What places in the UK are better than you might think?
Posted by CWM_93@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 416 comments
It was fun seeing people slag off each others' towns in the other thread today, but I want to know about places that are better than you might think. What towns and cities have a bad reputation which is undeserved? What places have improved a lot recently? This could apply to living or visiting.
I'll start: Liverpool.
I moved to Liverpool just over a decade ago and I find it to be a good city to visit and to live in. So many of the stereotypes date back to the industrial collapse of the 80s and aren't a reflection of how the city is today. I see Liverpool as a city which is bouncing back, with lots to see and do, a lot of history, and a strong sense of community.
Ok_Birthday1758@reddit
Sheffield. People in London and elsewhere hear ‘Sheffield’ and think of industry, Sean ‘Bastard!’ Bean and the Full Monty. All of which it is. But it’s also spectacularly pretty and really green, with loads of parks and the Peak District just on our doorstep. Great pubs and lots of cafes. Beautiful suburbs with lovely views everywhere. A top food scene. Friendly people. Even the city centre’s improving, with lots of new regeneration projects bringing independent businesses and food halls. Oh and it’s affordable. So much to like
CaptainMikul@reddit
Had to move to Sheffield for family reasons, and it was amazing. It's big enough to be interesting, small enough not to be overwhelming, has everything you need within an hour on public transport, and within a half hour's drive you're in some of the prettiest countryside in the country. It's the perfect city.
Sometimes a bit sad I had to move FROM Sheffield for other family reasons.
evenstevens280@reddit
I had sex in a cinema in Sheffield
Iirc it was during a showing of Shrek 3, and we were the only ones in there
It was a good day out!
textzenith@reddit
That makes about as much sense as saying Shrek 3 is your favourite film!
Winter_Parsley8706@reddit
Shrek flicks n chill
theremint@reddit
DONKEY!
Chunderdragon86@reddit
Lovely bit of business
gogybo@reddit
Crucial to know which scene you came to
Level_Pea_7469@reddit
It's lovely when your uncle takes you to the pictures
St0rmStrider@reddit
Bro 💀
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
I can confirm sex occurred. Was quite the double feature.
CluelessOnMostStuff@reddit
I remember it well. You treated me so well 😀🤣
Danakazii@reddit
Shrex?? Nice.
Ok_Birthday1758@reddit
Lovely stuff!
griffaliff@reddit
I'm Mancunian and I've visited Sheffield a fair bit over the years, I adore the city. I've always said if I moved cities within the UK, Sheffield is where I'd go. I just love the vibe there.
Whulad@reddit
Londoner here. Always had a great time in Sheffield. My favourite northern city.
theremint@reddit
Lovely girls.
Whulad@reddit
I know
SnooBooks1701@reddit
When I was in Sheffield I went to a sushi restaurant and lo behold, there's one of the actors from the Full Monty
Firstpoet@reddit
Bits are nice but I would call the areas around Carlisle Street anything but dire.
fresh2112@reddit
Paid 50k over asking cos of comments like this STOP LETTING THE SOUTHERNERS KNOW
Vivaelpueblo@reddit
I lived close to Sheffield as a child in the early 70's, went for business last year and it was the first time I'd ever been back (I now live on the South Coast) and I was amazed how green and nice the place was. My late father moved us there because he worked in the steel industry by the River Don. That documentary at the beginning of The Full Monty movie was how I remembered Sheffield. These days it looks like a modern European city.
Rastadan1@reddit
I had a ball in Sheffield the four years I was at uni. Great town.
Sweaty_Sheepherder27@reddit
I think it catches the hate from some because it's not a particularly good city to visit, but it's a great city to live in.
I love the fact that so many of Sheffield's excellent pubs are out of the centre, it means you actually get a good local crowd who'll help keep the place open. There's actually good pubs opening in Sheffield, bucking the national trend.
Ok_Birthday1758@reddit
Very true. People get out the train station, wander into the city centre and can’t tell what all the fuss is about. A bit like London, you find the best of Sheffield in the local suburbs and neighbourhoods, not the centre
AdRealistic4984@reddit
Well, as someone from London, now’s the time to stop telling people that before you lose your amazing rents
Bleperite@reddit
The clusters of excellent suburban pubs and bars is a huge strength Sheffield has compared to most other cities, whose crawls are often around the centres. I live here and go crawling different routes regularly - Crookes, Walkley, Broomhill, Abbeydale/London Road, Ecclesall Road, Woodseats, Heeley, Hillsborough, Kelham Island...
the_merry_pom@reddit
Agree with this about Sheffield.
Although I’ve only ever visited it to catch up with a pal it has a “local” feeling to it that a lot of cities don’t possess anymore.
I’d argue a similar case for Hull despite it being rough around the edges where as cities such as Leeds and York are obviously overtly more touristy.
JustMