some lovely market towns, good pubs, a tiny fraction of the SW tourists and the Fine City of Norwich.
Sister_Ray_@reddit
great Yarmouth tho
Chance-Albatross-211@reddit
Each to their own. I’ve had many happy days in Great Yarmouth. It’s had a good amount of investment. I love the vintage arcade, the fact that you can get decent fish and chips and I like the fancy horse and carriage rides that frequently go past. If they get round to renovating the Winter Gardens, that would be wonderful.
Itchy_Harlot58008@reddit
I used to go to Great Yarmouth once a year as a kid and loved it. I haven’t been there in almost 10 years. All I see now is hatred of the place. What’s happened there?
TheSecretIsMarmite@reddit
People from Gorleston are very firm that they are not from Yarmouth.
Lachiexyz@reddit
Yeah we went to Norfolk for a summer holiday and went to Great Yarmouth. It truly is very shabby. I had to go to the boots up in the main shopping centre, and the stretch of shops between there and the seafront were quite depressing. There was also no shortage of "local characters". I wouldn't rush back, that's for sure. It's missing the character of a lot of other seaside towns (like Hastings for example).
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
My mate's wife is from Miami and she loves Yarmouth seafront. Kinda perplexing but somehow I get it.
BringBackHanging@reddit
You can just not go there.
Sister_Ray_@reddit
nah it besmirches the whole county
panic_puppet11@reddit
The worst thing about Great Yarmouth is the implication that somewhere Theresa lesser, even worse Yarmouth
Sister_Ray_@reddit
I dread to think what Shit Yarmouth is like...
Engadine_McDonalds@reddit
I was told that a pleasant 3 bedroom terrace house in Yarmouth that's rented, but you live there until you die, is the key to a woman's heart.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
I think Gt. Yarmouth is not only considered a shithole but is actually overrated even at that.
Cub3h@reddit
Great Yarmouth is what people think Skegness is. I visited once during covid and it was so, so chavvy.
TheFlyingHornet1881@reddit
Yarmouth's big problem is frankly a good chunk of the town doesn't seem to want to modernise and blames everyone else for their woes.
Extension_Drummer_85@reddit
Very flat tho.
Empress_LC@reddit
Nah, isn't considered a shithole, just fucking remote. Trudging along the A11 from London, with those damn roundabouts is a pain in the arse. And I say that as UEA alumni. The only place I can think of that's a shithole is Yarmouth, I can understand why, I prefer Cromer.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
Ha. The A11 is a joy now that it’s actually a dual carriageway. Back in the day there were single lane sections, traffic lights, 30mph villages…(!)
aolllaoooo@reddit
Wait until you reach Thetford
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
The Elvedon lights!
queenieofrandom@reddit
The sign that our journey to family in Bacton was halfway through (in time but distance)! Honestly when that new road opened it was a dream. Then the Norwich NDR 😍 bliss
Turbo-Badger@reddit
As a fellow UEA alumni I can confirm the A11 goes on forever. I’ve done that drive so many times I know how long I’ve got left to go from each roundabout
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
It’s strange that Norfolk is considered remote and difficult to get to when you compare to Cornwall, which is even more remote but considered like this tourist paradise!
KittenFunk@reddit
The beaches and market towns are lovely but I was treated SO badly in the posh areas near the seaside (overall; a few people were nice) that I have no desire to ever go back. Maybe they’re fed up with tourists, I don’t know, but the amount of bad tempered people I had to deal with was unbelievable.
TheSecretIsMarmite@reddit
Did you go to Burnham Thorpe?
KittenFunk@reddit
We stayed around Old Hunstanton, Blakeney, Cley… A woman actually screamed at us while we were having tea at Stiffkey stores because she didn’t like where we parked (there was no sign indicating we couldn’t park there).
TheSecretIsMarmite@reddit
Shhhh. We don't want everyone to come here. Houses are expensive enough.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
They really aren’t!
Ecstatic_Effective42@reddit
It's not THAT flat. I mean, you've got kerbstones, and then there was that time that fat guy lay down. A local tried planting a flag on him.
Madeline_Basset@reddit
Beacon Hill outside Cromer, highest point in Norfolk - 105m above sea level.
Height of Norwich Cathedral's spire - 96m
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
Anyone who thinks Norfolk is flat has clearly never tried to climb Gas Hill after a skinful and a pizza.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
I mean, it’s pretty flat. But I do t think that automatically makes a beach, a town or the broads dull.
Also, it’s not the fens!!!!! 😂
cognitiveglitch@reddit
Visited it for the first time a few years back, immediately fell in love with walking long windswept beaches devoid of other people.
ukboutique@reddit
Only if you stick to the second holiday homes parts on the coast
The rest of it is full of six fingered yokels whove huffed way to many pesticides
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
Funny that if you said Liverpool was full of thieving scum you'd rightfully get called out but it's also somehow perfectly fine to refer to a bunch of rural poor as either perpetrators or victims of horrific sex abuse.
ukboutique@reddit
Ey ey ey calm down calm down like
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
the fuck are you on about
ukboutique@reddit
Lol
The joke is people from norfolk are inbred(and its exsctly that, a joke) and you called that "horrific sexual abuse"
Consanguinuity(havimg children with blood relations) is very common in the south asian community. Would you class that as horrific sexual abuse?
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
So is that saying Scousers are thieves.
Yes?
ukboutique@reddit
Yes and getting offended by it is top tier pearl clutching. A bit like getting offended by someone shit talking all leeds fans ;)
Cousin marriage is perfectly legal and so is having children with them(not that i agree with it) Legalised horrific sexual abuse?
Put your pearls away
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
Yes.
aaaaaaaa1273@reddit
Hey! We’ve moved onto the much more modern balloons now. And most of us have the regular 7 fingers thank you very much.
naturepeaked@reddit
Stunning is a stretch. There’s nothing on the horizon!
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
Apart from more beach. Yeah
The_Nunnster@reddit
I’ve only been to Fakenham to visit grandparents but didn’t really think much of it. Driving there was very flat and boring, and overall it was too quiet for my taste. Wouldn’t mind trying Norwich though.
Jazzlike-Compote4463@reddit
Fakenham is where the old folks of Norwich go to live out their twilight years, it's pleasant enough but very old fashioned.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
You visited family in Fakenham and you don’t have childhood memories of days out at the Pinewoods, chasing sand lizards, jumping off dunes, crabbing on a dock, eating sarnies on endless sandy beaches?!?
NSc100@reddit
I lived in Norwich for a few years and the city itself is pretty good. The towns in Norfolk are great if you’re a history buff but the countryside can be very dull if you’re used to more hilly areas
timotyh@reddit
This is the one for me.
My wife planned a family holiday there just before lockdown. I didn't want to go as I just thought it was going to be crap for the reasons you said.
However, I loved it. It had these great little towns, by the sea, etc.
The same goes for Croyde and Ilfracombe-type areas. I think it's because I work on a computer for about 60 hours a week, working with big brands. I love the opposite effect of going to these backwards remote areas, with independent shops, etc.
Limp-Coconut3740@reddit
I live in Norfolk and I consider it one of the best places on earth. Just my very biased opinion.
Free-Translator4141@reddit
Isn't Norfolk a highly popular holiday destination? I've only ever heard people say 'Oh Norfolk's lovely'.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
Compared to Cornwall it’s practically deserted.
If you go more than a couple of hundred meters from any coastal carpark you will be on a wide and empty beach with hardly anyone else!
Free-Translator4141@reddit
Compared to Cornwall Kings Cross Station is practically deserted! I'm surprised the entire country doesn't tip over every summer as a result of 50% of the population congregating on its most westerly point.
Rolestrong@reddit
Norfolk? Haha. It’s literally lined with the riches holiday houses and packed with Range Rovers. You haven’t been to Skegness and it shows.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
It’s funny that people that live in Norfolk bang on about ‘people up from London’ as if the rest of the UK is set in aspic
But no, I’ve not been the Skegness. Because in the words of Viz “Skegness is Fucking Shit”.
weesteve123@reddit
Lived in Norwich for the first 4 or so years after coming to England. It was a very spur of the moment uni decision, I'd never visited so had no idea what to expect. Really grew to like the place while I was there. Spent a few absolutely gorgeous summers there, I look back on it fondly. If I ever have the money I reckon I'll buy a house out in Norfolk somewhere.
United_Common_1858@reddit
Norwich was summed up for me when I was passing a newsagents and the headline on the Norwich newspaper said
Norwich is the graveyard of ambition but also an island of peace.
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
That’s prime EDP!
walkthelands@reddit
And has some of the most amazing skies at dusk/sunset
WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit
Oh yeah! Big skies coupled with all the haze overlooking the rest of Britain at sunset!
lookatmeman@reddit
Norwich is a great city and you are only ever 20mins out from some amazing countryside.
ambergriswoldo@reddit
Aldershot
simplekd@reddit
I agree! I live in Farnham but love heading to Aldershot. Town Centre is a bit meh but beautiful houses, and Manor Park is wonderful.
Soft_Direction_4356@reddit
I categorically disagree and I know you know you are lying to yourself
ambergriswoldo@reddit
Omfg I didn’t read the question properly - I only just woke up 🤦🏼♀️ Absolutely not considered great
Mobocop1234@reddit
London and then London again.
astateoftrance36@reddit
Glasgow, people say it’s rough and most tourists venture to Edinburgh, but I absolutely love the place, great people great culture, I also grew up there so slightly biased lol! I would move back if I had a chance in the future.
hairychris88@reddit
Glasgow is genuinely one of our greatest cities, I'd recommend it to anyone. There's so much culture and music, and easy access to some amazing scenery. It's not just sectarian football!
Allydarvel@reddit
Best sectarian football in the world tho
astateoftrance36@reddit
Who do you support, Rangers or Celtic mate? The dreaded question everyone hates, usually just reply with * I support my legs and my legs support me*
Foreign_Taste9425@reddit
Coming from Liverpool, I thought I was safe. Ya know, both working class industrial cities. The taxi driver who picked me up to my new flat even had an lfc tattoo.
Then I sang you'll never walk alone in a house full of rangers fans on boxing day...
astateoftrance36@reddit
Liverpool and Glasgow are very similar cities and the people are just as outgoing as each other, I’m a rangers and Liverpool fan so singing you’ll never walk alone to me I would welcome you with open arms.
No-Cake3461@reddit
The answer is always Thistle. Saves you the grief.
Tiocfaidh__Ar__La@reddit
If you explain it's actually Inverness Caley Thistle, they'll hopefully give you a sympathetic look, and leave you in peace.
younevershouldnt@reddit
Arguably the UK's greatest city for producing bands, whatever scousers or mancs tell you.
Glasgow or London anyway.
astateoftrance36@reddit
Exactly and most of the people are welcoming, I just wish more people chose staying there instead of the capital, I’m sure they’d be pleasantly surprised and can imagine it’s a lot cheaper.
DJGibbon@reddit
I generally agree that Glasgow is underrated, but on the other hand it's the only place in Scotland where I was told to fuck off back to England so be aware that you won't necessarily be welcomed with open arms!
zappafan89@reddit
Well....
Did you?
DJGibbon@reddit
I mean eventually, yeah, but not as a result of the comment :)
zappafan89@reddit
Bad set or something?
DJGibbon@reddit
Hah no this wasn’t music related!
I asked where something was in a shop and was told “you go down this aisle, turn left, and fuck off back to England”. It was definitely only a one off but pretty jarring!
zappafan89@reddit
I might adapt that one for the Danes
Lox_Ox@reddit
Equally I've lived here several years and never had anyone say anything to me apart from being curious about where I'm from.
astateoftrance36@reddit
The dreaded question growing up in Glasgow where ye fae? trying to think of somewhere like newton mearns just so you don’t get done in, makes you know you’re alive! Miss that in a strange way living south of the border 😂
Extension_Drummer_85@reddit
I think Glasgow is probably the scariest city I've ever been to in the U.K., I went once and refuse to ever go through there again. I imagine it a case of it just looking really rough to the uninitiated but like, I'm not interested in finding out.
astateoftrance36@reddit
For me it’s London, can’t get your phone out to look at google maps for fear of getting your phone nicked out your hand.
Free-Translator4141@reddit
Last time I visited Glasgow I got off the train at Queen St and the first thing I saw was a drunk man urinating in a shop doorway who turned to me with a broad smile and exclaimed 'A'm hae'in' a pish!'. Glasgow is rough as old dogs.
MickIAC@reddit
Objectively funny
Signed, a Glaswegian
ColbysRevenge@reddit
Like no one's every pissed on the street in every other city
Free-Translator4141@reddit
It was a Claire's Accessories at 4pm.
browntownanusman@reddit
You'd get the same in any city in the UK at least they're friendly here.
astateoftrance36@reddit
Well if you ever venture down to Manchester stay away from Piccadilly gardens, it’s like a scene from dawn of the dead, majority of the cities in the UK will have them.
yourmomsajoke@reddit
Glasgow is the best city in Scotland, I was there yesterday just for a wander and some shopping with my wee lad even tho we're away out east coast.
People love to shit on it and praise Edinburgh but they're missing out on so much.
I go often for shows, the museums, galleries, even just a day people watching and shopping on buchanan Street then pretzels and my days made 🙌🏻 I love Glasgow.
Extension_Drummer_85@reddit
...aren't you just saying it's better than Edinburgh then?
V0lkhari@reddit
People in Glasgow also like to shit on Edinburgh and not realise that there's much more to it than the royal mile, tourists, and Christmas markets.
Luxxe-tbh@reddit
As someone from Glasgow who lived in Edinburgh for several long, miserable years, the only other things Edinburgh has is lethal outdoor steps, surprisingly cheap bus fares and a weird lingering shite smell on various street corners.
Students too, but most of the students are not Scottish so essentially tourists since they don’t actually stay here.
V0lkhari@reddit
It's what you make of it mate. A lot of places can be enjoyable to live if you at least try and enjoy it and not complain about it
younevershouldnt@reddit
Such as?
Genuine question.
V0lkhari@reddit
Amazing architecture, diverse range of people, very walkable, good public transport, decent music scene (though I will admit Glasgow is better for that), etc. The best part for me is the massive amount of greenspace and how close nature is to the city centre.
The north of the city also has a great network of traffic free paths and is very close to the sea.
I will admit right in the centre can be shite and too busy, but it doesnt take long to get away from the shite bits.
McTacobum@reddit
Aye they have a pool table too
Conscious-Donut-679@reddit
I visited Glasgow many years ago, then again revisited some 15 yrs ago and couldn't believe the difference and improvement, now so vibrant and upmarket, yet has not lost the 'common touch'
zappafan89@reddit
Actually I dunno if I agree with this. 15 years ago the West End and South Side still had plenty to offer but the city centre was much less of a dump. I suppose we have more hipster places now ...
Conscious-Donut-679@reddit
Was comparing what I knew and was amazed at the change..and hipster? Well I did notice a much ..er can say higher class of shops and entertainment and eateries than a lot of other places. The main thing was a change of atmosphere in the city.
astateoftrance36@reddit
This is 100% correct, you get best of both worlds, not many cities can say that
mr-seamus@reddit
Glasgow is miles better. Edinburgh is full of posh English students and tourists. It doesn't even feel like it is part of Scotland.
Shoddy-Computer2377@reddit
Edinburgh is just London in a kilt.
It's in the south east, it gets all the investment and all the jobs, the crime rate is rising, young people have to move there for any hope of serious work with career progression, all the cultural activities are there. All the out-of-touch politicians live there and don't care a hoot for many other places.
astateoftrance36@reddit
Couldn’t agree more, I live in Manchester now and it annoys me when co workers are like I’m going to Scotland at the weekend oh right anywhere nice? Edinburgh do you not fancy a trip over to Glasgow? it’s a bit rough I’ve heard, will just visit the castle and that 🙄
mr-seamus@reddit
Glasgow still hasn't really shaken off its 80s stereotype among some people. Their loss, it has some of the most beautiful architecture in the country.
RFB67@reddit
I mean it wasn't really a stereotype and didn't really improve until the late 00s early 10s, just for the city centre to turn into a shitehole.
InfluenceCreative191@reddit
Architecture now sadly much at risk due to negligence from our terrible city council. Love Glasgow but the city centre and historic architecture very much at risk right now.
im-hippiemark@reddit
Edinburgh (harry potter land)
AdUseful803@reddit
A few years back I was on the evening train back to Glasgow from Manchester. I had to change at Preston and all the trains had been delayed and were running late. I had to run to another platform to get on the train to Glasgow, sat down and fell asleep.
When I woke up I thought there was something wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I looked around, the person opposite me at our table was a studenty type reading harry potter, and the person next to them was wearing a tweed jacket, too many passengers were just a bit too posh - yes, I was on the train to Edinburgh! If they had been "normal" people I would have gone back to sleep.
I jumped off the train at the next stop, and the train to Glasgow, which was supposed to be ahead of the Edinburgh train, came in. I got on, and the only other people in the carriage was a trackie clad family of 5. They had a boombox pumping out techno, the dad was on the cans, the kids were standing on the seats and as I passed I couldn't help overhearing their conversation: "don't you hate it when your having a shite and the kids come into the lavvie without knocking?" Then I knew I was on the right train home.
double-happiness@reddit
You spent much time in Niddrie, Wester Hailes, Sighthill, Pilton, etc.? I doubt you would say that in those places.
No-Cake3461@reddit
Yeah go upto Niddrie or Moredun on bonfire night. Its full of posh students having intellectual conversations with the police about the merits of fireworks.
mr-seamus@reddit
I've only ever been in a work capacity, to see bands playing and for a few nights out as it is only an hour away on the train. It just didn't really strike me as a Scottish city the same way as Glasgow. Glasgow is one of my favourite cities though so I'm probably biased!
double-happiness@reddit
If you spent any amount of time in the places I would mention you would find it indistinguishable from Glasgow, with all of the same social problems. I used to work in Niddrie, Pilton, and Wester Hailes so I know from first-hand experience. There was also the time I was drinking with a rough crowd and ended up in a flat in Niddrie, where they all starting shooting up Valium. 😐
V0lkhari@reddit
Extremely narrow minded view. It's completely different if you actually live here and realise there is a lot more to it than most folks experience of it.
I'm sure Glasgow has a high percentage of "posh English students" as well.
I love Glasgow but there's also a lot of shite parts about it. At least folk in Edinburgh can admit that Edinburgh isn't perfect 🤣
caspararemi@reddit
I don't know if it was deliberate, but "Glasgow's Miles Better" was a very successful rebranding campaign in the early 90s. I remember seeing it on a sign in a classroom at primary school and to this day it's what I think of when I think of Glasgow. (Though in my head it's still Glasgow Smiles Better.)
formation@reddit
Feels more like a US state than part of Scotland imho
MrsKebabs@reddit
Glasgow is my second favourite city in the world. It's truly beautiful
apainintheokole@reddit
I prefer it to Edinburgh. Edinburgh is too touristy and the decent shops are too spread out. Glasgow is just laid out much better and has a lot going for it.
Exciting_Fix9444@reddit
American here, I loved Glasgow! I felt more soul there than Edinburgh.
I would say the affordability played a big part but I was just visiting and yet felt more at ease than in Edinburgh
goggles189@reddit
The food there is amazing. And concur Glasgow is underrated for sure
Alert_Breakfast5538@reddit
The people really make Glasgow. I’ve been twice for work this past year and the best way I can describe it is aggressively friendly. I’m not used to all the random people interacting with each other at such a high frequency, but it really creates a nice vibe where everyone is involved in what’s happening around them.
bonkerz1888@reddit
Aye I'm from the Highlands but do really enjoy everytime I'm in Glasgow.
So long as you don't mind listening to the locals blow smoke up their own arses at every chance then it can be a great place.
formation@reddit
Its def got that grime/gentrification vibe but my mrs who is mixed race got called a cunt on the public transport and we saw so many skinheads its a no-go unless you are white.
zappafan89@reddit
Skinheads in Glasgow? Surprises me a lot
ColbysRevenge@reddit
All the blacks and Muslims living here seem to be fine, definitely not a no-go for them
glasgowgeg@reddit
Were they actually skinheads, or just men who happened to be bald?
Prasiatko@reddit
Don't worry tye skinheads still beat you up if your white but of the wrong Christian denomination.
iwaterboardheathens@reddit
A shithole with a lot to do is still a shithole
Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness are all much nicer, cleaner and safer than Glasgow but there's fuck all to do in two of them
amemingfullife@reddit
Hear hear. I love the West End now, lively and lots of good restaurants.
Careful-Swimmer-2658@reddit
I'm biased. I had to install security equipment at all the Asdas in Glasgow. I arrived at the first one at 9:00 am and there were already drinks passed out on the grass in front of the entrance. It also doesn't help that all Scottish architecture of the last 100 years looks like it was deliberately designed to imbue the viewer with a sense of despair.
bogushobo@reddit
This is a bit of a silly take given that most of the city seen today dates back to the 19th century, so there's far more architecture from before those 100 years. Probably a big reason it was named UK City of Architecture & Design back in '99.
DinosaurSr2@reddit
Glasgow has some of the most beautiful architecture in Europe. I'm English, but lived there 20 years. Selling our house in Pollokshields and relocating down south is maybe the biggest mistake of my life. The beautiful parks and architecture are the things I miss the most.
BreathlessAlpaca@reddit
They're part of the ambiance
TryToBeKindEh@reddit
I think you'll find poverty exists in most cities.
Specialist-Emu-5119@reddit
You’ll get that in any major city.
fleshcircuits@reddit
i’m from edinburgh and live in glasgow now. there’s so much more to do, it’s much more affordable, and pretty well connected. for every day living it’s heaps better!
Whyx_@reddit
I moved from the South up to Glasgow this year as my girlfriend wanted to move closer to family. I think it's a fantastic city, really enjoying my time here so far.
crunkasaurus_@reddit
I found the people to be a lot friendlier to the English than I imagined
hugehand@reddit
We're an Irish couple who moved to Glasgow last year. This place is incredible and we have loved every second of it. We've had nothing but great times and great people. And to think, we were warned back in Ireland not to move here. Idiots.
astateoftrance36@reddit
Glad you guys are settled and are having a good time, I bet you’re glad you made the move now!
hugehand@reddit
It was a huge effort to do, but we're grateful every day.
giganticbuzz@reddit
Yeah but what team do you support? /s
Prasiatko@reddit
It also probably did eanr it's bad reputation back in the day but has completely transformed in the past 20 years or so.
The anti knife crime strategy now gets taught across Europe because it was so effective.
xp3ayk@reddit
Can they teach it to London?
havaska@reddit
Im English and I love Glasgow. Fantastic city and the people are great.
boostman@reddit
I’m English but I think Glasgow is the best city in the UK (to be fair, I’ve never been to Newcastle or a couple of other noteworthy ones).
Cub3h@reddit
It's probably nicer to live but to visit I found it so-so. Great restaurants but it's not a pretty city and unless you're into clubbing or specific music venues there isn't that much to see or do.
The fact that all the tourist tat shops mostly sold stuff related to Edinburgh or the highlands kind of said it all.
JennyW93@reddit
I lived in Edinburgh for a few years for work. Glasgow is better. Better atmosphere, funnier and more fun people, better food, and I want to say “more stuff to do” but maybe a more fair statement would be “more stuff to do within a reasonable price bracket”.
I’m from Wales originally, so I’d say I’m reasonably unbiased.
Pleasant_Jim@reddit
People in Glasgow toot their own horn way too much but they are genuinely more open than the folk in Edinburgh. Edinburgh folk are usually fine but there are many dour people here too. I'd still rather live in Edinburgh tbh.
Pleasant_Jim@reddit
Glasgow has such a mood, the way the sun shines on the tenement buildings at the West End is so cosy.
BreathlessAlpaca@reddit
I fucking love Glasgow. Definitely a bit of a shit hole but we all know that and the vibes are immaculate (mostly).
Helpful_Mushroom873@reddit
Spent the summer there during the commonwealth games as a volunteer. One of my absolute favourite places - people were great, transport was efficient and it was easy to get around and so many of the buildings were just so beautiful.
Glasgow has a very special place in the southerners heart 💙
reocoaker@reddit
Went on a City Break to Glasgow a few years back and I also used to travel there a fair bit for work. I loved it, massively underrated and a lot more interesting to me personally than Edinburgh.
Dazz316@reddit
I love and hate it. Anytime I go into the centre there's always stuff to remind how much of a shithole it can be. Several allys around the centre smell like piss, more homeless and there's always a few junkies to be seen. But you go to the right areas and yeah it's gorgeous.
Coming from Aberdeen, I still prefer Edinburgh. I think with Edinburgh it's easier just to wonder without hitting any notorious spots or seeing some "sights". But if you plan or know where you're going in glasgow it's awesome.
Dismal_Birthday7982@reddit
I ended up in Glasgow infirmary last year. Haggis for breakfast. Can recommend.
gaspoweredcat@reddit
cornwall despite its image is largely a shithole, rundown horrible little towns and villages full of bored people who seem to like to do nothing more than bicker and drink
Grim_Farts_Barnsley@reddit
Rotherham wins the "Not as shit as Doncaster" award every year round these parts. I went out there with a couple of mates in the summer and it's areyt. Didn't see any stabbings or nowt so it's better than I remember.
kongclassic@reddit
I'm still looking for someone to say Barnsley hahaha
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
"We all hate Ledds scum" is the most sung song around football grounds in the UK and even sung at clubs around the world. But Leeds isn't any more of a shithole than other major cities. If anything, I think it's better than Norwich and even Cambridge, the two major cities I grew up in between.
I moved to Yorkshire in 2018. Bradford rightfully owns its title as a shithole, but Leeds doesn't. The people are 5 has of good going for it with good transportation, shopping, night life etc... If anything, I'd prefer to live in Leeds than Cambridge, despite Cambridge often viewed as one of the UKs best cities.
NicePinstripe@reddit
Harehills keeps ruining Leeds' reputation. I say we let Bradford claim it
JamitryFyodorovich@reddit
Was in Leeds a few days ago, was really pleasantly surprised by the city centre. Areas like Beeston looked rough as fuck, but as you say, all places have their good and bad areas.
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
I lived in Bradford for 18 months. And it's by far the worst City I've lived in. Bradford makes Leeds look a paradise. Leeds is underrated, held back by stereotypes of the past.
Fun_Analysis6217@reddit
great for keeping southerners inflating property prices
notathrowawayhnst@reddit
Gipton. It's the only place I've ever nudged the door lock down with my elbow.
Every garden had a knackered rusty white good and maybe a mattress and a pile of scrap wood.
goldkestos@reddit
Gipton is genuinely awful. I was looking for a house for my mum to move to Leeds who has a very tiny budget. She’d spotted a house in gipton so I went and had a look for her. A man walked past me started calling me a c*nt because he had to slightly adjust the path he was walking along in order to pass by me (I was walking along a wall/ hedge so had nowhere else to go and thought literally nothing of it). When I dared to say “what?” In response he ran at me and tried to attack me, bearing in mind I was a pregnant at the time woman! My husband had to come in between me to protect me shouting I was pregnant. Absolutely vile vile vile area.
DoctorOctagonapus@reddit
Belle Isle is the place I've been warned away from but Leeds is a decent place
AerodynamicHandshake@reddit
The chant has nothing to do with what Leeds is like as place, it's about the football team historically being filthy bastards.
But yeah, Leeds is cool place and definitely has the edge over Cambridge for nightlife.
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
Yeah, but if you have a very negative song about the team, that naturally builds connotations with the place also, which I think has definitely been the case with Leeds. Most people I know that have never been to 5 it as a shithole despite never having been. And will finish it off with "We all hate Leeds scum" if they're a football fan. Granted, a lot of this will be saying this kn jest out of banter, but say something enough, and people start to believe it.
the-minsterman@reddit
It's a good point. Especially considering the use of the word "scum".
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
To be fair it's also about Leeds fans. Less violent then they used to be but still fucking annoying
TheRealPatrick79@reddit
From Norwich, visited Leeds this spring for the first time. The centre of Leeds is nice, but I ended up waking through what I discovered later was the Harehill area. It's one of the most squalid shit holes I've ever seen. Nowhere in Norwich is even close to how rough that place was, I genuinely thought I was going to get murdered.
meinnit99900@reddit
This is so dramatic lmao, Harehills is a shitehole but you’re not gonna get murdered or for the most part bothered unless you’re involved in something you shouldn’t be or wandering round at night
given2fly_@reddit
If the local news here in Leeds talks about someone getting stabbed or shot, then 95% of the time it's Harehills.
Barleybrigade@reddit
Leeds' population is 6x that of Norwich. Of course, it's going to have more highly impoverished areas. Every major city does.
sunglower@reddit
I used to work in clubs all over the country and if asked where I'm from, I'd say leeds and they'd inevitably 9 times out of ten say 'Dirty Leeds' and being not a football fan, I had no idea what TF they were talking about. Until years later.
Indomie_At_3AM@reddit
Wait, Leeds has good transportation now? Those aviva dickheads never even stop for me
brickne3@reddit
No, Leeds is still the largest urban area in Europe without a metro system. And one is not in the cards any time soon. Maybe by 2050 or something.
PotsnBats@reddit
It is definitely not the most sung song in football grounds across the country.
Leeds fans can be a bit self-obsessed.
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
Are you calling me a Leeds fan? Lol, I Support Man United. Although we're not any happier.
They are the most sung about club in English football.
PotsnBats@reddit
I’ve been to many stadiums and never heard any songs about Leeds, I think you are misinformed.
Super-Hyena8609@reddit
Cambridge has a lot of pretty buildings in the centre but it also has vast swathes of Victorian slum terraces and 1950s council housing.
blurdyblurb@reddit
Where are all the Victorian slum terraces? Aren't they worth half a mill each?
more_beans_mrtaggart@reddit
I’ve never heard anyone saying Cambridge is a good city, and I’m old.
meinnit99900@reddit
Cambridge is very beautiful and clean but people living there have got zero fucking manners or spatial awareness at all
LumpyCamera1826@reddit
The comment did make me laugh how it seems to be some huge surprise to OP that Leeds is better than Norwich and Cambridge.
LordEmostache@reddit
I love Leeds, but the roads there are easily the worst I've ever tried to navigate. Even the Satnav is like "just wing it"
Tildatots@reddit
My best friend lives in Leeds and I’m always surprised when I visit, I think the city centre is great, lots of old beautiful buildings, more so than Manchester. Good nightlife and shopping, friendly folk. I went to uni in Manchester and love it there too but Leeds is definitely the prettier of the two imo
LiquidLuck18@reddit
Why are you comparing them unnecessarily?
Specialist-Emu-5119@reddit
In England maybe. Never once heard Scottish supporters singing that.
luckeratron@reddit
Better than Norwich! Probably true.
NicePinstripe@reddit
Barnsley. Has a terrible rep but is far nicer than a lot of the areas surrounding it. The council actually seem to give AF, and spend a lot of money making the place look nice and shocker keeping the roads in good condition. Never had any issues there despite the stories you hear about crackheads roaming the streets.
I've also lived in Coventry, and in my experience that's FAR worse than almost anywhere up north.
anaxagorasthearcher@reddit
As an example of the reverse: Cambridge. Yes, that one shot of King’s and some of the other older university buildings, but the actual city centre is trash.
Birmingham and Glasgow (both mentioned a lot already) are fantastic cities with young, dynamic populations (Birmingham is the youngest city in Western Europe) and great art and music scenes.
Shoddy-Computer2377@reddit
My sister studied in Cambridge and lived there for 8 years afterwards. There was a 2 year period where I was also living not a million miles away.
I always hated visiting Cambridge. It just had a vibe I didn't like, even in the suburbs where she lived.
Gruejay2@reddit
Oxford is exactly the same. Bit bigger, but you don't have to go far from the centre for it to feel like a dump.
PaintingJams@reddit
I grew up on a rough council estate in Essex
I felt legitimately uncomfortable around Cambridge city centre at night
Lead_Penguin@reddit
Yeah it's not great, and the areas just outside the city center are getting pretty shit during the daytime too. Last time I was there some prick was riding a (presumably stolen) moped around on pavements near the Queen Anne Terrace car park, forcing people (including some with toddlers) to have to jump out the way. He was looking in car windows, presumably to see which ones he wanted to break into. This was 10am on a weekend.
To be fair the police appeared in the area quite quickly so I didn't need to call them but this was around the same time there were thousands of catalytic converters being stolen in the city, and at the Park and Ride sites. Combine that with the suicidal cyclists and I've stopped visiting.
PaintingJams@reddit
I work in london and the cyclists are a nightmare here for ignoring red lights and pedestrians. But yeah cambridge they are full on suicidal, its nuts
HauzKhas@reddit
Yeah I moved from Cambridge to an estate near Walworth/Kennington and I feel much safer. Experienced a lot of anti-social behaviour in Cambridge.
PaintingJams@reddit
I saw 2 women having a full on hair pulling, face punching fight 3ft from a bouncer who just watched at like 7pm on a Friday. No one seemed at all phased and were just stepping into traffic to avoid them.
Also London cyclists might not follow traffic laws in the slightest, Cambridge cyclists full on have a death wish
itsNaterino@reddit
I grew up in Cambridge and am really sad at what the centre has become in terms of pandering to tourists. Half the tourist shops sell London memorabilia rather than Cambridge memorabilia because so many people just visit for the day and don’t consider staying longer to take in the town side of the city rather than gown. I think the uni really holds it back in many cases and while I absolutely love the city and it’ll always be a special place to me, I can’t argue that Cambridge fits the reverse of the question quite well.
FishyCoconutSauce@reddit
Swansea
Obviously run down but also creative
spicyzsurviving@reddit
Glasgow. it’s got rough parts but where doesn’t? a lot of it is great, loads to do, and some rlly lovely places and buildings.
on the reverse- bristol. hated it.
knight-under-stars@reddit
London
London
All a matter of perspective.
temujin_borjigin@reddit
‘Tia a tale of two cities…
PrinceBert@reddit
Also London is massive and diverse. It's not really 1 place it's hundreds of different places that are crammed up next to each other. Some parts of London are amazing, some are full of greenery, some are crazy expensive, others are shit holes. It's why London is both the best and worst answer to this question.
Educational_Curve938@reddit
plus most of the parts of london that are supposedly shitholes are actually class whereas the "nice" parts are swamped with absolute bellends (looking at you Clapham).
Pleasant_Jim@reddit
What happened to you in Clapham?
Educational_Curve938@reddit
Own-Holiday-4071@reddit
This whole “full of Aussies and South Africans” stereotype hasn’t been true for at least 6 years but more importantly, why the hate for people from these countries?
Your average Aussie is super laid back and a good laugh!
stubbywoods@reddit
Can't speak for Aussies but with South Africans its quite easy to tell they come from a country that had apartheid in very recent memory. Some of the most backwards shit I've ever heard spewed.
BlueTrin2020@reddit
Dude Aussies have left London in wades, since the country has been in decline compared to the Australian economy
AmaroisKing@reddit
Newsflash, the Australian economy is in decline too and they won’t earn as much back there.
BlueTrin2020@reddit
New flash that’s a great story but irrelevant when you look at whether Aussies are still massively in Clapham
AmaroisKing@reddit
The Clapham Massive!
BlueTrin2020@reddit
Lol
Jinglekeys100@reddit
Australians and South Africans tend to be white. Which means it's ok to hate them.
Now replace that same sentence with "Pakistanis" or "Kenyans". Most people are disgusted.
Welcome to Reddit.
QuizzicalSquid7@reddit
Pubs there suck as well - one or two decent ones but mainly generic chain style pubs with extortionate prices are rubbish clientele. House prices are also a joke in most of Clapham. Also to piggy back on the northern line comment it’s one of the hottest and most packed places to commute from - absolutely firm.
AmaroisKing@reddit
A friend of mine lived in Clapham, he equated traveling on the Northern Line to being flushed down the toilet.
Own-Holiday-4071@reddit
Maybe you prefer the central line instead?
bigjoeandphantom3O9@reddit
It's by far one of the most convenient lines to live on lol.
Educational_Curve938@reddit
it's hell, and also connects the worst parts of london: barnet, camden, london bridge, clapham, battersea power station.
It's hard to say if was corrupted by the terrible places it connects or if those terrible places are simply manifestations of the northern line's inherent malevolent energy, like a ring of poisonous toadstools signalling the existence of a much deeper and more widespread subterranean blight.
bigjoeandphantom3O9@reddit
I think you may be somewhat detached from reality.
mariobuyatelly@reddit
Think "vile" might be a bit much! It's brimming with wankers but not necessarily a terrible place..I also wouldn't choose to ever go there mind you.
tonylaponey@reddit
I mostly use the Lizzie line since it opened. I had to go on the Northern line the other day. It was like going back to Victorian times.
variantsonly7@reddit
I knew I was broke when I went into the Iceland clapham and noticed everything was significantly more expensive than my local Iceland
Ollietron3000@reddit
Clapham fucking sucks
AmaroisKing@reddit
Clapham was great in the 90s.
naturepeaked@reddit
The only people that think clapham is nice are those that have bought there.
BlueTrin2020@reddit
Doubt they would say that.
Wise-Youth2901@reddit
Clapham is full of dicks but I am not sure I would want to live in say, Tottenham. I went there once and it did feel rather sketchy.
throwaway420682022@reddit
genuinely could not pay me to step foot in the parts of London redditors see as “aspirational”
XihuanNi-6784@reddit
Came here to say exactly this lol. I live in a place that used to be class but is turning shittier as it gentrifies. It's so sad to watch the neighbourhood degenerate like this.
JonnyBhoy@reddit
That's what I try to explain to colleagues outside of London, especially ones in the US who ask advice on coming here. London isn't a city, it's lots of towns squished together.
ripsa@reddit
Americans sort of get it if you contrast it with NYC. So in the analogy roughly, the City is Wall St, the East End the Lower East Side, Islington & Stoke Newington is Brooklyn, etc.
OGSkywalker97@reddit
I dunno if I'd say Islington is equivalent to Brooklyn. Islington is very posh nowadays and ridiculously expensive.
I work in an Estate Agency in Islington and you wouldn't believe what properties sell for if they're close to Upper Street or on specific roads in Highbury, Canonbury and Barnsbury such as Ripplevale Grove (especially expensive), Belitha Villas has houses selling for £4mill+ regularly, Almeida Street (just off of Upper Street) also has houses selling for £3.5m - £6m regularly, Highbury New Park, Highbury Place has FLATS selling for over £3mill and houses over £6mill as it's on Highbury Fields and near H&I Station.
And don't even get me started on the rent... Former 1-bed council flats on estates going for £2,500 per month. It's crazy.
BlueTrin2020@reddit
I think you have not been in Brooklyn recently lol
ripsa@reddit
Afaik that's partly why it's analogous as it has been gentrified and is now crazy expensive. We had a large family house near Highbury since the 1970s and even just under half a decade ago sold it for what bourght a portfolio of multiple properties in Hertfordshire. This is an area that was the ghetto in the 1980s. I heard similar stories about places in Brooklyn. Though you're not wrong since it's just a rough analogy.
Pleasant_Jim@reddit
Pardon my ignorance but is that not the case for almost all cities in the UK?
meinnit99900@reddit
I think that’s the same for most cities everywhere tbh
Pleasant_Jim@reddit
Definitely. A few newer planned cities might have developed to swallow the neighboring villages and towns too
JonnyBhoy@reddit
I wouldn't say so, not with the distinct identities that areas of London have, at least not in my experience.
PierreTheTRex@reddit
All of London is crazy expensive, some parts are mind bogglingly expensive
Pleasant_Jim@reddit
It's all crazy expensive 🤨
knight-under-stars@reddit
I could not agree more.
ALA02@reddit
Parts of London have a grimness that former industrial towns in the north can’t even replicate, while other parts of London are the best places to live/be in the UK
Educational_Curve938@reddit
the only really grim bits of london are the outer parts where it collapses into never ending suburbia and there's really nothing there beyond housing. The top end of the Jubilee line, lots of Redbridge. I'm not sure they're necessarily bad places to live they're just bleak.
PaintingJams@reddit
I got sent to cover an office for one day in Streatham, I never want to return
jedisalsohere@reddit
i live there lol
blankbench@reddit
Except a lot of the residential streets in Streatham are now incredibly expensive and have basically become an extension of Clapham and Dulwich.
KittenFunk@reddit
Plenty inner London shitholes I could mention, but won’t as good people live there. I’m in outer London (zone 6), can do everything on foot, retail is awesome, lovely parks, great transport links (food scene is shite but eating out to me is a day out, so it’s fine to go somewhere else) and as soon as I step out the train here I feel safe. But whenever I mention where I live people roll their eyes and say “it’s not even in London” (it very much is) or someone who had 4 phones stolen and was beaten by thieves for a bike at their doorstep jokes that I live in a dump. It’s frustrating, so I prefer to be awkward and don’t answer the question anymore.
sbg_gye@reddit
Dunno man, I went to Peckham Rye earlier this year and it was depressing seeing lots of nice old buildings absolutely covered in graffiti and the streets ankle deep in rubbish, plus the "street market" all selling the same Chinese plastic crap...
ALA02@reddit
Some of the suburbia is really quite posh though, particularly in the southwest, and parts of the southeast
DeviousCrackhead@reddit
What are three exemplars of both the shit and the great within London?
ALA02@reddit
Shit: West Croydon, Newham/Tower Hamlets, Thames-side parts of the SE like Erith, Thamesmead, Woolwich etc
Great: Richmond, South Islington/Clerkenwell and Bloomsbury, Kensington and Chelsea
Successful_Buy3825@reddit
My view as a someone from a shit part of London who has spent a decent chunk of time “oop norf”: while there are grim parts of both, but the grim parts of London usually have decent proximity to nicer parts. A lot of the nicer places in the north tend to be more rural, meaning urban areas can feel like there are no redeeming qualities
LosWitchos@reddit
London is amazing to visit for a weekend away. There's endless things to do. It feels like a big deal and I even get a sense of pride about being in such a happening place.
In my profession I cannot imagine living there at all and having the quality of life I have here. I live in a 1mil city and even that is overwhelming to me sometimes.
jamogram@reddit
From London, went to a remote, rural university. Was frequently asked if living in London was not very dangerous. My response was that the death rate from falling off of cliffs in London is consistently zero. Also the local shops sold golliwogs so I've got my questions about exactly what they thought was so dangerous.
XihuanNi-6784@reddit
Honestly people just don't understand how crime rates work. Per capita, London's crime rate isn't that bad. And when it comes to violent crime it's intergang warfare primarily. You don't have random normal people getting stabbed for no reason. But people don't seem to realise this and think the crime rate and risk of crime is spread out evenly across the city and across all demographics living here.
TheMachineStops@reddit
100%.
I moved to London and was being kept awake by police helicopters, our landlord was a notorious gangland villain, there were syringes in the gutter and there were 2 targeted shooting assassinations in the area in a year.
Grim as this is - none of it actually affected us. Tipping out of the pub at closing time, there was a great vibe with people miliing in the streets laughing and joking.
In my home town, I wouldn't leave the house between 11pm and midnight as the streets were deserted except for groups of lads looking for a fight. If I was at a friend's house I would make sure to head home before 10:30pm or wait until after midnight.
Mithent@reddit
I don't live in London, but I'm a frequent visitor and I've never really felt like I was in much danger of running into serious trouble if I wasn't looking for it. There being enough people around helps, I'm sure - it feels much more oppressive in quiet places where there's just a few people lingering around.
suiluhthrown78@reddit
Its more of a case that people modify their behaviour to avoid becoming a statistic, eg avoiding certain areas at all costs, changing your morning run routes, not going for a walk at night at all, whereas elsewhere people will have kept their same routines for decades
WhisperINTJ@reddit
Was that perchance a coastal uni named after the mouth of a local river? 🤔
CranberryAssassin@reddit
I mean, that describes a lot coastal town names.
But if you're thinking of the Tawe... I saw the golliwogs too. This was back in 05.
WhisperINTJ@reddit
That wasn't the one I was thinking of, but sadly confirms there's more than one
RodneyRodnesson@reddit
On the money this! :)
RedEarth42@reddit
I feel like it’s easier to appreciate a shithole when it has a lot of vitality, when it feels buzzing. Like Whitechapel and Skegness might feel equally run-down and dodgy but I would take Whitechapel any day bc at least it feels alive
DamMofoUsername@reddit
It’s not perspective it’s money
knight-under-stars@reddit
Money is one of the many factors that impacts perspective.
ripsa@reddit
Related to this the East End. People on the more right-wing UK subs talk about it as though it's a ghetto where you will instantly be killed and no ones can speak English.
My little apartment I bought there simply to live in as a 20something, has appreciated so much I can buy multiple properties back in my rural hometown.
When I go back to visit it's full of posh sounding hipsters from every part of the world trying to sell me a cappucino for £15. Even the community cafe in Poplar only does artisan bread. And you can't move for busy upscale retail and fashionable bars & restaurants.
Compared to the decrepit high streets of Britain's provincial towns with nothing but bookies, charity shops, Turkish barbers, nail salons, and hooded white youths smelling of skunk; the East End is the picture of a thriving environment.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
My colleague's comment the other day summed it up I think: I hate London, but I want to go back (he lives in Manchester now)
Acceptable-Art-9649@reddit
Several areas of London are now just exclaves of Somalia or similar. Not passing any judgment but it is just how it is.
knight-under-stars@reddit
Take your BNP bullshit on your month old account elsewhere.
burplesscucumber@reddit
England. Oh wait you said underrated. Nm
thebear1011@reddit
Birmingham. It’s far from the greatest place in the world, but it’s nowhere near as bad as people make out.
ninja-wharrier@reddit
Just don't accidentally end up in Wolverhampton.
Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit
Agree - someone made a post asking about what to see in Brum and plenty of people said ‘don’t go’ lol.
I’ve been once or twice and found it absolutely fine! Plenty of my friends went there for uni and loved it.
frankchester@reddit
Another perfect slogan idea. “Birmingham…. It’s absolutely fine really!”
Hairy_Al@reddit
Damning with faint praise
Late-Champion8678@reddit
Perfectly acceptable
centzon400@reddit
"More canals than Venice" 👋
90s_as_fuck@reddit
I think people say don't go because it's not worth your time.
To say it's the "second city" it's funny how there's just not much to see. There are plenty of other UK cities with much more to do and see.
Considering as well in other European countries their second cities always seem to have much more going for them i.e. Barcelona, Lyon, Munich/Hamburg, Milan etc. It's a wonder why Birmingham struggles.
Safe-Purchase2494@reddit
That would make a great tourism slogan. "Birmingham.....It's not as bad as you think!"
Fikkia@reddit
One of my favourite T-Shirts just says "Wales is OK"
OgreOfTheMind@reddit
There actually was an unofficial movement that used the slogan "Birmingham, it's not shit" a good 20 or so years ago.
jiminthenorth@reddit
Not often I get to trot this out...
https://www2.b3ta.com/birmingham/
cyfeiliog@reddit
Ha! I was about to respond with 'Birmingham, it's bloody great, Birmingham, it's bostin', mate!'
callisstaa@reddit
Damn, b3ta. I always looked forward to their newsletter and image challenges.
CayendoApril@reddit
Wow this website reminds me of GCSE ICT
geoffs3310@reddit
There's more to Birmingham, dan dis
Normal_Hour_5055@reddit
I went once and barely even got sepsis. Its come a long way in the last decade or so!
LordEmostache@reddit
Sorry I have to disagree. My family is all from Birmingham and I've spent a lot of time there throughout my life. It is without a shadow of a doubt in my mind one of the worst cities I've ever been to. People are hostile, roads are awful, it's like London's meth'd up little brother and I hate every second I have to spend within it's boundaries.
diploid83@reddit
Where have you been if you think the Maypole is the “alright” part?
LordEmostache@reddit
Shows how much of a shithole the rest of the city is in comparison I guess
diploid83@reddit
Where have you been if you think the Maypole is the “alright” part?
dkb1391@reddit
Possibly the single worst take I've ever heard
LordEmostache@reddit
YMMV, I have a personal connection to the place so I'm definitely biased.
Hazeygazey@reddit
Maypole? Lol.
sokorsognarf@reddit
Maypole?! Are you… OK?
LordEmostache@reddit
I'm biased as my nan lived there lmao
AdEquivalent2784@reddit
It's mainly bad if you get involved in a bunch of dodgy stuff.
Brum is actually a great place for all sorts.
olimeillosmis@reddit
Yeah it’s actually a very nice balance with big city vibes vs everything being accessible and convenient.
I thought London felt like an amazing mega city but then getting errands done/life admin was horrible when I lived there.
Bread-But-Toasted@reddit
Lovely play to visit if you’re deaf
Ecstatic_Okra_41@reddit
Birmingham is one of the few cities I would never move to, ever.
wellyboot97@reddit
I went to Birmingham for the first time at the weekend and I'm not gonna lie, I only experienced parts of it but it was kinda worse than I expected. I'm sure there are some better parts of the city, but I felt genuinely unsafe on a level I don't get even in places like Manchester. The road network was abysmal and it just felt and looked so run down and depressing.
Dull-Perspective-90@reddit
Why did you feel unsafe though? 🙈
Littleloula@reddit
Selly oak is pretty posh
But yes, all cities have rough parts
nutwiss@reddit
Selly Park is posh. Bournville is posh. Selly Oak is just a student ghetto these days.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
I've only ever experienced the bit by the station and aldi/lidl. Posh isn't the word I'd use for there lol
bluejackmovedagain@reddit
I am usually the city's biggest defender, but I genuinely wouldn't recommend visiting in November and December because the Christmas market is crap, it ruins the best parts of the city centre and it makes it impossible to get around.
Silly-Tax8978@reddit
I visited Birmingham for work two weeks ago. Emerging from New Street station at 10pm on a Monday night was like passing into some nightmarish dystopian future. Drunks picking each other up off the street, guys pushing each other about, a sense of menace about the place. I may just have arrived at a bad time though!
Littleloula@reddit
I think you did, I've been many times and not seen that. I have family in Newport (South wales) though and that hasn't been uncommon there
the_driblydribly@reddit
I'm just up the road from Newport, it's pretty barren and tame these days. Back in the 80s and 90s it was like the wild west and used to scare the shit out of me on a weekend. I've been to Brum many times, always a great night out and never felt threatened.
XihuanNi-6784@reddit
I've been a handful of times and didn't think it was bad at all. Roads were shit though.
Jerico_Hill@reddit
Did you drive? Because driving in Birmingham is it's own special kind of hell.
HowMany_MoreTimes@reddit
I'm visiting Birmingham for the first time this weekend. Driving down from Glasgow on Saturday, wish me luck 🙏
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
Depending on where you're going in Brum, it can be very straightforward. The M6 runs through the city.
The centre itself is a nightmare and I'd just park and get the train if you need to go in.
wellyboot97@reddit
I drove and parked at a friends house who lives on the west side of the city and then went into the actual city centre. So I wasn’t driving directly in the middle but it wasn’t far out.
mr-seamus@reddit
I used to go to Birmingham a fair bit and never liked it. I got stuck in Digbeth overnight once and it was bleak.
guzusan@reddit
Because you went to Digbeth though, the city's industrial heart that's been pretty much abandoned. If you do visit again, and I encourage you to, go to the South West of the city.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
Digbeth is far from abandoned, its underwent a massive regeneration and has excellent nightlife.
guzusan@reddit
'Pretty much'.
Beside the vibrant (gimmicky and soulless imo) custard factory area, it is abandoned. I imagine OP strayed away from this better part and was surrounded by the bleak.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
When were you last I'm Digbeth? You have Mama Roux, Bierkeller, Lab11, the mini golf bar amongst many other spots for drinking and socialising.
guzusan@reddit
Probably summer time? Maybe it’s just not my thing any more.
But I’ve seen people say that it feels so ‘temporary’ there, which I’d agree with. As in, it’s for work do’s and events. So groups go there for an activity, then don’t stick around afterwards and instead go back to the city centre to carry on their night.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
It might be the case that it's the vibe you don't like. I personally think it's a cool place but most venues cater for my musical tastes of house and techno etc
Ok-Treacle8973@reddit
+1 for Crazy Pedros
mr-seamus@reddit
I stayed in Northfield a couple of times and I found that altogether more pleasant. Not sure if that's in the SW?
guzusan@reddit
Yeah that's just on the boundary of where I'm referring to, it is SW though you're right. Northfield is more of a residential area though, whereas tucked inbetween there and the city centre you have places called Bournville, Harborne, Moseley, Stirchley and Kings Heath.
There you'll find loads of cool little independent shops and restaurants, bars, breweries, the lot.
jiggs4@reddit
I lived around the Moseley and Kings Heath area for over 10 years and it gave me some of the most positive and happy memories of my life.
HorrorGirlie98@reddit
I've only been here for like a month and a half (foreigner) and I was told to avoid it after sunset by all means.
Littleloula@reddit
Driving into Birmingham is definitely horrendous
boostman@reddit
Was going to post something very similar. Seeing these kinds of posts on Reddit had led me to believe it would be totally fine, but no it did feel dodgy and unsafe in the centre at night in ways I wouldn’t in eg London or Glasgow, and loads of businesses were boarded up etc. Seemed a bit grim.
NebCrushrr@reddit
I love Birmingham. Lots to do and it's so friendly. Also unlike a lot of people in this country I really enjoy multiculturalism and the different experiences it brings.
blu_riot@reddit
Same. My brother has lived in varying places throughout Brum for years and I've always loved my visits, super friendly and multicultural.
I am from a pretty average Leicestershire town though, but cities don't usually appeal to me, Brum being the exception.
Leonardo_Liszt@reddit
Birmingham, friendly? Really?…
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
I lived in Sutton for 4 years and honestly it was great. Before I moved there I had the same caricature in my head of what Birmingham was like but I had a great time there. This wasn't for uni either so "normal life".
There is a real problem with driving standards and cleanliness in some areas but that's my only real gripe.
PeteUKinUSA@reddit
Sutton was bloody great when I was a kid, by which I mean 25 years ago. In the 90’s though it was starting to get a reputation for being a bit fighty-stabby which was probably a bit unfair. If that’s all gone I’d live there in a heartbeat.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
I think there was one stabbing in the 4 years I lived there so I'd say it must be gone. I lived right on the border of Erdington and the area was brilliant; close to Boldmere High St and Sutton Park.
The town centre has definitely seen better days, but that describes most town centres now sadly.
I'm planning to move back next year!
pjeedai@reddit
I grew up in Sutton went to school at Boldmere. Middle School, learned to swim at Wyndley next to Sutton Park.
Gingy2210@reddit
Birmingham is beautiful! The council buildings in the sun look like Paris.
HeavyCovenant@reddit
I'm very open-minded, and as someone brought up on the outskirts on Liverpool in the 90s, I am all too aware of the negative perceptions people can have about a place, so try not to pre-judge... but I've been to Birmingham 3 times now and just cannot get on with it at all.
Found it very unwelcoming, hostile, and quite depressing considered it is the 2nd biggest city.
Now, I don't like London one bit but I can understand the appeal for others. Not with Birmingham I'm afraid...
Maximum_Scientist_85@reddit
No 2nd place about it, Birmingham is the biggest city in the UK:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_United_Kingdom#List_of_cities -> sort by population
Away with yer crappy cities trying to inflate their population figures with a "Greater Sodsbury" type area. Small man syndrome, that's what that is.
HeavyCovenant@reddit
Shut up
Maximum_Scientist_85@reddit
It's a fact, pal. You can't argue with facts.
pixie_sprout@reddit
Have you just stepped out of a time machine? Arguing with facts is extremely popular in 2024.
EnvironmentalBear423@reddit
Same here. I am from the outskirts of Liverpool and went university in Birmingham for 4 years. It was far worse than people had described. The city is horrendous for crime no matter what time of the day it is. And I can say this from my experience of being assaulted by 3 men for no reason other than wrong place wrong time. Spent the whole time feeling on edge and looking over my shoulder.
Sorry to say this for people who do live here, but I just couldn't help but hate the city and I only stayed for the 4 years because I met good friends and my girlfriend.
cnstnsr@reddit
Very relevant to me, as I just moved into central Birmingham two weeks ago, and it's completely fine. I had a bust-up with my dad when I told him I was moving to this specific area because his perception of the place is still based on what it was like 20 years ago. There are plenty of run-down and rough areas, but that’s true of anywhere.
So far, my gripes with Birmingham are generic to any city.
I had similar reactions when I moved to Liverpool and then to Leeds - lots of, ‘Oh, be careful, it’s rough up there.’ But in reality, the big cities have come a long way. They’re not perfect, but they’re a lot better than their old reputations.
naturepeaked@reddit
I stayed there recently for work and it got a bit grim after dark around the shopping area.
Indomie_At_3AM@reddit
I remember an American Redditor saying he was visiting Birmingham and he asked if immigration would have any questions. Yea, the question is what the fuck are you doing in Birmingham
oliviaxlow@reddit
I went there yesterday having never been to the centre before and I was quite scared walking around parts of bham. Got shouted at by some loon in Digbeth.
jaynoj@reddit
It's become worse in the last few years for the odd-squad being in the city center.
We were pursued by a homeless guy because we wouldn't give in to his aggressive begging. He was shouting and jeering at us until we saw a couple of coppers and we started walking towards them whereby he swiftly fucked off.
Fuck those people (the aggressive beggars, not the police).
There are other smaller incidents which have happened not directly to us, but have given us concern and we haven't been back for a while.
It's a shame because the city is pretty good generally and we used to visit once a month.
oliviaxlow@reddit
It’s a shame as I could see some parts are really cool looking. I was really shocked at the amount of homelessness I saw wandering around Bham, in contrast to where I live (Leeds). Maybe because it was ridiculously cold yesterday but the station was absolutely full of people begging, I probably saw about 20-30 people. When I arrived back home in Leeds I saw around 3-4 people in/around the station.
Common_Lime_6167@reddit
They recently put in a new seating area next to Pret which has already become full of druggies asking you for money
BigPecks@reddit
I went to Birmingham recently after not visiting for a few years and the number of homeless people in the city centre was depressing and sad.
DI-Try@reddit
When was the last time you were there? I only say that as I’ve always defended Birmingham, but I went there recently for the first time in about 3 years and I was really shocked and it made me feel rather sad. I think the council running out of money is apparent and it feels like it has gone off a cliff.
Lego-105@reddit
Lies. Was born there, my heritage is from there, loads of family there. I supposedly grew up in the nice place, and it is fucking grim. Absolutely horrible. There’s not a singly redeeming thing about it.
Even both my grandparents who grew up there hated it, resented being from there and all. In fact I don’t know a single person in my Brummie family that does like it. The only ones that are there are the ones that can’t afford to get out.
Went back myself properly to city centre for the commonwealth, and the entire time was thinking Jesus Christ, it would’ve been better off in Grimsby. Every time I go back something else happens or is visible that reminds me how forsaken of a city it is. Cannot stand the place, it is well and truly, a shithole. Anyone that says it’s underrated I can’t see having anything but a screw loose.
BottyFlaps@reddit
Jasper Carrott said it is a brilliant city, and I have no reason to think he was lying.
SamGreenaway@reddit
I got mugged three times walking through pigeon park to get to and from work, all at different times of the day/night so it’s not like I just needed to avoid it at night. Great place other than that though, moved away 12 years ago and miss getting the 94/590 into town sometimes.
ShotofHotsauce@reddit
Recently went to London for the first time and thought it looked the exact same as Birmingham just wth a big river.
Paul_my_Dickov@reddit
Agree. There's a lot of places that you should avoid in Birmingham. But honestly there's no real reason to be there anyway. The nicer areas are lovely.
Chimpville@reddit
The only real problem is the accent.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
I can almost guarantee you're thinking of the Black Country accent not the Birmingham accent. Both accents are fine.
I had the same stupid thought before I moved there.
Chimpville@reddit
What accent would I have experienced in Aston?
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
The cuzzy bro accent probably
Chimpville@reddit
It just isn’t a great accent all round mate. It’s not a case of mistaken identity.
Money-Atmosphere9291@reddit
The Asians there have great takeaways. Just don't buy any German cars from them.
WVA1999@reddit
If you like horrendous air quality, bankrupt council that cba'd to pay women equally, horrific brutal architecture and domination by a shopping centre then sure. Lovely place.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
This described almost every city and town centre in the UK.
WVA1999@reddit
Hardly
stinky-farter@reddit
Nah I've lived here 7 years it's a fucking slum.
The west midlands as a whole is stunning though, Solihull, lapworth, dorridge etc are beautiful towns and villages.
SirGeorgeAgdgdgwngo@reddit
Small Heath, Sparkbrook and other places around the centre are unkempt mainly due to the people who live there taking no pride I'm their environment. The rest of the city and bordering towns are actually pretty.
Plugpin@reddit
Lots of affluent towns between the cities in West Midlands. Going from Coventry to Birmingham on the side roads is like driving through a few different tax brackets and back down again lol.
stinky-farter@reddit
Yeah there really are some wealthy parts! I commute to London a few times a week and briefly considered moving to London as some parts were cheaper than where I wanted in the west midlands lol
VaguelyInteresting10@reddit
Some parts are actually very nice. Source: I'm from there.
TheZamboon@reddit
The accent alone makes me want to drive stakes into my skull, but you’re right it’s actually a decent place.
Comfortable--Box@reddit
It depends what part you go. Digbeth is rough as a badgers arse.
But I kind of agree. I was warned about Brum before moving nearby, but I've yet to have a problem with it, even when I've been alone as a woman. The people I've come to know in Brum are all sound.
No-Agent3916@reddit
Im from Brighton but used to go out in Birmingham a lot in the 90‘s and I loved it up there , great pubs and clubs back then , I found the people really friendly. My experiences don’t match its reputation at all.
coding_for_lyf@reddit
Nah Birmingham is a shithole. That city is the pits
StandardOffer9002@reddit
Amazing place if you like good beer and traditional pubs. (Well the wider conurbation, inc the black country)
DaveBeBad@reddit
Bradford might have the city itself, but it also has Saltaire and Haworth and a chunk of beautiful moorland.
Leeds has the city centre, and Otley, but also has little London and Seacroft.
EvilTaffyapple@reddit
Is Leeds a shit hole? I’ve not been in the centre of town for a while but it’s never been outright “shit”. There’s loads of nice places in town.
DaveBeBad@reddit
The city centre is great. I go often. But like most cities it has areas that are less good.
I worked for Leeds council 25 years ago and spent a year exploring the outlying suburbs. Large parts of it would be improved by a lot of TNT!
Seacroft, Osmanthorpe, Belle Isle, Little London, Chapeltown, and others were rough as anything in parts.
I regularly go to the Brudenell, and worry about parking my car on the streets there. But I’ve never heard of any trouble - it just looks rough.
Fun_Analysis6217@reddit
cardigan road is chilll tho
Fern-Brooks@reddit
Surprised you didn't say anything about harehills!
justcbf@reddit
What's not to like about Harehills???
When I was around 21 my mate lived there and bonfire night was a riot. Actually a fucking riot on Harehills Road that started near the Irish place. Then you go a couple of streets down to get away from it, and there's a bonfire across a road between two rows of terraces, house to house, with a group of teens each side throwing fireworks at each other over the fire.
ParsnipSnip90@reddit
Where in Leeds is good to live?
Hank_Wankplank@reddit
North or Northwest have the nicest areas. Chapel Allerton, Meanwood, Roundhay, Oakwood, Horsforth, Rawdon, Farsley, Rodley, Calverley all really nice.
DaveBeBad@reddit
I don’t live there, but near enough to visit. But roughly northwest or southeast of the city centre was the better areas iirc. Depends what you want of course - and budget.
And this might have changed. Check on r/Leeds or r/Yorkshire for more up to date info.
Trick-Station8742@reddit
Horsforth here. Originally from Newcastle
Leeds is amazing . Yes has really bad parts. Horsforth is really nice. Love it here.
DaveBeBad@reddit
Yes. Horsforth was nice. Wetherby, Otley, out in Wharfedale, Kirstall, Headingley (if you are younger), even Garforth and Oulton.
Roughly northwest and southeast are better, and southeast/northwest worse. But there are exceptions.
TheShakyHandsMan@reddit
The rough and good parts are circular in Leeds. The areas immediately outside the centre are to be avoided.
Not as bad as you get closer to the ring road. The nice parts are adjacent to the ring road on the whole.
TheRealFriedel@reddit
Get out of Bradford itself and it's very lovely. The actual town is completely awful.
Caribooteh@reddit
Broadway killed off whatever life was in the highstreet. It’s bleak now.
DaveBeBad@reddit
Even the city centre has some nice buildings. The Waterstones is fantastic.
DoctorOctagonapus@reddit
Haworth is gorgeous. Pain in the ass to get to but its worth it when you get there.
GeneralProof8620@reddit
Hull
False-Freedom@reddit
Notorious shithole, highly underrated:
Wolverhampton - The city centre itself isn't big enough to compete with major cities, but it's actually cleaned up a lot (even if a lot of the shops are struggling), and during the day you might find a few unsavoury characters but most people are friendly enough. Nightlife has in some ways improved with plenty of good bars (although again, not enough to compete with big cities). Just outside the city centre is risky, with areas such as Bilston and Ettingshall to the east, Heath Town and Low Hill to the north and Bushbury and Whitmore Reans to the west, but heading further out of the city there are some great suburbs and satellite towns on the doorstep of some great countryside (Wergs, Tettenhall, Pattingham, Codsall and Perton to the west, Castlecroft - home of Wolverhampton Rugby and a former RFU training centre to the south)
Birmingham - Getting past the beggars, the city centre is lively with a decent shopping centre, museums and plenty of good restaurants and bars. At last count, Birmingham boasts the most Michelin stars in the UK (outside of London) and had a growing reputation for having a great variety of street food (thanks largely to Digbeth Dining Club). The city used to have a reputation as a 'concrete jungle' due to the high number of brutalist buildings, but these have been replaced and the city redeveloped over the last few years (hopefully completed soon!). Digbeth is growing as a good place to go, used to be an industrial area but now home to a number of quirky bars, a cinema, recording studios and thanks to the success of Peaky Blinders, a TV/film studio. Still a work in progress, and has many rough parts (Ladywood, Lozells, Handsworth and Aston to name a few) but some beautiful green spaces just a short distance from the city centre (Sutton Park, Cannon Hill Park and the Lickey Hills) and more miles of canal than Venice
Considered great, actually a shithole:
London: Love the city, and would fall into 'great' if not for the fact that everything is overpriced, the city is overcrowded and people are generally unfriendly
Cardiff: Granted, I've only been there twice, but both times I've never understood the appeal - first time I went was to see the Uni, and it just looked run down, covered in graffiti (not even art, just tagged). The city centre itself had a few decent bars and restaurants etc, and Cardiff Bay and the Millennium Centre are impressive, but overall I just found it lacking, especially for a capital city. It may have changed since I went, it's probably been close to 10 years since I last visited so I can't judge too harshly
Stuf404@reddit
*Gestures broadly to all of the North East*
DavidW273@reddit
My answer was going to be Durham and a lot of the wider Co Durham area for the place considered great but is actually a hole.
Durham is beautiful, the countryside around it is lovely if you want an active lifestyle but there are so many areas that are forgotten about by the council. The city centre has sweet naff all except bars, pubs, and eateries, and a very limited range of stores. Public transport is awful - I moved away from the village I’m from for uni in 2011, returning for a short time in 2015. At that time, a return to Durham on the Arriva service (which ran once per hour and only from about half 7 in the morning to 9 at night), cost £6.80.
There are numerous neglected areas around Durham city centre, which house the stores that couldn’t survive the crippling rents of the city centre (I have friends who had to shut stores in the city as, per square metre, even the worse parts of the city were some of the most expensive in the northeast). Getting to these places, if you’re not driving, is a pain, as the buses to the areas they’re in don’t usually have places to stop near the stores. It’s not like you can easily walk there from the city centre, either, as the main retail parks around there are miles away up some flipping steep hills.
I moved to Sunderland in October 2015 because, as I’m unable to drive due to medical issues, I was unable to get to jobs from my parents village - I was turned down for a job at Starbucks because I couldn’t get there for 6:45am (I admitted in the interview that I couldn’t get there for even 7:45am). It is definitely not as picturesque as the majority of Co Durham but I have amenities here. I have three to four buses per hour to work from 4min along the road, I have four buses an hour to the city centre from the end of my street (1min walk), plus the local shops are open to 9pm. I don’t have the beauty of Co Durham (though Backhouse Park, not too far from where I live, is flipping beautiful), but I can manage without a car here - the one thing I’d have needed to survive in Co Durham.
OurManInJapan@reddit
Nobody has ever called Northumberland a shit hole, surely!
mr-seamus@reddit
Apart from Blyth and Ashington.
TheNDawg11@reddit
Hew!!
TheNDawg11@reddit
Hew!
LosWitchos@reddit
I remember taking the piss out of someone here for being from Newbiggin and they were all, "I'm from BLYTH actually" like it made it any better hahaha
HopeWolfie18@reddit
Bought my car from Blyth recently. Literal none stop issues. It’s going in to the garage next week with over £2k of fixes…
Deruji@reddit
Don’t forget biggin
impablomations@reddit
As someone living in Blyth, it's saving grace is that at least it's not Newbiggin. I probably wouldn't do well there as I have neither extra digits nor webbed toes.
mr-seamus@reddit
I have a friend who goes there every couple of weeks with her dogs because she likes "the vibe". She's from Essex though so maybe she's just reconnecting with something.
SilasMarner77@reddit
I’m from the northeast and I’ve met a few people from down south who visit/move to the northeast.
We do have some nice countryside tbf particularly the coastline. It’s generally cheaper other more popular areas of the UK plus the people here tend to be friendly and welcoming.
Conscious-Donut-679@reddit
80 mile of empty beaches, oh and only 3 warm sunny days a year, but that's a bonus otherwise we would have 80 miles of tourist hotels
Deruji@reddit
I don’t think of Essex and old pit downs depressed since the 80s mind..
mr-seamus@reddit
I meant it's near the sea! She lived in Southend.
pickindim_kmet@reddit
I went there for the first time in years this summer. I picked a really warm day and I don't know if I just went on a good day but it felt really pleasant! Not how I remember it at all!
cloud1445@reddit
I have. Never been there. I’m just a bit of a wanker.
Barry_Umenema@reddit
Just the urban bits
sbdart31@reddit
A former MP described Northumberland as "a desolate wasteland" when they were trying to push through a fracking bill.
I hope a lot of people listened and stay away so it doesn't get too crowded like the lake district does
Simple-Courage-3948@reddit (OP)
I would have said that (being from there), but I think the consensus is that Newcastle is great nightlife, Durham is pretty/historic and rural Northumberland is generally well regarded.
Maybe both of the shields/tynemouth are underrated, but how many outsiders have even heard of them?
UnimaginativeNameABC@reddit
I’m not from the North East and agree with everything here.
ChadlexMcSteele@reddit
Tynemouth/Cullercoats is lovely. If you're going to get me to agree to either Shields you're off your tree.
Simple-Courage-3948@reddit (OP)
Why? South shields by the coast is lovely, north shields is coming up in the world (slowly).
Hillbert@reddit
I'd say almost the entire coast north from Tynemouth is underrated.
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
I love these areas. The people are fantastic too
LordGeni@reddit
Redcar is lovely, as long as you stand on the edge of beach looking at the sea and don't turn around.
duncansoon@reddit
The north east as in Aberdeen in the context of UK or are you talking about the North of England
LewisMileyCyrus@reddit
All? No no
Shields Road in Byker looks like, feels like, and is a shithole. Sunderland n all.
Nosworthy@reddit
Sunderland? Parts on the outskirts are definitely, but Roker/Seaburn coast most certainly isn't. City centre is improving and better than most towns/cities of comparable size.
Willing-Confusion-56@reddit
True. Our beaches are incredible and the transformation of the city centre is amazing.
mr-seamus@reddit
I haven't been to the centre of Sunderland for about twenty years. I guess I would see a big difference?
Willing-Confusion-56@reddit
A huge difference. If you remember the area where idols was then that's flattened now and a new hot and bars and restaurants have been opened up. It's called keel square and is a big area for events etc. The bars are excellent. The fire station has been opened up as a bar and restaurant with a venue next door. A new city hall has opened up and looks great despite it's contents. A new footbridge is being built over to the sheepfold area which is now open as an entertainment venue. The area is really coming along nicely
SMTRodent@reddit
I am so, so glad for Sunderland natives. So long as they don't get priced out of their own city centre.
Willing-Confusion-56@reddit
The pubs can be a bit on the pricey side but it does keep the scratters away.
mr-seamus@reddit
Pleased to hear it, my overwhelming memory of Sunderland is from the 90s and early 2000s. Massive post industrial decline with the social problems that go with it. It was already sad to see because you could tell it was something altogether different in its day.
Mind I will say it is one of those places that never seems to get warm! Even on the sunniest days of summer it feels cold!
Willing-Confusion-56@reddit
When it's hot it's hot, especially over Roker and Seaburn which if you don't know have had massive overhauls and are stunning
5FabulousWeeks@reddit
There’s nowhere in Sunderland as rough as Byker or Benwell.
PM_me_your_PhDs@reddit
I had the pleasure of living on Shields Road for three years when I was at uni for the low price of 48 quid a week. It's just... grey and rubbish.
Jazzlike-Compote4463@reddit
This is generally true with the exception of Middlesbrough / Darlington - now, it's been a few years since I've been but - my god - it was grim.
ShiteCrack@reddit
Northeast gets a bad rap. Beautiful areas across it but some absolute shitholes as well. Those who visit Durham cathedral will have a different view of it to those who have to venture into the fiery pits of Eldon.
Embarrassed_Fox5265@reddit
I live in Guisborough, which is lovely. I work 20 minutes away in Middlesbrough, which is mostly grim. But a lot of the surrounding area (Saltburn, Whitby, Great Ayton) are also lovely.
Ok_Entrepreneur_739@reddit
Yeah, Durham is obviously lovely. Parts of the Durham coast are delightful. Some pretty scenery in County Durham. But blackhall? Peterlee? Rural poverty is really tough and grim.
feebthequeen@reddit
Typing this in Horden, sat at my place of work with police after a break in, can confirm
bucket_of_frogs@reddit
*blackhole
Miserable-Avocado-87@reddit
Coming from someone who used to live in Peterlee, can confirm!
ShiteCrack@reddit
Peterlee & blackhall look like Paris & Venice compared to good old Gurney Valley
/s
bucket_of_frogs@reddit
Eldon. Coronation. Shildon. Bishop Auckland.
County Durham has 100 shitholes for every perfect gem.
Brancepeth Village, Castle Eden, High Shincliffe. All lovely little places. Not to mention Durham city.
SlothBirdBeard@reddit
Yes, Aberdeen is great.
protonmagnate@reddit
Coming from London, for all the shite people talk about the north east, I recently did a weekend break in Newcastle and was shocked. The streets were so clean and we had great meals out, and the waterfront area is beautiful. I thought it would be so grim but it looks like Japan compared to London in terms of cleanliness.
exitstrats@reddit
We like to keep you all away so we get all the delights to ourselves ;)
protonmagnate@reddit
Apparently so! Geordies are so delightful as well, so many genuinely nice people up there. I couldn't live up there I don't think (London's too cold for me as it stands) but I'm definitely going to visit again soon.
Mac4491@reddit
**of England
Aberdeenshire, the true north east, is a beautiful part of the country.
Chemical_Film5335@reddit
What's wrong with Aberdeenshire?
supersayingoku@reddit
Is this true? I loved every time I went to the North East but then again I was just visiting.
To be honest, I think it's better than NW
Extension_Drummer_85@reddit
There are some bits of rural Rutland, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire etc that are very lovely (rural being the key word there).
The most overrated place in the U.K. is probably Brighton, it's just awful, I don't understand the fuss.
Cute-Bat-9855@reddit
central London is shit, but no where near as shit as people make out.
CCFC1998@reddit
South Wales Valleys - particularly towns like Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Cwmbran etc.
Beautiful scenery, tight-knit communities, bargain house prices & COL if you're working a decently paid job in Cardiff, public transport is a lot better than it used to be (not universal)
GordonBuckley@reddit
I've been all around the world from L.A to Japan, never found a place with parking quite like Cwmbran
Cainer666@reddit
How is the weather to deal with, does the rain get to you?
Wonderful_Cat9657@reddit
Don't give it away! Even more of the fuckers are going to come and price everyone out as usual. Vermin
CCFC1998@reddit
For any vermin looking to make the move, you should definitely try out the Gurnos estate or Port Talbot
BritishBlitz87@reddit
I like port Talbot
CCFC1998@reddit
Someone has to I suppose
Lulovesyababy@reddit
Transport for Wales is very well priced if you use their Pay as you go.
Real_Science_5851@reddit
Brum.
If you go to the wrong areas (read: best areas for food), yes, it can be a bit underwhelming, but there's so much more to the Second City than just that, and Town (central Brum) is rapidly evolving. Beyond that, the city's got more canals than Venice (!) and many of the suburbs are stunningly beautiful in a leafy, wide-roaded way.
You want posh? Go to Royal Sutton Coldfield in the north. Want a hike? Lickey Hills in the south. Fancying the world capital? London's a two hour drive away - or even less by train. Perhaps you wanna go for a day trip to another big city? Liverpool, Mancs, Leeds, Sheffield or Bradford in the north, Leicester to the east and Bristol or even Cardiff in the south, all within about a 2-hour journey! And so is Snowdonia!
Perfect positioning in England, Second City, rapidly moving forward, wide roads, green suburbs, fabulous food.
Current-Ad1688@reddit
Loads of canals (who doesn't love a dirty canal) and it's easy to leave. You're selling it as well as possible, but you're still not selling it.
Hazeygazey@reddit
What makes you think Birminghams canals are dirty?
Current-Ad1688@reddit
Not necessarily dirtier than any other canals. Canals are dirty generally. Like they're fine I guess. I don't hate them or anything, but I equally don't like them. I'm pretty neutral on canals. Number of canals wouldn't be top of my list when deciding on somewhere to live is what I'm saying.
Current-Ad1688@reddit
"I love the house, I love the area, everyone seems really friendly, the architecture is beautiful, and there is a wealth of cultural activity."
"OK, great. Sounds like we have a deal!"
"I just have one more question... how many canals are there in the area?"
"oh do you own a barge?"
"nope!"
Real_Science_5851@reddit
It's a cool thing to consider (more canals than Venice, a city known solely for them!) Hardly improves living at all and it isn't about that either
Real_Science_5851@reddit
Lucky that you aren't a potential customer then
BeardySam@reddit
Yeah, and just to go some way to explain why this is: Birmingham is massive, so purely statistically it’s not all shit!
There is this prevailing belief that the entire greater Birmingham area is full of cave people.
Personally I think it’s because we never had our own regional soap opera. Back in the 80s you had Corrie, Eastenders etc and you got to hear regional accents from BBC presenters too. But the BBC has steadfastly refused to hire brummy accents, so they don’t get the same airtime. Until Adrian Chiles that is.
StrollingInTheStatic@reddit
Wasn’t Crossroads set in/around there?
BeardySam@reddit
True, forgot that one - however it was always panned by critics and the media
anotherbozo@reddit
Bracknell
YesIAmRightWing@reddit
Bradford.
It's a shitole
But the currys are amazing
rapafon@reddit
I drive through Bradford and Halifax every once in a while and sometimes I turn into streets that make me wonder if I'm still in the UK, it looks more like a post-apocalyptic war zone.
And then you have some absolutely stunning areas with mansions not far, it's bonkers.
nothinghamberder@reddit
Agree. Was at Uni there back in the 80's, and loved it. Very cheap place to live and be a student. Have many great memories of my time there.
Unfortunately, went back to visit on a weekend in January a couple of years back. The place is an absolute shithole. The whole area around the Uni, from Great Horton Road, South and East to Dirkhill Road, Easby Road, Morley Street is terrible. The old halls Revis Barber and Dennis Bellamy on Laisteridge Lane are literally falling down and looked like something out of a post apocalyptic movie set.
Walking down Morley Street past what used to be Pickwicks is awful, abandoned cars, uncollected rubbish everywhere.
I mean it wasn't a beautiful place when I was there, but it has gone so far down hill now. Probably won't be going back again!
YesIAmRightWing@reddit
I went to Uni there as well back in the 2010s.
It wasn't too bad then tbh, but now I just avoid it like the plague.
JustInChina50@reddit
I was at uni there in the 90s, as long as you kept the level of drink and / or drugs in your system high enough it was alright.
WeirdTop2371@reddit
Funny you say that they are filming that 100 years later movie at Richard dunns the old sport centre. Even the film industry agrees it's post apocalyptic round here.
Indomie_At_3AM@reddit
I used to live in BD11 which is a “white” part of Bradford on the outskirts. The curries were genuinely world class
InevitableFox81194@reddit
True... but an amazing Waterstones..
RenegadeUK@reddit
Amazing currys probably have that effect on alot of people hence the reason for it being a .........LOL
danddersson@reddit
It's Dixons now.
MissionFig5582@reddit
As an Australian, Bradford is the worst place I've been in the UK. Perhaps even the world.
Visited the Salts Mill/Hockney Gallery - absolutely wonderful. Driving in and out I saw absolutely dire scenes.
MrFeatherstonehaugh@reddit
The city is a shithole, but Saltaire, Ilkley, Haworth and countless small dales villages are all technically Bradford and all lovely.
ZonePleasant@reddit
We've got amazing food and take aways and some nice nature to walk. Just stay away from everything else.
WebDevWarrior@reddit
Hilarious that the only positive of Bradford ends up being something that in a shithole also eventually explodes out of your shithole.
YesIAmRightWing@reddit
Deliciously ironic.
arfski@reddit
It must have changed since the 80s, or I had a kids rose-tinted glasses veiw. Some bits were run-down, Windhill was a bit rough, Odsal etc. I lived in Frizinghall, where I did a paper round as well, so knew a lot of the area. It seemed to be better than when we moved to Gillingham, which did seem to be a shithole!
Zal_17@reddit
Dunno, staff at Forster Square Retail Park tried adding on an extended warranty when I went in to buy a toaster. Ended up costing me twice as much
MobiusNaked@reddit
Yeah I prefer Richer Sounds and AO for white goods. ;)
cankennykencan@reddit
Just cancel the warranty after you leave the shop. You have 14 days to cancel it.
When I buy a car and get the warranty as part of a deal to get the car cheaper, I leave the showroom get home and ring up to cancel the warranty
aezy01@reddit
Why did that take me so long…?
honesteejit@reddit
Derry and the west of Northern Ireland.
PhonicUK@reddit
Swindon. It's very walkable, very cycle friendly in parts, lots of underpasses so you don't have to cross traffic. It's actually a very family-friendly town in many ways. It's well connected to the M4 with lots of things to do nearby. It's biggest problem frankly is there's not much to do in the town itself save for the leisure parks.
Accomplished-Fold42@reddit
Wales.
KhakiFletch@reddit
Leicester sounds like it should be lovely with a medieval old town, but it's actually a dystopian, brutalist shit hole. Even the bits that should be nice are mainly covered in graffiti and full of takeaways and barber shops.
DoftheG@reddit
Luton and Burnley
Dangerous-Regret-358@reddit
I'm from Luton, and now live near Burnley. Actually, both towns are pretty decent even if they aren't all that pretty.
No-Feature1072@reddit
Hastings
rivoli130@reddit
Was scrolling looking for this 😊 Hastings is awesome.
Bigluce@reddit
Luton. Sorry but I've driven through a couple of times and it just looked so rundown.
Dangerous-Regret-358@reddit
I'm a born and bred Lutonian, but moved to Calderdale nearly ten years ago. A couple of years ago I went back. It has changed so much and I agree that is is now very run down.
That said, the people are lovely, and there is a strong civic pride, despite all the problems. I'm still proud of my home town though.
ViscountessdAsbeau@reddit
Considered OK but really a shithole - Melton Mowbray. The whole of Leicestershire, in fact. Grim.
Considered a shithole but underrated? Hull. Well, the city centre. The 18th/19thc buildings have a certain grandeur. Like it was once as rich as the Northern wool towns, which spent obscene amounts of money on city centre architecture. Got a great Art Gallery. And the Wilberforce House Museum and Maritime Museums are amongst the best I have ever been in.
blu_riot@reddit
Melton is actually a nice town with loads of friendly people. It has it's not so people like everywhere does, but I've never felt unsafe there.
Leicester isn't bad, just mid.
The Leicestershire countryside is lovely with some absolutely charming villages and small businesses like farm cafes etc.
ViscountessdAsbeau@reddit
Ah no, it's subjective maybe but I find it to be bland and boring countryside and the Melton people I've known (for decades) were all vile - a bunch of crooks. Is my in-laws though so maybe it's in-law tax.
Doctor_Fegg@reddit
Really? Melton's fine. Harborough's actively pleasant. Leicester city centre is pretty good. Some of the rural east of the county is genuinely lovely.
I'd happily never go back to Coalville or Hinckley, though.
Successful_Fish4662@reddit
As an American I don’t get the hate on Leicester. My mother’s family is from there (well a little town outside of Leicester called Glenfield) so I’ve spent a weird amount of time there and I think Leicester has tons of little gems and Leicestershire as a whole has some cute villages. People always tell me it’s a complete shit hole but I don’t get it…it seems fine to me?
ViscountessdAsbeau@reddit
Nope. Undeemable shithole.
ViscountessdAsbeau@reddit
I know Leicester itself, some of the surrounding villages (Syston, and round that way) and Melton Mowbray really well and they always seem deeply ugly - maybe made worse by the unfriendliness of the locals. I used to live in a "rough" inner city and had no problem travelling around at night on my own but the thugs wandering round them little market towns at night can be truly terrifying. Mind you, my in laws live in Leicestershire and they're dog rough so maybe they gave me a bad impression. I lived in the West Mids for years and visited East Mids constantly for years and the contrast between ther two was really noticeable - West Mids way more friendly and the people nicer, at least, even if the scenery was grim.
Positive_Fix6610@reddit
An interesting take on Melton Mowbray. I definitely get it, but stating that the whole of Leicestershire is grim is a bit wild.
GrrrlRi0t@reddit
Medway. Such lovely places there but everyone from there acts like it's poor victorian London lol with shit flying out windows and workhouses. Chatham and Gillingham are fairly grim in alot of places, I feel very unsafe in Gills at night and Chatham is full of degenerates and crackheads but I don't feel especially unsafe there and the night life is okay. Big up Tap n Tin lol. Rochester is just gorgeous, spent alot of my teenage years there as my best mate lived in Borstal and was hands down the best place for teenagers to hang out. But people who live there act like it's terrible!!
Forsaken_Instance_18@reddit
Bradford food is world class, but otherwise a shithole
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Probably not a popular opinion but: Cornwall.
The seaside and landscape is quite pretty, but it is one of the poorest counties in the UK, high unemployment, a lot of social issues (drugs, etc) and really poor housing stock. If you go and visit as a tourist and just see the shiny exterior in the height of summer - you might miss it, but off-season - when there's no work and the weather is miserable and all the businesses are shut...it's a pretty nothing-y place :(
Dangerous-Regret-358@reddit
And it's a bugger to get to.
kendalthrowaway@reddit
Created a throwaway to say Kendal is a steaming shithole, full of angry white people who think the world owes them a living and who are so insular they can't even cope when people from other parts of the North move there. They hate anyone from anywhere outside of Kendal, in a weird kind of reverse snobbery, but even worse they then refer to themselves as "Kendalians".
KerenzaUK@reddit
Penzance
AmaroisKing@reddit
Definitely Birmingham.
Soldarumi@reddit
You know what. I am in Belfast today for work. It is spotless. The Christmas markets are starting to come out. There are decorations and the locality feels jovial (apart from those wee Ned bastards who are fucking about at the traffic lights.)
I think Belfast gets a bad rap, with the graffiti and the homeless, but I think it's lovely in this cold weather. I've got a warm fire going, a pint, and I'm happy as Larry.
gfofsingledad@reddit
Bowness-on-Windermere. Chavviest prettiest place in the UK.
durkheim98@reddit
Newport. Everyone knows it's a hole but it has character.
xian0@reddit
Sure like a damp dark pirate cove. If you win the coin toss over the barrel at the back on the bar you might get to have the first punch.
FridayGeneral@reddit
Which Newport? There are more than a dozen Newports in UK.
https://www.quora.com/How-many-towns-in-Britain-are-called-Newport
betjurassicican@reddit
None of these, you’ve linked to a list of towns when he’s talking about the city, but I think you knew that already
FridayGeneral@reddit
None of these? What other Newport is there, apart from the ones in the list?
My list included a city, hun. And he made no indication he was talking about a city.
How could I have possibly known that already?
REidreed@reddit
I went to uni in Newport and stayed for a good few years after. I really liked the place. I've not been in years now but I'd love to go back.
durkheim98@reddit
Yeah I don't mind it at all. Also the way things are going over the bridge in Bristol, it's refreshing in a weird way. Cheap pints, less wankers swanning around in dungarees.
PaintingJams@reddit
I recently went to Newport for a wedding, I shall not be returning haha
Lulovesyababy@reddit
Came here to see if anyone would mention Newport. I grew up in Cardiff but live here currently and I'll say; lots of green areas within walking distance, beaches, S.Wales valleys and forests a short drive away, reasonably priced housing (for now ...) super nice people and great connections to the rest of South Wales, the West Country, Midlands, London and Manchester.
reocoaker@reddit
I cannot believe the reputation Brighton has as this delightful seaside retreat. Maybe if you live in the extremely rich part, the majority of Brighton is an absolute dump though.
ruggersyah@reddit
Brighton is a shithole
bowak@reddit
I lived there for a couple of years from 201= and while I liked living there, I can still rant clearly remember how surprised I was at how shabby the centre was compared to my expectations. It was a lot closer to getting like Blackpool than I bargained for.
LonelyOldTown@reddit
People have slagged off Hull for as long as I can remember but me and my mates went for football and had a blast.
Ubistiff@reddit
Can we show love to Liverpool, I’m a Londoner and I stayed there for 3 months in 2021. The nicest people u will ever meet I LOVE LIVERPOOL ❤️
BigBadVern@reddit
Luton is well served by central and reasonably priced parking
Brave_Minimum9741@reddit
My area is considered a local shit hole. People move out of the surrounding areas into this one for one reason. Lower housing prices. Myself similar and I also work at a popular public facility in the area. So I've gotten to know ALOT of people living here.
The only thing I miss. Was being better linked for a social life. Now that it's an extra bit of travel to get here, I get less people willing to visit.
But the shops around here are amazing. Cheap freezer shops with bulk buy deals. B stock outlets for clothing bedding and other bits. And it's all within a good walking distance. Aswell as the beach. The people around here are generally a bit rougher, but by no means are they stupid. There are some scrote bags, ex cons, nonces, thugs and gangs. But I've been shook by how down to earth, how humble the majority of them are. They're more accepting of people who aren't as capable. Because people who've fallen on their arse end up here. I love it.
FlickeryVisionnn@reddit
Where’s your area you never said?
SAA1989@reddit
Honestly, Wetherspoons.
acorn298@reddit
Luton. The jewel of England 👌🏼
SheilaUK63@reddit
Stoke-on-Trent. The city itself is a shit hole an absolute dump if I had it my way we'd remove my hometowm from the face of the earth, it has no future and will only get shitter and shitter as time goes on.
However its location also makes it rather underrated. Only an hour from Brum and Manchester, close to Liverpool, short trip to chester and wales. Theres also some fabtastic countryside around us plenty of places to go for walks, bouldering and climbing. If the people at the top would only invest correctly in the town and gave up on our historic pottery roots and just let that side of the town die we would be set.
crankyteacher1964@reddit
Swansea used to be pretty ghastly but may have improved. A lot of hate for Bradford, but I was quite fond of the place. Great curries...
royalblue1982@reddit
I get the impression that large parts of Liverpool are a shithole, but the bits that aren't are really nice.
Lastaria@reddit
The bad impression of Liverpool comes from the Nirth of the city which is far more deprived. That is where also the football grounds are so lots of visitors for the matches just see those and go off describing Liverpool based on those areas.
The south of Liverpool has a lot of middle class areas and far more green spaces and there is a lot of beauty. Also the city centre is pretty fabulous as a great walking city with some incredible architecture , museums, theatres, shops etc.
People who visit Liverpool often love it so negative impressions of the city are quite unfair.
TheIllRip@reddit
Love Liverpool and the other great northern English cities like Newcastle and Manchester.
As a Glaswegian there’s always a sense of familiarity when I visit.
The Scousers and Geordies I’ve met are very much like the folk back home.
Warm and funny people.
RedManUK@reddit
As a Scouser, I can happily say there's a mutual feeling when we're up your way.
Wessex-90@reddit
I live in the Wirral and I LOVE Liverpool. I’m originally from Dorset and raised in NZ for context.
Repulsive-Life7362@reddit
No. You live ON the Wirral. To say ‘in’ the Wirral is considered blasphemy on the paradise peninsula.
Wessex-90@reddit
Oh no! I must absolve myself of my sins 🙈😱
Repulsive-Life7362@reddit
You must. We take this seriously.
TheMrViper@reddit
I would argue it's not just the north, the actual city centre is almost completely surrounded with shithole residential areas. Everton, Kensington, Toxteth.
nl325@reddit
I've been a few times and even the supposedly nicer bits were a bit shit imo.
The city centre really needs a spruce up.
ClingerOn@reddit
Get to fuck
SilyLavage@reddit
It had a massive spruce up in preparation for being European Capital of Culture in 2008, and that continued for a few years afterwards. The state of the public realm has definitely taken a dip since, though.
KeyLog256@reddit
Liverpool was pretty rough when I was a kid in the 90s. My dad managed to get a good enough job we moved to Cheshire (not the posh bit admittedly) and then the Wirral.
In the last 20 or so years its undergone a huge transformation in the city centre. It's gone a bit more rough on a night out since places like Cream and Circus shut down (both still running but neither an actual "club" in the city now) but I still feel way safer in Liverpool after dark on a Friday or Saturday than in Chester (see my Chester rant).
Even some of the rougher estates in the outskirts aren't as bad as they used to be - Croxteth, Norris Green, Huyton, Speke, and so on, all had major gun crime problems in the 00s and it wasn't hardened gangsters, it was teenagers fighting and shooting over postcodes. The police founded the Matrix squad and I think even got some high up New York or Chicago "cop" in to sort the problem out, and you don't see it much at all anymore. Still estates you wouldn't want to walk through at night along, especially if you're a young lad as local teenagers might think you're "on their patch" but otherwise it's largely fine.
dvhunter_16@reddit
Really surprised you find Liverpool less dodgy than Chester. I’m Scouse and a frequent visitor to Chester and whilst I found it was a bit dodgy at night, it always seemed perfectly safe! That’s just my experience though
Some-Air1274@reddit
I was impressed with the architecture and shopping there!
SentientWickerBasket@reddit
Yeah. I can't see it being the best impression for visitors to the city when they come to see the footy and go through Anfield or Everton. Yech.
LFC clearly needs to build a stadium in Aigburth.
haze-der@reddit
Or the council just needs to put funding into areas that need it instead of building new cycle lanes around town! It’s literally a no brainer considering how much tourism the football brings to those areas
SentientWickerBasket@reddit
This isn't the answer to everything. You can pour good money into a place but if the people who live there still fly tip and get absolutely shitfaced in the street and let their dogs shit everywhere it's still going to be a terrible area.
haze-der@reddit
I used to live in Anfield, and it’s not usually the locals causing the mess. A lot of the fly-tipping is done by people coming from other areas. Plus, the council hasn’t provided enough bins or proper waste services, which makes it harder to keep things clean. It’s more of a council issue than a problem with the people who live there. If the council prioritized proper funding and infrastructure, it would make a massive difference.
skrabbles@reddit
Hugely underrated because of old stereotypes. I'm a converted Southener and everyone who visits us loves it
NrthnLd75@reddit
See also, Bristol
AbjectWillingness845@reddit
5-10 years I'd have said Croydon, but since the Westfield fiasco killing the high street, it is actually shit now.
Heelsvsbabyface@reddit
Hull.
Home of William Wilberforce who ended slavery in the UK. Visit his home.
jonno1805@reddit
I used to work offshore and spent a disproportion amount of time in Hull. I love the place, great pubs, craft beer bars, it's extremely reasonably priced. You can get good food for nothing money wise. Yes there are rougher bits but it's a proper underrated place.
Montague-Withnail@reddit
The pubs are fantastic... I'd go so far as to say it's the best city in the UK for a pub crawl in my opinion, and I will die on that hill.
Honey-Badger@reddit
Ummmm not really. Firstly just to be a pedant, we never had slavery in the UK, you mean the slave trade within the British Empire. Also whilst he was an absolute legend and had some great speeches in parliament he didn't actually end the British slave trade, he was one of original supports of the abolition movement within the Empire but he was long out of office and dead by the time we actually ended the slave trade.
Dinsdaleart@reddit
My hometown and I grew up on Bransholme as well as living there for 28+ years. It got bombed to shit during ww2 being the second most attacked and 90% of the city got damaged with a lot of the old buildings being utterly wiped out which is a real tragedy when you see pre war pictures of it. There's still some beautiful places - the old town especially, but it's also massively deprived and has taken a while to regenerate itself after a lot of industry was lost post ww2. I genuinely believe it would have prospered in a similar fashion to more renowned cities like Leeds or Sheffield if it hadn't pretty much been flattened by that one balled Austrian tosser.
ScottOld@reddit
Yea it’s not very big, 60-70% of the town centre has lovely architecture
lollybaby0811@reddit
I wish this wasn't the selling point you went for. In my first week at uni in hull lost in the town centre a lady said this to me, I cringed so hard.
Hull has a lot of charm, a lot of gems. Enjoyed my time there a lot
bencheucheu@reddit
went to Uni there as well, as a foreigner student,
That was fun
barrythecook@reddit
It's my home town and nowhere near as bad as people make out, except the job market here is awful the actual town people are generally quite friendly I don't get much grief and I'm a non passing trans person living in the town centre.
ChadlexMcSteele@reddit
I grew up near Hull in the 90s and used to occasionally go in on a Saturday. I'm glad it's had investment because it genuinely was one of the worst places I've ever been.
PaintingJams@reddit
I was pleasantly surprised by Hull. I also found it to be surprisingly clean compared to pretty much any other city I've visited
Gow87@reddit
Don't tell people. They'll all come and visit!
I've never felt unsafe here, it's cheap, there's some amazing food. It could benefit from a few more things to do, but it's getting there.
Jordment@reddit
Manchester - people say it has a dark reputation, but that's all in the past. The city centre is a fantastic place which gives this disabled man freedom, culture, good food, and belonging. I've even had my phone returned intact 2 or 3 times after losing it (hint people are good but keep your address and number inside / on your case somehow)
Relative_Heat_1488@reddit
Bournemouth.
Nice little seaside old-person town with some uni kids, you'd think.
I've seen less crime living in south London.
Easy-Objective6011@reddit
I'll have to respectively disagree. Statistically Bournemouth has more crime than other parts of Dorset (well by far the highest!), but is relatively safe compared with the UK overall and crime is currently on a downward trajectory.
I love this town. We have our issues like anywhere else, but it doesn't deserve the reputation it's currently getting.
Latter_North_4964@reddit
Bristol- total dump. But yet people love it.
West-Ad-1532@reddit
West Yorkshire apart from the nice bits of Leeds. Honestly a dump, the infrastructure is as ancient as the people living there and their customs.. Lancashire has places like Burnely, Crewe etc, it's the same. Those Northern mill towns are delinquent.
blurdyblurb@reddit
What a load of rubbish
West-Ad-1532@reddit
Yep there's lots of rubbish...😂😂👌
blurdyblurb@reddit
Enjoy MK! Don't get lost...
West-Ad-1532@reddit
Why would I get lost???
Manchestergirl901@reddit
I work in London and would choose the North anyway. York, Edinburgh and the Lake District are chefs kiss
bonkerz1888@reddit
Aberdeen.
Nah just kidding, it's earned it's shitehole tag. Genuinely the most miserable place in Scotland.
Convivial-Bon-Viveur@reddit
Ah you’re so poorly travelled and blinkered
DeusExPir8Pete@reddit
Worcester has a reputation for being a bit of a shithole (and contrary to popular belief, Worcester is not totally submerged when it floods, only about 50m near the river, and the flood plain with the ring road running through it), but actually we have a thriving town centre, because the council wisely kept parking really cheap, a market, a thriving art festival with worcester music festival, festival of lights, carnival etc.
I know I am biased but when I go to surrounding towns, like Kiddie, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Evesham, and even Cheltenham I always think they look really run down, with nothing but vape and betting shops.
Shoddy-Computer2377@reddit
Hereford is awful. Honestly the most stressful driving experience I've had in the UK because the roads make no sense at all.
Happy_Craft14@reddit
I dunno, I wouldn't say that Worcester is a shithole but there's hardly fuck all to do here and I'm saying that as someone who is living there
Littleloula@reddit
Yeah Worcester is really nice for all the reasons you said. Cheltenham is a lot less posh than people think although it does have some very nice parts. I think it used to be a lot more grand than it is now
Original_Papaya7907@reddit
We went to Worcester for a girly weekend as it was convenient for everyone to travel to- we didn’t know what to expect and we had a great time! Lots of nice independent shops, coffee shops, bars, pubs, restaurants as well as some decent chain ones. The cathedral is beautiful and well worth a visit. We had a lovely relaxed time, great accommodation and it’s small enough to walk everywhere.
DeusExPir8Pete@reddit
Thank you!
sleeperweeper@reddit
Birmingham. Actually nicer and more to do than the vast majority of cities in the U.K. after London
Shoddy-Computer2377@reddit
Birmingham City Council is the largest unitary authority in Europe.
Birmingham is (or at least was) the UK's youngest city.
MrLubricator@reddit
First time I ever went to Birmingham, a kid threw a brick at the side of the bus I was on.
sleeperweeper@reddit
Pretty standard affair for anywhere that’s a built up community in the U.K.
Codders94@reddit
Recently went to Birmingham for the first time to view some puppies, entered what appeared to be fairly typical housing estate but it was brimmed full of lads in very expensive cars visibly dealing (must of been good gear if for a early 20 something to be sat in a brand new range rover SVR), and loads of groups of people on dirt bikes & quads riding all over the roads/paths.
I've quite literally never seen anything like it before! I obviously appreciate that this was not happening in the city centre, is anecdotal and is only reflective of the housing estate that I visited on that given day.
sleeperweeper@reddit
Welcome to any big city
Codders94@reddit
I've just checked my old whatsapp messages, it was a B27 postcode. So a place called Tyseley?
Real_Science_5851@reddit
It's a semi-industrial, rather impoverished area, amongst the worst of Brum
I'd say most big cities' such areas would lead to such experiences, honestly!
Codders94@reddit
I did suspect it wasn’t a particularly nice area, but there we go. Yep, totally agree, most cities will have areas like that. Just happened to be my first and only visit to brum!
coding_for_lyf@reddit
Birmingham is fucking shit lol
Ok-Budget112@reddit
Most of the small towns through central Scotland. Paisley, Hamilton, Airdrie, M’well, EK, Livingston…..
These are all actually really nice and relatively dirt cheap places to live. People here though think they are shitholes.
Having lived in the south of England for 20+ years it was such a culture shock moving back. People at work could not fathom that I had left Oxford to live in Airdrie. I’m not saying there aren’t social issues here and inequality, but for some reason it’s hidden in a way that you don’t notice it anything like you do down south.
Convivial-Bon-Viveur@reddit
The novel This Is Memorial Device makes 1980s Airdrie and Coatbridge sound like the coolest places in Western Europe
PaperWeightGames@reddit
Bristol is SUPER popular with teens and well paid middle class folk. It is however full of rodents, trash continually lines the streets, the quality of the VERY expensive eating out is very hit and miss, and I've paid £16+ for pizza at an Italian restaurant to get a burnt or sloppy mess of microwaved mush, happened in 3 different restaurants now.
In the most expensive areas where the rent for an apartment can be £2k+ per month, the streets are poorly maintained, with potholes, dilapidated pavements and sewage submerging the pavement any time it rains for more than 30 minutes.
In the poor areas, there's no law; park where you like, do what you like, fly tip, public nuisance, whatever.
I wouldn't say the city is a shithole, but from the best to the worst areas, overall, it consistently smells quite bad, is messy (the street cleaners put their hours for sure, but the problem is the drinking culture), and I'd say there's a lot of depression too.
The cherry on top is that among all this, there's a large population of well-off middle class people who generally seem completely blind to all of this, or at least completely unconcerned with paying quite a lot of money for really poor quality housing and environment.
But it has like... places to pay £16 for a cocktail, so it's all worth it.
Convivial-Bon-Viveur@reddit
“Trash” 🤢
excforyrahd@reddit
Bristol is a lot better than most of the UK tho. A lot of shit holes out there unfortunately
No-Body-4446@reddit
Blackpool isn't the dystopian hellhole Reddit insists it is.
Ok, its run down, and some of the streets have certainly seen better days from its heyday before cheap flights. But there is not a single town or city that doesn't have this. And the former cheap hotels sadly have become HMO's for folk with addictions and whatnot.
But there are very few towns that offer as much to do as Blackpool, Tower, 3 piers, waxworks, zoo, amusements, theme park, tramway, promenade, donkeys just literally off the top of my head.
The weather I think also contributes to people's experience in blackpool. You got on a sunny day its a great day out. However it is on the lancashire coast so a large portion of the year its windy, cold and wet.
LegoNinja11@reddit
Going to be honest the town centre and promenade are looking very run down. There's not many parts that look appealing.
Visited in the spring for the weekend, didn't spend much time out but approached directly by three people in the space of an hour begging.
Kids and Mrs didn't feel safe at all.
LegoNinja11@reddit
Going to be honest the town centre and promenade are looking very run down. There's not many parts that look appealing.
Visited in the spring for the weekend, didn't spend much time out but approached directly by three people in the space of an hour begging.
Kids and Mrs didn't feel safe at all.
MrsKebabs@reddit
Blackpool will always be special to me. It's the place of childhood innocence and adulthood not so innocence
Leonardo_Liszt@reddit
Come on now, you can’t ignore the MASSES of derelict boarded up buildings, they’re everywhere. Of course it’s not without its charm, but on the whole it’s a poverty stricken, drug fueled, poor man’s Las Vegas. If you catch the weather right I’m sure you could have a nice day out but I’d go as far to say there’s not many worse places to live in the country
darkdark1221@reddit
When I visited Blackpool it felt like half the buildings were derelict
Scary-Specialist7297@reddit
Ahhh the city of a thousand dreams
Powerful_Housing7035@reddit
Belfast.
Non of the violence here is at street level, so coming as a tourist is lovely
meinnit99900@reddit
I had a really good time in Belfast, it’s certainly not the most stunning place on earth BUT the people are a laugh and everyone was really nice to us- it’s a fun night out! We went to Dublin the day after and tbh I mostly found myself wishing I was back in Belfast so we ended up spending the rest of the trip there.
Shoddy-Computer2377@reddit
Dublin is an absolute bin. Even the Irish hate it.
Belfast was a huge surprise and not what I expected at all.
User-mine@reddit
I was going to suggest Derry
fletcheros@reddit
Recently visited Belfast. Lovely place. Much nicer than I was expecting.
RadiantCrow8070@reddit
The druggies hanging about castle court every day off their heads really bring a touch of class
Powerful_Housing7035@reddit
Compared to British cities I think Belfasts street drug problem isn't as bad.
RadiantCrow8070@reddit
We have the para's to thank for that. keeping order
EntrepreneurAway419@reddit
Who are also selling the drugs to them
Powerful_Housing7035@reddit
1 PARA adjutant Mike Jackson whose men killed 14 on Bloody Sunday is dead (derryjournal.com)
Nothing to be proud of. Scum of the earth.
RadiantCrow8070@reddit
I mean paramilitaries haha.
But also should not be proud of them
giganticbuzz@reddit
Yeah totally agree, Belfast is a great city and was so much nicer than I expected.
W1CKERM4N@reddit
See I think it’s the opposite, everyone keeps saying how great it is…but I find the place fucking dire and completely void of anything. Feel like it took a downward spiral as soon as the thirsty goat and all that shit started opening.
Before I get shat on from a great height, I’m originally from there. Just feel like Belfast which once was great has lost all its character.
Powerful_Housing7035@reddit
TBF I havent been on a night out here since Covid, but going around the town during the day I never see much trouble other than the odd junkie, never more than a group of 3-5.
W1CKERM4N@reddit
Fair play man, doubt you’re missing much 😂 even Kelly’s now is part of the big conglomerate of pubs owned by a few…though you honestly never get any trouble in Belfast unless your looking for it, worst you get is a few lads drinkin baricks on a bench or some clown kicking about off his tits near the europa bus station. It’s safe these days just devoid of decent things to do now in my opinion.
SephtonDribbletwat@reddit
Part...?
Spottyjamie@reddit
West cumbria, barrow, teeside
Residents love it or hate it there. Nothing in the middle
pencilneckleel@reddit
Portsmouth 100%
Southampton is just an overpriced dump
lionmoose@reddit
I lived in Southsea until recently and miss it a lot. The density of the city means it extremely easy to get about just walking and there a fair few streets with a lot to do and not gentrified to the state of supermarket mayonnaise
SuspiciouslyMoist@reddit
Some bits of it are still a bit rough. But at least it's not Gosport.
danddersson@reddit
I don't know - Gosport might be alright, but nobody has ever come back from there to say.
ChloeHammer@reddit
Ahem.
pencilneckleel@reddit
😅😅
Equivalent_Tiger_7@reddit
Some parts of Pompey make me uneasy. And I've been to Beirut.
Southsea is lovely.
726wox@reddit
Man I’ve been to Beirut so many times it’s one of the nicest places!
Equivalent_Tiger_7@reddit
Yeah, but bombs were dropping at the time. This was 2006.
Martyn_X_86@reddit
Man, Somers town is rough AF. Used to actively avoid it when walking to uni from Fratton
PurahsHero@reddit
Milton Keynes.
Ok, its not a shithole. But it does not deserve the stick it gets. It only gets that because its so different to most other towns and cities across the country. When its actually pretty pleasant for the most part. Loads of parks and green spaces, decent services, local shopping parades that actually have some decent shops. And its one of the few places which actually seems to be have planned pretty well - even if its car centricity I hate.
Cool_Stock_9731@reddit
Milton Keynes is top tier if you've got a car
It's the worst city in the UK if you don't have a car however.. Everything is so far from each other and there's not really solid enough public transport to bridge the gaps, going there on foot is so much hassle and I can safely say as someone that used to live not far from there that travelling to Birmingham, Leicester or Nottingham was much more worthwhile
Ill_Bumblebee7738@reddit
Lived there for 3 years as a teenager - I’m from London. Definitely has an unfair reputation. Some parts are amazing and it’s a very open city.
protonmagnate@reddit
I LOVE MK, and I don't know why people stitch it up so badly. Sure you have to drive heaps of places, but it's so well-planned in terms of the walking and biking paths and the way the green belts and lovely park lands are woven through the city.
Sure, the city centre is very mid-century brutalist and doesn't have historical buildings, but I think it's something different. The rest of England is chocka block with historical architecture, we've got loads.
TheGrammatonCleric@reddit
I live near MK, it's a fantastic place to live near for shopping. Hate the road network though and the drivers seem to treat every road between roundabouts like the Mulsanne straight.
West-Ad-1532@reddit
My girlfriend lives just outside Milton Keynes. During my first visit, I found the shopping centre to be quite nice—clean, with plenty of shops and great service. The road system is efficient, and London is just a short train ride away. Additionally, Cambridge and Oxford are both less than an hour's journey. Just ten minutes outside the city, you can enjoy the flat countryside.
The city centre has a strange, desolate vibe, lacking old historic buildings. It is a modern development. I come from West Yorkshire, which is hilly and congested, with very little car parking.
I'm moving next summer. We're buying a house. The detached properties have ample driveways with large gardens. There's just more space to breathe, and people aren't as nosey. They are friendly but not intrusive, unlike some northerners.
maestrojv@reddit
Funnily enough I love visiting MK & Bletchley for how much it caters to cycling! I think that's more of an indictment on the rest of the country than a compliment to MK
Cool_Stock_9731@reddit
Leicester
People shit on it, compare it to Birmingham and Nottingham due to their close proximity but Leicester is great for nights out and it's got alot more going for it than people claim for the most part
QOTAPOTA@reddit
Blackpool.
All these are ace - Theatres. Promenade. Ballrooms (yes plural). Tower. Piers. Indoor water park. Pleasure Beach. World firework championships. Beaches. Winter Gardens. Amusements. Themed weekends. Darts. Great parks. Golf courses. Zoo. Countryside on doorstep. Transport. Illuminations.
This is shit -
Housing and HMOs.
Blackpool Council have been very brave recently and are doing great things but they need to be braver. Mass demolition on whole streets.
It’s been said that Blackpool is made up of many gems housed in a plastic tiara.
D3M4NUF4CTUR3DFX@reddit
Commenting just to say I love that last line
QOTAPOTA@reddit
It’s mine but I like to create an image that it’s been said before by many.
KeyLog256@reddit
They really need to get the "super casino" thing going and attract more money to the area. That would sort Blackpool out.
Mitsuyan_@reddit
The work Blackpool Council have been doing to improve its quality of life has been incredible. Still a long way to go of course
Ill_Temporary_9509@reddit
Bradford gets a lot of stick, but it's no worse than any other post-industrial city in the north of England. True, at the moment the city centre is a bit chaotic given the reworking of the roads in the centre being re-routed to allow additional pedestrianisation combined with the bus station falling to pieces, but it's not the worst place in the world
justcbf@reddit
Bradford had some utterly terrible areas, but it's all improving. Then you get to the north side and there's some spectacular villages and countryside. They have the best curry houses in the country, and there's amazing industrial era buildings everywhere you look, that were built to last, and likely will outlast us all.
Ill_Temporary_9509@reddit
Yes it does have bad areas, but point me to another city in the north of England that doesn’t
justcbf@reddit
100% can't. Just pointing out how many nice areas it has that go unnoticed.
dung_coveredpeasant@reddit
When people say Bradistans a shit hole, it isn't cos of the roads mate hahaha
adicnb@reddit
Might be a hot take but I’m gonna with Derby. Sure, the city centre could look better but there are some really nice areas around the town, nice restaurants/pubs, it’s peaceful and it’s close to other big cities/airports.
The_Doughnut_Lord@reddit
I always say Derby is the city for people who don't like cities, it's perfect for me lol
UmlautsAndRedPandas@reddit
Yeah I had to go to Derby for a funeral, I was really impressed by the indie cafes and restaurants.
banglaonline@reddit
r/Swindon
scoobedeth@reddit
This, you get so much house for your money and there are nice parts, particularly Old Town.
DuncDub@reddit
West Coast of Cumbria works both ways!!
BENDOVERBETTY31@reddit
Newport south wales is the biggest shit hole ever I work there, but not live there .
Different-Use-5185@reddit
The shit hole gap between Burnley and Blackpool. It always gets ripped apart by outsiders but really isn’t that bad in most places whilst also being situated in the Pennines, which has some of the most beautiful and underrated scenery in the UK.
Any_Cream4036@reddit
What would you count as the making up the shit hope gap? Genuine question, not disagreeing on either claim, just not sure what area that describes.
bowak@reddit
I'm assuming they mean Blackburn as they said in the Pennines, whereas if they meant Preston would be more likely to say next to the Pennines.
Unless it turns out that Longridge has a really bad reputation I wasn't aware of!
Any_Cream4036@reddit
Thanks, good point about the Pennines, that makes sense.
_WretchedDoll_@reddit
I think Milton Keynes is underrated. Most people think it's just one big mall, and there's some truth in that, but there's also more greenery than any other city in the UK. There was literally a 'tent city' a few years ago in the centre, and there's still a massive drug problem all round, but there's also parks and rec galore with quite a few large lakes also. If you want urban, suburban, and rural all within the city limits then I think MK has all other UK cities beat.
Reviewingremy@reddit
Liverpool is a nicer city than Manchester, despite being populated by thieving Scousers
GurnCity@reddit
Just look at the diversity rate and the higher it is the shitter the place has become in the last 20 years.
MeesterMartinho@reddit
Belfast.
Cracking bars and restaurants. Really nice city centre.
Hints of bigotry....
TrafficOn405@reddit
The South is not all posh. I mean Dover is as much a hellhole as any of those Towns referred to up in the north.
AdhesivenessLower846@reddit
Leeds! Nicest friendliest and cleanest city by far! This whole idea of ‘northerners’ are scum attitude in the south is stupid. Some of the nicest genuine people I’ve met are from up north (north of the M25) 😭
WoolyCrafter@reddit
Hull. It's got a really bad reputation but it's a fascinating place, full of great self-deprecating people that are kind, supportive and totally brilliant. I moved up this way in 2004 and don't want to live anywhere else!
mechanicalabrasion11@reddit
Answer 1 - Glasgow Answer 2 - London
dahid@reddit
Swindon but without the underrated part
BearishUK@reddit
Ha. Swindon isn't bad. It's just insanely, overwhelmingly boring.
ScottishSquiggy@reddit
Remember [hometown] is a shithole, but never talk shit about [hometown]
Random_Nobody1991@reddit
I don’t think it’s viewed as one now, but given the history, many will be apprehensive of it, Belfast is a lovely city.
Quiet-Deadly991@reddit
The whole of London
HistoricalEsme@reddit
Derby. But Derbyshire is amazing.
No_Breakfast_9267@reddit
Stoke on Trent Notorious shit hole the last time I visited in the 80s. Today....??? Hard to see an upward path for this place. Sorry.
Weary_Rule_6729@reddit
Stoke!
Surrounded by countryside, on the West Coast Mainline, a very good hospital, low house prices.
Ideally located. Its only takes around 1 hour (ish) to: Manchester, The Peak District, Alton Towers, Birmingham, North Wales, Liverpool, Even the lake district is only about 1.5 hrs away.
Its run down but people are friendly and Ive personally never felt unsafe!
MrsKebabs@reddit
Naaaah I'm sorry but stoke is definitely the worst city I've been to. Tbf most of my time in stoke has been in Hanley, but it's the only place I've ever been where I felt scared walking around the streets
Accomplished-Art7737@reddit
Yes! Came here to say this. Hanley is a dump for the most part but the cultural quarter area is actually nice and has some great places to eat and drink, and there are a handful of great independent shops. There are also some fantastic charities and community interest companies doing amazing work.
The outlying towns and villages are for the most part really decent places to live, with a great community vibe, and we have easy access to some absolutely stunning countryside.
ousfraton@reddit
liverpool for sure. coming here from essex i expected it to be a proper shithole but it’s great, probably safer than some areas of essex like basildon too
lapetitetortuemarine@reddit
Nottingham!!! Friendliest small city vibe just love it :) such a bad rep 😭
MrsKebabs@reddit
Nottingham kind of feels like a smaller Manchester to me. I love it tho, the architecture there and the caves are sick
TepacheLoco@reddit
Nottingham for a long time deserved it's rep, and is now in a bit of a tricky spot with the council going bust, but it really does feel young and lively in the right spots and has some lovely surroundings
phoebsmon@reddit
I've been there quite a few times, and I think the one time I was a bit apprehensive was a gig outside of where I normally went. That was just one doorman being a bit intimidating and it being unfamiliar though, had a class night
MrsKebabs@reddit
Liverpool for sure
GnumbGnuts@reddit
Scotland
Comfortable-mouse05@reddit
Wakefield
DatPairOfPoloJeanz@reddit
I’ve not seen one person mention Northampton … and that does not surprise me. Town itself absolute shithole but Northamptonshire has plenty of lovely country villages and towns with LOTS of history.
chemhobby@reddit
The entire country is a shithole. Glad I got out.
nimbusgb@reddit
I hear a lot of trash talked about North Wales but it's nice and quiet, lots of rural and semi rural property at prices that make the Sputh look ridiculous. Good entertainment in Liverpool and Chester. We moved from East Sussex 7 years and I'm so glad we did. Daughter is still there and we visit often. Tunbridge Wells is now a shithole.
Alternative_Job_3298@reddit
Made the move to Conwy this summer for a new job. Cost of rent is not bad and looking to buy next year and I can get a 3 bed semi or sometimes detached for £210-250 k in Nice suburbia. Snowdonia on door step and Liverpool and Manc only just over an hour away, good airport links and generally love living by the sea.
Dependent-Letter-651@reddit
For non natives probably like Leeds or London
glytxh@reddit
Nottingham. 1400 year old shithole, and today a bankrupt shithole with dire drug issues and collapsing public services. Low level crime is basically legal.
Amazing countryside. Impeccable music scene. Transport links most cities would be jealous of.
I love this shithole.
thxrpy@reddit
Rhyl. Fond memories of going the arcades and stuff when I was little, fucking bleak driving through as an adult
Alternative_Job_3298@reddit
South Wales valleys where I grew up until 18. Beautiful environment, Beacons on door step and quick link to Cardiff. If you go to university you can get into a well paid(ish) role in public or private sector and take advantage of cheaper housing and good rail links to Cardiff and Newport. But if you don't then you're life is probably going to be a bit shit with mostly minimum wage service jobs.
LDNLibero@reddit
Sunderland really isn't as bad as it's made out to be.
A lot of the North East has areas that are rough sure but there's also some really nice architecture from the Industrial era that made this part of the country rich and prosperous.
I think it's a shame it doesn't get more respect as I've really grown to like living here having grown up in London and East Anglia.
killingjoke96@reddit
I'm a local in the North East and I reckon Sunderland is actually on the up and will probably look different in a few years time. They've been doing a lot of renovation in the city centre and it actually looks really decent now compared to how it was.
There was this pub that was supposedly really famous back in the day and it had been around since 1860's, but unfortunately it got shut down and turned into a ratty looking JJB Sports years ago.
They have tore down the JJB sports and are gonna reopen the pub in its former glory this Saturday, it honestly looks brilliant.
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/best-in/bars-and-pubs/sneak-peek-at-sunderlands-major-new-the-3-stories-venue-4875478
Trivius@reddit
Dundee, people called it Scumdee for a reason. However, not only is a very cheap and pretty decent night out if you fancy going on the piss it's actually got a decent amount of cultural stuff to do including a few decent museums, a tiny cathedral and the Law is very scenic.
wombatking888@reddit
Stoke on Trent snd Newcastle under Lyme....the centres are a little to very shitty, but the local Countryside and Market towns are fantastic...Stockton Brook, Brown Edge, Leek, Cheddleton, Trentham, Keele. Locals are incredibly friendly as well.
CarpeNoctem1031@reddit
My friend from Croydon talks about it this way but I can't tell if she's taking the piss or not.
Dammitgotme@reddit
Isle of Sheppey, I like it alot
KlutzyWillingness248@reddit
There are shithole towns all over the uk, in fact the whole country is almost one big shithole…..almost
MrTango650@reddit
Clacton and Jaywick's beaches are both quite pleasant.
4321zxcvb@reddit
Brighton. Overrated.
4321zxcvb@reddit
Brighton. Overrated.
zibafu@reddit
You know, I went to Rhyl this year for a few days, I am from MCR, people told me it was shit, terrible, don't go, but I enjoyed it, it's a quiet resort town, kinda tacky but the beaches are clean, there are still amusements and a small fun fair if that's your thing
For me it was just a place to unwind after spending several months training hard for my black belt so it being peaceful suited me. Plus they've not long built a concrete skatepark on the front so it was a chance to get back on my board after months of not riding it.
It's also easy to hop on a train to Conwy, Llandudno, prestatyn within 20 minutes to go see some sights
FunPie4305@reddit
Stoke on Trent, it looks like it got bombed during the war and never rebuilt.
fussyfella@reddit
Portsmouth. I was very pleasantly surprised when I had to stay there for a couple of weeks. Good restaurants, nice vibe and none the shithole feeling at all.
Calculonx@reddit
I live in Portsmouth, does it have a reputation of being bad?
I love it here, but I also live near the water where everything is really nice.
fussyfella@reddit
It seems to have a reputation for being pretty rough, which I did not pick up on at all
Calculonx@reddit
My neighbour was born here and talks about when boats would come in there would be fights with the Navy guys at pubs. But now the Dockyard area is a huge museum and shopping centre.
StrictlyMarzipanOwl@reddit
Fights amongst the old families were still common in the Eighties but as it's become more a student city than a naval city over the Nineties and beyond, it's gotten much better.
There's been a huge influx of students come into the city and stayed. It's gentrified it a bit, and a lot of the really rough parts, like the old blocks (now demolished) in Somers Town, have had a lot of improvements made.
That being said, the blocks you see on the left as you drive in on the M275, and Buckland - would not want to go there on my own if I can help it.
SusieC0161@reddit
Hull. Son went to university there and stayed. Nice city centre, The Deep is worth a visit and house prices are brilliant.
Lilconkb00@reddit
I used to love Chelmsford, Essex when we first moved here however if you look at my recent post history my opinion is starting to change…
stnectan@reddit
The city of Doncaster is massively underrated.
Rich history dating back to the Romans, International airport, The home of the oldest classic horseback in the world, Amazing transport links ( main train line, A1, M1.) Surrounded by greenbelt Great villages, really desirable to live in. On the trans pennine trail.
Could go on, but what I've listed are the envy of many many cities in the UK.
mtk_123@reddit
Blackpool
rickb8585@reddit
Lowestoft
Ill_Bumblebee7738@reddit
Milton Keynes. Lived there as a teenager for a few years in the 90’s - I’m from London, and it’s a very beautiful in parts and misunderstood city. If you take away a few of the very run down estates like Netherfield and Conniburrow - both of which I lived in, it’s an open, green and easily accessible place. It’s also quite different to anywhere else in the UK, which isn’t valued enough in my view.
I still believe our national football stadium should be in MK. Due to openness, land and equidistance. I can see Wembley stadium from my home, and it’s in the worst possible area.
Akayz47@reddit
London
Ill_Bumblebee7738@reddit
If anyone says Luton, you can guarantee they are lying.
VENOM_LEADER@reddit
Bradford is a shithole for sure but there are some good food spots if you have someone with u who knows
Ill_Bumblebee7738@reddit
I’m from London but I have a fondness for visiting Blackpool in winter. It’s dead quiet and so peaceful, and northerners are always far more friendly and down to earth. So for me, Blackpool.
Probably a bit shit living there in winter, but still.
YorkieLon@reddit
Bradford. This place gets an absolute bashing from everyone. But my god the outskirts are stunning, Ilkley, Saltire are some of the loveliest places in the country. But people just bang on about the rough parts.
AmberWarning89@reddit
Swansea. The city centre leaves a lot to be desired, but we are surrounded by some wonderful beauty spots!
Budget_Newspaper_514@reddit
A lot of people hate my home of Bristol however the night life is some of the best in the country far better than when I lived in Kent there are many venues that you can see a new band every day of the week we even have a boat night club called The Thekla and a cool punk venue called The Fleece. Bristol does have a lot of crime issues the museums are really good and there are a lot of cool places for kids such as the zoo,go karting,the aquarium and Blaise castle. Also there is a beach called Weston Super Mare that gets hate because it’s sort of muddy but the arcade on the pier is fun. There is a lot of culture in Bristol as there are people here from all over the world and the takeaways are some of the best I have ever had also since living here it has changed me for the better I am less narrow minded.
Accurate-Flatworm361@reddit
Furness peninsular around Barrow-in-furness. OK the town itself isn't great but the surrounding countryside and beaches are fab. Can't beat Roanhead on a clear day looking across the duddon estuary to the lake district. Grey seals off walney island. Piel island. Furness Abbey. And it's quiet. But I guess it depends what you like. Some people may find that boring.
DifferentWave@reddit
I was on Cavendish Street a few years ago in the pouring rain when a clearly newly arrived and very confused looking African gentleman holding a tiny sopping wet sun parasol approached me and asked me where the town centre was. That was a tough conversation.
But yes, the surrounds are stunning- wide empty beaches, pretty villages, rolling hills, vast panoramas. I was up in Marten recently and the views were insane.
Tyler119@reddit
I live on Walney and fully agree. People can have a warped view on Barrow that is based on how the place was decades ago.
Can't bear Earnse Bay with the tide out.
Disposable household income here is now nearly the highest in the north west and is predicted to be the highest in another decade.
cuccir@reddit
There's quite a few towns/cities in Northern England that themselves are somewhere between a dump and just not very nice but have great access to coast and/or countryside. Barrow, Bradford, Middlesbrough, Workington/Whitehaven, Blyth, Sunderland, Dewsbury, Keighley.... If you live in a nice enough part of the town and can put up with a crappy town centre, then they're all pretty good places to live.
Suitable-Victory4696@reddit
Rhyl
huckinfell2019@reddit
Swindon is lovely
Smooth-Purchase1175@reddit
Weston. Super. Mare. I've been there so many times, I'd be glad if I never saw that town again, either for a day trip or sojourn.
Stabwank@reddit
London is a highly overrated shithole, does that count?
tmstms@reddit
Honestly, the Nowhere is one place answer is the one I would give.
I think the UK is really localised, and you can have a great street next to an awful one it is that local. Plus the place is the people to some extent; in general, I have found people really friendly everywhere, and that gives me a good feeling about the place.
So I have had great experiences in places with terrible reputations e.g. Stoke on Trent, Wolverhampton, Hull.
I mean, I love my own town (Castleford in W Yorkshire) but in the sub-thread where people are disparaging about various towns and cities in W and S Yorkshire and Lancashire, someone says my town is the worst of the lot....
Cleanshirt-buswanker@reddit
It doesn’t compare though to the contrast you get in USA cities where one posh road is followed by absolute chaos a block over. It’s mind boggling to see.
phatboi23@reddit
mate we have some fuckin' great rock places.
meinnit99900@reddit
I think Cas Vegas’ problem now is that they’re letting the high street die a sad awful death- even comparing like doing my last minute shopping a couple of Christmases ago to now the town centre seems so barren so it gives the rest of the place a bad name. I also think if the footbridge was anywhere else except Cas it’d be considered a really beautiful landmark.
Teembeau@reddit
This is spot on. The centre of Swindon looks like Gaza on a bad day, but the Old Town area is charming.
I'd also say the same about Oxford. If you've seen Inspector Morse, that's a tiny amount of Oxford. The area around the colleges, Jericho, some of the city centre are charming, but most of it is a pretty average place.
I think there's a lot to be said to moving to nice parts of what people class as "shitholes". Because your money goes a long way in them.
tmstms@reddit
Yeah, when I was living in Oxford one of my best friends worked in the Uni and was married to a Head teacher. She worked in Blackbird Leys. It was Deprivation Central in that area, while he was walk-commuting into the dreaming spires area.
Teembeau@reddit
Head Teacher in Blackbird Leys is the sort of job you couldn't pay me enough to do.
CourtneyLush@reddit
I wholeheartedly agree. I went to see a band in Swindon ( was the only date on the tour I could make), booked a room, spent the weekend there. I was a bit nervous about it because everyone was telling me how shit Swindon is.
We had a great weekend, really nice people. I didn't think it was half as bad as people make out and that's probably due to my interactions with people there.
tmstms@reddit
I mean, Wolverhampton is somewhere with a shit reputation, but both the people I know there (well, obvs, they are friends and acquaintances), who are in some cases lifelong locals and the people I met in random interactions were/ are lovely, so much so we were considering moving there.
ViscountessdAsbeau@reddit
Nowt up with Cas.
sugemeumpenem@reddit
Birmingham does not deserve the hate it gets. It may have once been post-industrial and downtrodden, but it now resembles any other large, dynamic city like Manchester or Leeds. When a lot of people think of Birmingham they just picture the area around New Street which admittedly no one likes, but that’s like judging London based on Euston. Go to the Gay Village, or Jewellery Quarter, or Mosley, or even Digbeth as of lately and then try and tell me this city has nothing to offer. As a Southerner I was as surprised as anyone to discover it has such great vibes, amazing nightlife and a great food scene, especially if you’re a curry lover. I’d say it’s similar to Manchester but not gentrifying as quickly.
springsomnia@reddit
Erith is generally considered to be a shithole but it has a lovely cafe and old library.
schaweniiia@reddit
Salford!
I moved here recently because of the affordable housing, the great motorway links, easy access to Manchester, and how well-connected the area is for transport in general. With plenty of nearby shops, GPs, and other essentials, it ticked a lot of boxes. To be honest, I was a bit nervous. Reddit had me half-expecting to be burgled or mugged within the first month.
But in reality, it’s been great. There’s loads to do nearby, the locals are really friendly (especially our neighbours), and the city has so much going for it. The council seems to be doing lots to support local people here, too: Discounted university courses, cheap tickets for shows at The Lowry, free access to Bridgwater Gardens, etc etc etc.
The city’s clearly on the up. MediaCity is buzzing, lots of employers have moved in, and Anchorage is really scenic, too. Even Salford Precinct doesn’t bother me as much anymore (it’s grown on me after I've recently seen how other European cities get by at the minute).
If you’re after somewhere affordable, lively, and full of potential, I’d say Salford is worth a look. We’re really glad we made the move.
attemptedhigh5@reddit
It is VERY hard as a Cumbrian living down south to get people to understand that we exist and that a lot of the county is an unhealthy shithole and has been since the mines closed. A lot of people solely know the Lake District and the version of Cumbria they have in their head is like thinking Disney World represents Florida.
brunolondinese@reddit
Growing up in Elephant & Castle... I wouldn't live anywhere else in London or UK
LePetitBibounde@reddit
Birmingham is a shithole but according to many people living there it’s awesome.
4500x@reddit
Essex has an unfair reputation. There are some grotty parts, I’m not disputing that, but venture to the north of the county to the likes of Saffron Walden, Finchingfield, or Dedham Vale and it’s lovely.
centzon400@reddit
Pretty much the whole of the Black Country, from a little bit north of Wolves down to almost-Brum. It's a gigantic mess of shite, the sort of shite you only see if you've been on a week-long Guinness and kebab bender; you can't wipe because everything's all a bit oily 'down there', and you're out of paper, and now it's under your fingernails.
BUT… there are some gems of places in Dudley and Darlaston and Walsall and West Brom and Wednesbury and Stourbridge and Smethwick and Cradley.
I pooh-pooh the BC all the time online, but it's like a brotherly 'hate'. Utterly fascinating part of the country, particularly if you have an interest in the Industrial Revolution/ the romantic revival in English lit.
Oh and yeah… orange chips! And scratchings and Banks's and faggots and grey peas and ham, and the tripe is as good as any fancy «callos a la madrileña» you might have eaten on holiday.
Ok-Pudding4597@reddit
Sunderland. Great beach
corickle@reddit
Morecambe has quite the reputation but I love it. If you stand on the pier the view out to sea is beautiful. I think they have done a job of the promenade so you can walk quite far along the sea front.
pippysquibbins@reddit
and soon to have lots of investment due to the Eden Project - I was looking at the town the other evening from the Gala Bingo end of the prom and it looked really nice with the lights and the last of the sun setting over the low tide. And the view to the Lakes is just one of the best in the world.
TheJobSquad@reddit
When I first went in the late 90's it really was grim, but now I'm really quite fond of the place.
corickle@reddit
That’s good to hear and you can get great fish and chips
OldLiberalAndProud@reddit
Morecambe - they don't bury their dead, just stand them up in bus shelters.
--- old Morecambe and Wise joke
portra315@reddit
Thanet.
Massive, massive shit hole. Actually pretty nice in lots of ways
mateley@reddit
I think people see Chelsea and the area around the King's Road in London as nice, but public transport options are pretty limited, it's car-choked relative to other parts of the city and everything's super expensive. So it may look pretty from certain angles but is actually a shithole.
Lovetherain_89@reddit
I went to Ashford, Kent in the summer and was kind of underwhelmed. Lots of empty shops. Still some pretty architecture, and we did enjoy our visit.
Boring-Hornet-3146@reddit
Croydon, Liverpool, Birmingham
MrsBunBun@reddit
I have a kinda opposite situation, I grew up in Norfolk but moved elsewhere. So many people tell me they love spending the summer in Great Yarmouth. I’m certain we are talking about different places because from my own experience and local reputation it is a shithole ahhahah
AkihabaraWasteland@reddit
East Glasgow.
Oh, you said highly UNDERrated. My mistake.
ArcTan_Pete@reddit
Hull No contest Hull.
Oh wait, you said underrated..... No, that's not Hull. Hull is overrated, even when it's considered a shithole
No_Syrup_6062@reddit
Have you been
ArcTan_Pete@reddit
Unfortunately, yes
Valten78@reddit
Liverpool used to have a horrible reputation in the 80s and 90s that wasn't wholey undeserved, but it's vastly improved in the last 25 years. It's a pretty pleasant city these days.
Aggravating-Party-93@reddit
London ainec
slothcycle@reddit
Hull is pretty good actually.
Hack_Shuck@reddit
I went to Hull for a music festival and really enjoyed my time there, but several people in pubs there literally asked me "erm, why did you come to Hull?" I've never experienced that before. They seemed surprised to meet a tourist
anoolfishha88@reddit
Yeah, they really do always ask "But why HERE?"
No_Detective_1523@reddit
The UK
Twattymcgee123@reddit
The valleys , in South Wales used to be the butt of every Cardiffian’s jokes , now the tables have turned now that people realise they can get a 3 bed completely modernised terraced house with exceptional Mountain View’s , easy access to many cities and a real community feel for less than £150,000.
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
Considered a shithole (by the rest of the UK), but not: all of Scotland below Inverness.
Considered amazing, but shite: London.
cowpatter@reddit
So half the Scottish Highlands are considered shite?
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
… smh
Aromatic_Pea2425@reddit
Haven’t really ever heard a bad word against anywhere in Scotland apart from Glasgow.
Ok_Analyst_5640@reddit
Even Cumbernauld?
bogushobo@reddit
What's it called?
ElectricalActivity@reddit
Is London considered amazing? I'm from Wales and lived in Shropshire and from there loads of people think London is a total shithole, when actually is nice here. I've travelled to many places and London is still one of my favorite cities. My view is basically the opposite to yours (though maybe we're your from London is loved/overhyped?)
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
Globally yeah. Even within the UK, people of a certain income bracket think London’s the tits. It has this false image of the best place in the country where you go to live if you’ve made it or want to be a big thing. Bit like NY/LA, Paris etc etc
catpigeons@reddit
How is that image false? Vast majority of high earners, celebrities etc are based there.
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
Their experience of London is the common experience of London.
It’s still a shitehole lol just my opinion, wouldn’t let it bother you too much.
ElectricalActivity@reddit
What you've described doesn't make it shite though. Like, I've been to NYC and Paris too, and while Paris is definitely overrated I wouldn't call it shite, and NYC is awesome outside the tourist areas (Harlem and Brooklyn for example).
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
I wasn’t trying to describe why they’re shite so thats probably why.
London’s shite cos it’s full of tourists, it’s overcrowded, there’s London tax on everything, the pollution is fucking horrendous, the waters third world minging and there’s too many pretentious wankers pottering about.
But just imo obviously.
NY is FILTHY. It’s literally shite.
ElectricalActivity@reddit
Obviously if you visit tourist attractions you're going to see tourists. I hardly see any where I live.
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
As soon as you enter central London it’s mobbed with tourists regardless where you go 🤷🏻♂️
ElectricalActivity@reddit
I'm in central London once a week for work, near Pimlico. I walk around there at lunch and then head over to Sloane Square(ish) for a pint or 2. That area is absolutely not mobbed with tourists. Same when I used to work at Russell Square everyday. I'm not sure how well you know London but that's not my experience.
TheGrammatonCleric@reddit
To be fair London is a wonderful city, probably the best in the country as you say, if you're within that income bracket. If I were filthy rich I'd live near (like within an hour) London just for the amount of cultural things, events, food, shopping etc. there.
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
If you’re paying to remove yourself from what London is actually like day to day though, you’re not experiencing how London can be to visit.
Which is fairly horrendous tbh lol
kurai-samurai@reddit
Eh? Trossachs, Galloway, Cairngorms etc are considered shit holes? News to me.
ElectricalActivity@reddit
Fulham, Chelsea, Putney, Chiswick, Kensington... What absolute dives 🙄 I suspect the person we're replying to just doesn't like big cities in general and hasn't actually left the tourist areas of the places they visit.
AlternativeIssue24@reddit
You kinda missed my point tbh
GottaBeeJoking@reddit
Crawley is surprisingly nice.
I moved there from Devon and there was actually more accessible green space around me in Crawley than I had in Devon. If you want to go out for a run in Devon it looks amazing but it's a lot of deadly high-sided country lanes or private fields. Crawley has a bunch of parks and a trailway that takes you out in to the countryside. On top of that you're a very short train ride away from London.
Delicious_Ad9844@reddit
Well being a "notorious shithole" in the UK doesn't mean much due to the hugh chance of that just being a joke people somehow convinced themselves is true
finestryan@reddit
Swansea (in the summer)
KeyLog256@reddit
Chester is seen as a nice city, and while it isn't exactly Bradford, it has lots of rough housing estates, a large homeless problem (with very little support or provision for homeless people, unlike say, Liverpool), no nightclubs so it's often quite rough on a night out with lots of fights, and there's lots of horrible 1960s concrete all over the place.
The upsides aren't even that good either - the "Roman Ampitheatre" is a hole in the ground, most of the Tudor Rows are ruined by modern shop frontages, and the "Roman" walls are largely Victorian.
Having heard how much people love Chester, but having experienced the reality, I went to York for the first time last year expecting much the same. It was nicer in parts, but I noticed by about 4pm on a Saturday all the nice looking pubs had at least two security on the doors. Driving out a few hours later, yep, that's why they have security, it was getting properly rough.
GrumpyIAmBgrudgngly2@reddit
"Yeah, Mun. I was in 'Nam. Tottenham.", (Thanks to SIR Lenny Henry for this mid 1980's belter of a pun.).
Exciting_Taste_3920@reddit
Rural Fife is much nicer than people give it credit
Utwig_Chenjesu@reddit
Plymouth has a rep mostly due to Devonport area, but its no where near as bad as people make out.
semicombobulated@reddit
For your second question: without a doubt, Oxford. I assumed it was going to be full of scholars, millionaires, and architecture, but as soon as you venture away from the centre, WOW that place is a complete and utter shithole with a lot of poverty.
octanet83@reddit
In the words of General Melchett. Oxford’s a complete dump!
knittedshrimp@reddit
Middlesbrough could be beautiful
KamikazeSalamander@reddit
Some really nice buildings in the old part of town. Most of the centre is very rundown these days though. Suburbs are quite nice though, nunthorpe/acklam etc, and you can't beat Middlesbrough for access to beaches, countryside and better cities.
idontlikepeas_@reddit
Darlington and Red Car. Location is amazing. Houses are cheap.
bajingofannycrack@reddit
Everyone is always shitting on Hastings but I love it! Lots of interesting places to visit nearby too🧐
Glad_Possibility7937@reddit
Torquay Falls very clearly into the second camp
4BennyBlanco4@reddit
Slough.
Well Slough itself is an absolute shithole but some of the surrounding villages with Slough postcodes are among the most exclusive in the country.
StarshatterWarsDev@reddit
Stratford; East Ham
SonOfApathy@reddit
Wales
thefuturesbeensold@reddit
Jaywick, Essex. Notorious shit hole, often regarded as the most disadvantaged area in England. Has had numerous 'benefits by the sea' type documentaries made about it. Parts of it resemble literal shanty towns.
Absolutely beautiful beaches. A real underrated, hidden gem of a coast.
TrashTeeth999@reddit
Birmingham easily
nerdylunatic@reddit
Bristol esp the centre
ZuDenim@reddit
Question 1 Plymouth, Glasgow and Northern Ireland
Question 2 Most of London
BlueFungus458@reddit
I had to go to Pennywell in Sunderland for work and Wikipedia said it was one of the worst places in Britain for crime, but everyone I met was chatty and it just felt like a normal ordinary place to me.
mata_dan@reddit
Dundee.
Mitsuyan_@reddit
Doncaster might not be the most liked city but is Mecca for retro gamers and collectors. There's plenty to do there, the shopping centre is well connected to the city and I don't recall there being too many run down shops.
I've not seen Derby in here so I guess it's quite liked but same thing here. Retro World and the Computer Museum make the trip worth it in its own and the Derbion is probably the best shopping centre I've been to. (admittedly that's not saying much)
Ok_Appeal_283@reddit
London.
ChuckStone@reddit
The West Midlands is beautiful...
As for Henley, I've never seen a more wrethed hive of scum or villainy.
theearlof87@reddit
I visited Inverness last year. Everyone I've spoke to has mentioned how rough/industrial it is and only associate it with shipping. It's such a beautiful area between the Highlands, Loch Ness and the Cairngorms. I absolutely fell in love with it.
barrybreslau@reddit
The Black Country. Yes, it's not the Thames Valley, but the people are funny and genuine. They are also hard as nails, even the girls. That's how you win world wars.
G6ixInDaMix@reddit
Romford is underrated
69Whomst@reddit
Unironically stoke on trent. Went ri uni there and had a blast, the people are very friendly as well
Jolly_Constant_4913@reddit
Ime most people say wherever they're from is bad. And mostly is not. People in diverser places blame migrants(you have to read between the lines). People in homogeneous English towns blame how slow it is and stagnant
Hopeful_Cat_575@reddit
Problem with posts like this is what some people think are shitholes, others think they're great. I've lived in 2 big towns and some parts are great and some places i wouldn't walk through at night lol.
Maybe pick a location and people could tell you places to avoid. But again, take everything with a pinch of salt. Everything is subjective
Commercial_Level_615@reddit
Holyhead, Anglesey. It's a shit hole stop gap on the way to Ireland to some. But it's actually stunning out the town. The coastal path is incredible, there's loads of beautiful beaches, the nature reserve, the 'mountain' (not technically as it's about 800foot above sea level). I
PainExtension3272@reddit
The south east is a fucking shithole
Some-Air1274@reddit
As a Northern Irish man living in England I often find that people here have ignorant views of Northern Ireland.
Most think it’s a dump and a war zone. It’s not, many parts are tranquil and picturesque with people just living their lives.
ArtizanBrew@reddit
Cambridge - as a tourist it's pretty nice, but for us living here...
wc6g10@reddit
Hastings has become a really cool place to live with an interesting community. As a kid it was always considered a complete shithole.
HenryHenderson@reddit
Colchester. Yes parts of the town (refuse to call it a city still) centre is rundown but there are some really nice independent shops and the Arts Centre has some decent gigs/nights on and cycle paths around mean you don't have to necessarily drive regularly. Plus you have easy access to some beautiful countryside in Constable country and London on the train with cheaper housing nearby.
UmlautsAndRedPandas@reddit
It's one of the premier Roman museums in the country!
xycm2012@reddit
Growing up on the south coast of England as a kid I was always led to believe the Scottish cities of Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen were absolute cesspits of society. Populations made up of criminals, football hooligans, and benefit scroungers, full of filthy tenements with open sewers. Turns out they’re pretty normal places!
lordnoodle1995@reddit
Having lived in two of those, visit the third often, I completely get it. They’ve all come a long way over the past 30 years or so, all for different reasons - violence reduction in Glasgow, much greater investment in Dundee and the oil sector in Aberdeen.
They’re all broadly quite cheap places to live with decent wages too. Aberdeen is actually the cheapest place for a first time buyer, yet ranks top 10 in UK for salaries. The others are more fun, but the cost of living here makes up for it.
lordnoodle1995@reddit
Having lived in two of those, visit the third often, I completely get it. They’ve all come a long way over the past 30 years or so, all for different reasons - violence reduction in Glasgow, much greater investment in Dundee and the oil sector in Aberdeen.
They’re all broadly quite cheap places to live with decent wages too. Aberdeen is actually the cheapest place for a first time buyer, yet ranks top 10 in UK for salaries. The others are more fun, but the cost of living here makes up for it.
QuailTechnical5143@reddit
Weymouth
MoonRoover@reddit
Liverpool, I wouldnt say its notorious now but the baltic triangle is a great area
My_sloth_life@reddit
Glasgow
Fun_Ad8352@reddit
Okay hear me out: basildon.
As long as you get out of the main areas, Basildon is so green. It can be so nice to walk around if you just follow the trees, there are some really nice, underrated spots. Also the street names are just so quaint.
ObjectiveStructure50@reddit
Milton Keynes.
Illyanov@reddit
I’m actually gonna put Birmingham in there. There are some really cool places if you know where to go, (Digbeth, Moseley, Canals). One thing that’s cool (or dysfunctional) about it is that Birmingham doesn’t seem to give a shit about advertising these parts to the outside. So they’re quite understated.
iCaptnSpaulding@reddit
Rhyl
Newport
Wrexham
ColintheCampervan@reddit
Milton Keynes. Loads to do, easy to get around, really underrated city. Doesn’t have the history of other cities but loads going on.
RE7784@reddit
Torquay is certainly overrated…
BrewDogDrinker@reddit
Hull.
shane254@reddit
Erdington,BHam and this is coming from someone who’s actually from Birmingham. Some parts of Erdington are absolutely beautiful and you can tell once upon a time that it was a gorgeous street and area to be in. Nearer the town centre is when it starts to get grim but areas like wheel Right Road are beautiful
stonyfanboy21@reddit
I'm from the north east, so maybe I'm a bit biased, but it's honestly such a lovely place. Every partner I've taken back to meet my parents has commented on how lovely and friendly it is, and how beautiful the scenery is.
I'd say the same about Burnley tbh. I've lived here a decade now and there's some shit bits, but there's everything you could need in town, plenty of trains, buses and motorways to get anywhere, and the countryside around it is absolutely breathtaking and only a short walk or drive away. The people are almost as friendly as my hometown too generally.
ex-ALT@reddit
Blackpool.
lewiitom@reddit
Croydon is made fun of a lot but there's a lot of nice areas - West Croydon and Thornton Heath are crap but south Croydon is generally really nice imo.
Phwoffy@reddit
I'm originally from the south of England so... probably everything above the Watford Gap.
Overrated... have you been to Kent? If it still calls itself the Garden of England, it means the back yard where your parents have dumped all the broken bits of furniture because they don't want to pay the council to pick them up.
wrappedinplastikkk@reddit
Hull, gets such a bad rep that it really doesn't deserve.
Ermithecow@reddit
North Lincolnshire. There are so many worse places than Scunthorpe. The issue is, nowhere sounds worse just from the place name.
Manchester. Outside of the centre, you've got chorlton and didsbury which are also lovely. But everywhere else is not particularly great. And before people start talking about Heaton Moor, Prestwich, Cheadle, Sale etc- that's not Manchester!
Queasy_Scallion9289@reddit
I mean they’re in Greater Manchester. I never understand why people always define places like that as not Manchester, they’re suburban Areas of Manchester in the county of Greater Manchester.
There’s no way to describe those areas as not Manchester unless you’re going for the historic county view. London doesn’t have this issue.
Shannoonuns@reddit
Everyone shits on Birmingham and I don't feel like it deserves it.
armtherabbits@reddit
Underrated: yorkshire, people forget that it's mostly lovely, it just happens to have Bradford in. Sure, there are places like Hull (and even that isn't THAT bad) but even Hull is set in hundreds of square miles of beautiful North Yorkshire.
Overrated: Bristol. The worst of twee posh Britain, drunken chav Britain, and curtain twitching little Britain, all superimposed on a town that's actually a generic middle sized regional sump.
CarpeCyprinidae@reddit
If Hull is surrounded by north Yorkshire someone's moved it
hc1540@reddit
We didn’t campaign to get rid of ‘Humberside’ just to end up being badged as North Yorkshire! Must admit though, the point remains. Some beautiful countryside and amazing beaches
ThePolymath1993@reddit
Eh, Bristol is fine. It's a university city with lots of cool historic industrial-era wrought iron stuff.
I wouldn't want to live in most bits of it because expensive, but it's hardly a shithole.
SeaweedClean5087@reddit
Milton Keynes. I spent a lot of lockdown there and for a cyclist it was great.
GreenHoardingDragon@reddit
I like Milton Keynes as it offers a lot of greenery and space and has a nice map and pedestrianised zone but it lacks a sense of space and is just badly planned.
SeaweedClean5087@reddit
I totally disagree. It was a wonderful place to spend lockdown, although I was just outside on Newport Pagnell
sgwennog@reddit
Most of the criticism of MK seems based around it being boring and dull and every road looks the same, rather than it being a shithole, but I agree that it is one of the best places in the UK to live. People who drive through have no landmarks, because of the high grassy banks between the housing and the dual carriageway network of roads, so get lost easily on the grid and roundabout system, but what they don't realise is how lovely it is to live with the roads being so seperate from the housing and parks, and lakes, and more parks.
I worked in Northampton for a while; it would take 30-40 minutes to drive from one side of the town to the other. In MK, it took 10 minutes. Add to that a 30 minute train ride to central London and the highest tree to people ratio of any city in the UK, and the redways, my lord, the redways, and you've got a winner.
I often miss living in MK. I loved it there.
Comfortable-End-2775@reddit
It’s the kind of place that seems shit to visit but great to live. The best things about the city are hidden when you’re simply driving through. So much greenery, love the lakes, and there’s a lot to do. The residential areas are lovely as well.
RearAdmiralP@reddit
I'm going to visit MK next week for a short city break. I'm really excited. I'm planning to visit the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley again, do some shopping, enjoy the great restaurants, and take a cruise around the redways on a Lime scooter and maybe check out the Peace Pagoda and Willen Lake. When I visited in the past with my kids, they loved Gulliver's Land. My daughter really wants to try the indoor skydiving at Xscape, and the safari park in Woburn also looks fun. The MK and the area around it has a lot of automotive and motorsport heritage, ex. Aston Martin Works and Tickford in Newport Pagnell, Prodrive in Banbury, etc., and it would be cool if they would lean into that more, for example, by building museums and visitors centers and such.
If you visit a place to see old buildings and history, MK is maybe not that interesting, but if you're into modern cities with lots of things to do, I think it's a cracking place to visit.
Teembeau@reddit
The thing is, what do you actually care about, 95% of the time? It's going to work, shopping, going to the gym, cinema, how nice your house is and so forth. It's the dull stuff. And you want it done well.
What I would call "old stuff" looks lovely, but how often do you want to go to the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford or the Roman Baths in Bath? Not often, and these places are actually quite impractical. Far worse than Northampton for getting around, or for facilities you want. And you pay through the nose to live in them.
stevegraystevegray@reddit
Each to their own and certainly when I worked there, the people from MK who were from there loved it and they were lovely too. For me unfortunately, I can’t imagine how anyone could live there. It felt like a failed experiment, it’s just so dull, no heritage, no history (obviously), just one big housing estate basically. The little city centre hub thing was a joke and I think another problem is it felt so tired? Like it had never been maintained? It’s all a matter of taste though
Comfortable-End-2775@reddit
Bletchley is in MK and has a huge about of history connected to WW1 and codebreaking. Also the city is made up of lots of former small villages and towns that have been around for hundreds of years, they didn’t just build the city from scratch.
MrLubricator@reddit
The town centre feels like an out of town shopping centre. Just a big car park with chain restaurants and outlet shops.
DankAF94@reddit
I still never really understand the full on hate towards MK you see on this sub. Most people IRL I know who've spent time there quite like it. Might not be everyone's up of tea but "shithole" is definitely far too extreme a description. If anything it's just too mild for it's own good
Rhubarb-Eater@reddit
Glasgow. My cousin and her husband visited me years ago and was staying in the west end, asked if it was safe to walk down the street or should they get a taxi from the door 😂 people don’t know how much it’s improved from the 80s!
supersayingoku@reddit
Glasgow was fantastic, except...
I got "Hey mate, do you know what time it is?" style attempted mugging / scrap invitation by five or six lovely and, surely, productive members of the society wearing Rangers scarves. Unfortunately they were camping the street going to my hotel and I was already commited to walking through
I live in Sarf Landan and not my first "oi, do you know what time it is?" rodeo so I walked straight forward and through them which was risking "are you ignoring us mate?" but nothing happened.
Other than that, I had an amazing time there. Lovely people, great music scene, surprisingly good food and very nice cocktail bars & traditional pubs and easy access to Loch Lomond and the highlands
The property prices were great for my broke Londoner eyes as well
BeetleJude@reddit
Are you sure they weren't just asking you the time?
supersayingoku@reddit
Yeah, I'm sure six of them didn't have a single phone between them
The "asking for a time" is a common thing to get your phone or watch out and nick it
BeetleJude@reddit
Well if they didn't try anything as you walked through them, I think you may be a little bit paranoid. Unless you were wearing a celtic strip or something, then yeah, possibly (no specific hate towards rangers, celtic fans are just as bad)
supersayingoku@reddit
I don't think six guys are in a narrow alley with bottles scattered around repeatedly asking "oi, you got the time?" is THAT paranoid
onehundredand69@reddit
Yeah it's always amusing listening to what people from the south of England assume Glasgow is like. Our biggest problem these days is how useless the council is, not gang warfare.
PrimaryOtter@reddit
Good PR to keep as many of the Home Counties tourist out of Glasgow if you ask me
Current-Wasabi9975@reddit
Met some guys years ago when I was backpacking who messaged me recently to say they were coming to Glasgow on a Stag Do and could I let them know any areas they should avoid as they didn’t want to stray into any trouble.
underweasl@reddit
I went to uni there in the late 90s. My wonderfully sheltered welsh mother had never been there before and only knew about it from Taggart and Rab C Nesbitt. Aside from home derby football days i never saw any street fighting and felt much safer there than some of the estates where i grew up.
Rhubarb-Eater@reddit
As an 18 year old (I’m female) I remember going out with the university running club in the winter. It was dark, we were heading back along the Clyde, and I was falling behind, alone. There was a group of 5-6, ah, unsavoury looking men under one of the bridges who all turned to look at me and I braced myself for what might come next… to my great surprise, they all cheered me on!! ‘Keep going, you’re nearly there, you can catch them!! Go ooooon!’ Never forgotten it!!
MissKLO@reddit
The Black Country. I wouldn’t call it scenic, but you’ll never meet friendlier people
ExternalAttitude6559@reddit
The Cotswolds, where I live, can feel massively overrated at times, but I get why people like it. It's prepared for tourists, has loads to do (especially if you want chocolate-box England while ignoring the massive industrial Estate you just drove past or the fact that 95% of the village is post WW2 Council Housing). But it's cosy, I guess.
Mustbejoking_13@reddit
Newport in South Wales is much nicer than you'd be led to believe. Bits of it are really rather charming. The town centre however is a curious mix of a newish shopping area, nice, and ramshackle derelicts, apparently unoccupied, not so nice.
Geniejc@reddit
St.Helens
Rated a shithole by the majority of its inhabitants.
Nightlife is patchy, town centre dead as, unwelcoming and a pain to park, council lack nous, swallowed up by Liverpool City region in last decade.
Has some of the best pubs in the UK. Cricketers, Turks Head and The Masons , stack of decent resteraunts, cinema theatre , citadel.
Transport links are good Rail bus and Road.
Lots of green spaces in the town and close to countryside on the outskirts.
2 hospitals, local libraries still, a lot of excellent schools
Housing can still be cheap and get a lot more for you money in nicer areas.
mnbvc52@reddit
Sheffield
ExternalAttitude6559@reddit
Many people consider Cornwall too be paradise on Earth. It really isn't. Likewise, S Wales is meant to be a shithole, but I can walk into Pubs there showing the Rugby & cheer on the "Wrong" side & get bought pints when my team (England or Ireland) play well. Birmingham? Hugely underrated. Bristol (my hometown) hugely overrated, rapidly turning into a Hipster / Student Theme Park where you can go for days without hearing a local accent.
obligatorycataccount@reddit
Completely unironically, one of my best holidays ever was in Blackpool. We timed it for the RAF museum being open, and The Dubliners show was in town. You have to lean into the daftness of the Passage de Terror and the Ghost tours and the like, and I'll be honest the nostalgia of the 2p machines was a draw for me. But there are decent places to eat, decent places to stay, and plenty to do. It's run down compared to when I was a kid, but I don't think it deserves the hate it gets.
AEHBlandalorian@reddit
Milton Keynes, absolutely no question.
My father-in-law lives there and there’s always loads of wide-open places to take the kids when we go up to see them, and it’s easy to get parked basically everywhere. I agree that the centre is a bit chavvy, but what town/city centre isn’t?
The way people go on about it, you’d think it makes Luton look like Monte Carlo by comparison.
DrDaxon@reddit
Hull, some of the museums are great (street life museum, maritime museum etc) and so is the Deep (aquarium/sea life centre)
shrooman-being@reddit
Stoke on trent, that place is next level
SnooPandas4016@reddit
Stratford upon Avon.
itkplatypus@reddit
Tintagel. Obviously has a bit of a rep for drugs, crime and poverty but it's actually quite nice.
ucardiologist@reddit
London
Barziboy@reddit
I was a big fan of Newcastle-Under-Lyme whilst Studying there.
They honour their music well, with free pint for open-mic players (the cheaper pints also helps the Dutch courage) and always getting good numbers of respectful punters in the crowd, and I had one of the best Italian meals there when my rents took me for a graduation dinner.
That was about 10 years ago now, but I went back in 2016 and it was similar enough with good spirits, not sure how it's been in the last 8 years. I know they tried gastroturfing one of my fav pubs (The Old Brown Jug) by giving it a weird and misplaced nautical theme and scrapping the stage, but looking at online pics of it now seems like it's back to it's old ways.
I'm long overdue a revisit up there, especially now I know how to forage.
palf74@reddit
I drive all over the country delivering cars and up to today Airdrie and Birkenhead were the worst places I've been. I'm currently in Boston Lincs which has joined those two at the top of the shitlist. The train station alone is the absolute pits. Minus 3 and they're refurbishing the waiting room. No access.
kdnguyendl@reddit
Milton Keynes.
Loads of people look down on MK, but it's a decent city.
InterestedObserver48@reddit
Belfast is a quality city but many just still think of the troubles
wellyboot97@reddit
Lancashire. I always just sorta assumed Lancashire was just impoverished and grim and while some parts 100% are, there are some genuinely really nice areas too. I didn't really realise it until I got with my now boyfriend who is from Lancashire. He agrees some parts are genuine shitholes, even where he is from, but there are some gorgeous areas too which tend to get forgotten about.
thenaysmithy@reddit
I've always said the towns may be shitholes but walk 5 minutes in any direction, and you're in a field surrounded by striking countryside.
If only that created opportunity and put food on the plate!
LJF_97@reddit
If you look at the historic county boarders, it includes 2 major cities. Lancashire has some very high poverty rates in former mill towns, but also a lot of money in the countryside and in the city centres.
Johnian_99@reddit
Gloucester.
Pink_Flash@reddit
According to reddit, all of the UK except for London and the cotswolds are shit holes.
BaseballFuryThurman@reddit
To me personally, Blackpool. I used to go there as a kid and it was a magical town full of nothing but fun. Nowadays I can see the shittier side of it, but I still love the feel of walking down the front on a sunny day having just been on the rides at the Pleasure Beach, spending pounds and pounds worth of 2ps on those machines in the arcades before going getting a chippy tea.
I just love seaside towns in general to be honest. A lot of them are rundown and still in decline but I find them really calming.
callisstaa@reddit
Whitley Bay.
Shit-tier northern seaside town famous for dive bars, stag do's and strip clubs. Oh and smackheads ofc. They pretty much all closed about 10 years ago and somehow it ended up even worse.
Now there's been a fair bit of investment in the town, some high end restaurants and bars have opened, land value has increased and it's a really nice place to visit!
Ok_Tough_6340@reddit
Hull! There’s a surprising amount of well paying jobs, especially if you’re an engineer, or that way inclined. Some you’re nice areas, and plus it is genuinely the cheapest place in the country, good new builds for under 150k are the norm.
stearrow@reddit
Blackpool. Once you get off the front it's as grim as anywhere but on the whole the people are great. The pleasure beach, tower and whole seaside/tourism identity make it unironically one of my favourite places to go.
If you go in comparing it to places like St Ives or Brighton you're going to be horrendously disappointed but if you go just trying to enjoy yourself and have a bit of innocent fun it's amazing. As a Scouser who went on lots of trips there growing up I'm pulling for Blackpool to get a second wind!
BuckleyTriangles@reddit
Biased but Cleethorpes is great proper sandy beach. Great nature reserves and surrounded by AONB on the Wolds. Absolutely bargain prices for housing too. Actually. No it’s a shitehole. Don’t come
nochurchpicnic@reddit
Jaywick, Essex. One of the most deprived areas in the UK. But in the summer the beach is lovely!
Comfortable-End-2775@reddit
Honestly the beach is so nice it’s such a shame
howard499@reddit
Ponders End.
cheebifred@reddit
The great Shakey Wakey, like yeah, it's a bit of a dump, but what town/city that is working on stretched resources isn't? Got some beautiful heritage places and honestly, if you can get past the crackheads and the old lady in the wheelchair who flogs stolen goods in spoons then you are pretty golden.
R2-Scotia@reddit
Glasgow
Frequent-Step979@reddit
Hull - every day of the week. (Can say that as from there.) There is something a bit magical about Hull, sometimes. Highly cultural - always had a decent enough musical heritage - and sometimes great nightlife. But the town centre and obviously some suburban areas are rough. A lot of people visit Hull and struggle to see why it gets a bad rep. It's capable of being both brilliant and utterly horrendous.
Spirited-Marzipan-14@reddit
As someone else born and bred in Hull I fully agree with your last sentence!
PaulBBN@reddit
Cleethorpes.
I think it used to genuinely be quite grim, but over the past 10 years or so, it really has improved. A lot of decent cafes, shops, pubs, a decent park, miniature railway and so on.
Cirias@reddit
Everyone shits on Blackpool, but we had a 2 day holiday there and did all the seafront sights and arcades etc, we had a great time, even had a nice dinner overlooking the sea and the restaurant was decent.
Beneficial-Metal-666@reddit
Corby has (or had) a pretty bad reputation and admittedly it was fucking grim in the 90s, but it's not a bad town at all. I love how spacious it is due to being built as a new town, wide streets with trees everywhere, lots of nice places to walk. I'd be quite happy to move back there.
BuiltInYorkshire@reddit
Undertraited? Hull. OK, I was born there but moved very soon after, but we did a pub night out a few years ago and had a great time. The old town and harbour area are fantastic as well.
Admittidly I did encounter somebody smoking crack near the infirmary a few months ago though...
Redditor_Koeln@reddit
Bradford. Some of it is stunning.
ancapailldorcha@reddit
I used to live in Manchester but my career area only exists in London. Would happily retire in Manchester but it's never going to happen.
IntroductionThick523@reddit
Margate for the first one, the beach is great and a rare sandy one for the south east, there's quite a few independent restaurants and bars going on, yet it's not too busy unlike coastal towns with better reputations.
For the second one Liverpool, such a dissappointment, so much history and supposed culture yet the place feels anything but, just souless and seemed overly rough too just full of meathead gym blokes and yokels at night.
LiquidLuck18@reddit
Pretty much all of the Midlands and North. Southerners seem to write the whole area off, failing to realise there are gorgeous market towns and villages all over, beautiful scenery and great cities. Even the towns that are notorious "shitholes" have nice areas. It's very strange to me that they seriously believe there is nothing of value north of Watford Gap. Pretty mind-blowing.
NotAllHerosEatCreps@reddit
I hear lots of shit about Manchester, went there for the first time recently and I thought the city center was awesome, looked modern, very clean, nice people
Ponte19@reddit
Fucking hell, came on here expecting to see if my town was mentioned anywhere and it's part of thread of top comment 😳
SingerFirm1090@reddit
To be honest, a part of a town or city might be a 'shithole', but rarely can that be said of the whole place.
Various-Jellyfish132@reddit
Oxford is pretty shit, unless you have a boatload of money to live in the nice part
nehnehhaidou@reddit
If anyone recommends any part of London, disregard it. The whole place is an overpriced shithole, the type that leaves you with multiple STDs and no pleasure at the end of it.
Barca-Dam@reddit
Tower hamlets. Poorest borough but it also has lots of activities to do
peachypeach13610@reddit
Newham is the poorest tho
No_Wonder_6123@reddit
Bristol…. Always disliked the way that the greens have done things but the city itself and the surrounding areas, surprisingly lovely People can be hard to understand and my husband was like the fuck language is this with the south western twang.
CaptainVXR@reddit
If you think that the Bristol accent is strong, I suggest you head a few miles south to the Mendips and the Somerset Levels haha
No_Wonder_6123@reddit
Oh we know that too. We travelled down to Cornwall and through Somerset. He was like its like the chick from Yellowstone teeter. Literally he compared the south west accent to fucking Texas….
FluffyMarshmallow90@reddit
I will defend Barrow until my dying breath. I'm convinced people are basing their hatred on one or two things and completely ignoring all the good there is. Obviously there's issues here, especially depending where you live but for the most part, I don't think it's that bad.
HampshireHunter@reddit
Some parts of the south coast are really dilapidated- you imagine it’s going to be gorgeous townhouses and pristine waterfront but when you get there it’s full of betting shops and derros and the buildings are concrete monstrosities from the 50s
StrollingInTheStatic@reddit
Birmingham - there’s much more to it than the city centre (which isn’t bad either) and they’re a friendly bunch
LJF_97@reddit
Pretty much everywhere. It's a national pass time to shit on our own country, when in fact, it could be a lot worse.
greenpowerman99@reddit
Milton Keynes gets a lot of stick, but quality of life is pretty good in most parts.
Apprehensiv3Eye@reddit
Milton Keynes. Everybody calls it a soulless concrete jungle, but it has more green areas than most other cities I've lived in, there's lots to do, and most estates are perfectly safe.
Comfortable-End-2775@reddit
I’m convinced this who call it a soulless concrete jungle have only driven through, or just been to the shopping centre.
breakermorant1963@reddit
Chatham, in Kent. Very rundown but…the Historic Dockyards are incredible!
lavayuki@reddit
I am not from the UK, but mostly visited London many times as some family are there. However, I got a job in Manchester and having been living here for a few years and I really like it. I don't think it is a notorious shit hole though, not heard anyone say that, I have only heard that about maybe... birmingham which I visited a few times for work and disliked
itsNaterino@reddit
Liverpool and out of all the places I’ve been to it’s not even a contest. I think a lot of the shit it gets is down to classism. I love the waterfront and the cathedral is wonderful. I absolutely loved my visit there and as I now have friends based there I am looking forward to visiting again and seeing more of the city
AHKieran@reddit
Milton Keynes. Once you get used to the roundabouts and know to park in the 50p/hr areas 20ft away from the £2/hr areas, it's actually got everything you need.
I live nearby and often have to venture to MK for certain shops.
Boring-Tangerine-589@reddit
Bradford.
TryToBeKindEh@reddit
Glasgow has a bad reputation but is one of the best cities in the UK. Loads of culture, buzzing music scene, awesome architecture, beautiful parks, and lovely people. Don't tell anyone.
ExcitementKooky418@reddit
My wife has gotten into watching YouTube videos where someone is just walking around a town/city showing the sites and a lot of places if always pictures as being miserable grey concrete dumps have been a lot more picturesque than I imagined
JoeyIsMrBubbles@reddit
Leicester city centre is a dump but there’s some really nice, quaint parts of Leicestershire
LordHogchild@reddit
North = Modor + chips
Melodic-Sea-6654@reddit
Bradford. I go to shops there and I find it absolutely wonderful. Quality shopping, ultra polite people. It's like old school shopping where people actually gave a damn. Never had a problem there. Always wonderful.
watsee@reddit
I was always lead to believe that Glasgow was the absolute fucking pits, but its genuinely an absolutely awesome city.
My girlfriend spent several years moving around with work & lived in various cities such as Hull, Newport (Wales) and Glasgow. If she ever decided to set down roots full time anywhere & I had to join her; I would not have a single problem moving to Glasgow.
guzusan@reddit
I'll back Birmingham every time. Lived here for the past 8 years, 4 of those being in the south of the city.
This particular area of it is better than any other city I've been too, or at the very least on par with it.
Beautiful old houses, loads of independents, more green space than you could ask for, and a real community spirit.
But city centre is a cesspit, as are most city centres. Ours needs major attention. But wander away from the main central highstreet and you'll see some really impressive architecture, museums, galleries and more.
I know it's fashionable to hate on Birmingham, but it keeps house prices down and way more opportunity for locals to take a punt on a new business venture.
divine_pearl@reddit
Birmingham
handsome_vulpine@reddit
If you ask me, whole bloody country is considered great, but is actually a shithole.
TheGrammatonCleric@reddit
That's quite the take. You think the whole of the UK is a shithole? Why?
Jolly_Map680@reddit
Fulham is known for being nice but I don’t get it? I live nearby and like yeah Parsons Green is nice, but Fulham itself?
Roper1537@reddit
When you visit a place it's usually going to be good because you're only there for a day or two, go to the best pubs and restaurants and take in the tourist highlights. If you live there then it soon becomes a boring shithole.
merrychristmasyo@reddit
Edinburgh
Additional_Olive3318@reddit
I don’t get one line answers where there are two options. We have to guess overrated here I suppose.
Warm_Requirement_231@reddit
*underrated
MrAlf0nse@reddit
Birmingham is ugly as sin, but I’ve found it really friendly for a city that size.
I know there’s the usual shite that comes with a city of that size, but I’ve found rubbing shoulders with Brummies to be far more agreeable than with other big cities
mohammedafify1@reddit
York for me.
mrfonch@reddit
all of it ?
Sea-Television2470@reddit
The way locals talk about certain small towns here in Cornwall you would think they are the roughest parts of the country when they actually have some of the lowest crime rates in the country, it's an endless source of amusement over on the local Facebook groups for me to observe, having actually lived in cities.
mordhoshogh@reddit
Bodmin maccies though
Sea-Television2470@reddit
At least bodmin has a maccies the lucky ducks 🥺
DankAF94@reddit
It's a matter of perspective really. And who are we asking? Reddit?
Reddit UK subs tend to lean heavily towards middle class values so really any town/city that's known for being less affluent/more working class is often labelled as a "shithole" because the residents there are considered socio-economically inferior.
in reality when you visit these places most of them are just totally fine.
DanyisBlue@reddit
I'm pretty sure OP was just asking for your own perspective.
durkheim98@reddit
B-b-b-but middle class le evil!!!
Additional_Hippo_878@reddit
That part south of Scotland, east of Wales, and north of France... but we just have to work with what we have. Like every country, there are places you don't want to take the wrong turn into, and areas of good people and good times. I always try to be pleasant and respectful wherever I go. This usually works out, but if it doesn't, my preemptive pessimism kicks in, and I attempt to adapt or leave. 'Life is like a box of chocolates.' A sense of humour often helps. Be nice. Be thinking. Be safe. goes for a run, followed by tea and medals 🇬🇧❤️🙉✌️
Albert_Herring@reddit
Hull. I mean, bits of it are indeed properly grim, but the centre and the bits around the university/Avenues are fine. (Only ever going east of the river Hull to go to Spiders probably helps too)
deep1986@reddit
Slough Yes the town centre is grim but has some lovely places to eat and the surrounding areas are gorgeous
duluoz1@reddit
Liverpool
kod14kbear@reddit
Liverpool is actually really nice and surprised me a lot when i visited
ewartpark97@reddit
I think a lot of places have a bad rep cos of the past but they've changed a lot and aren't bad now like Glasgow which I really enjoyed.
I'm gonna say Birmingham as I lived there. Everyone I talk to seems to think it's rubbish but I really enjoyed it. I think it's just harder to find the really nice bits perhaps because the centre is a bit boring and people don't realise how much it spreads out and connects with the surrounding towns, a bit like London in that regard.
DJGibbon@reddit
100% agree, Birmingham is a great city but doesn't have the transport infrastructure to help it hang together like London does. Hopeful that expansion of the tram system will help as it has in Manchester.
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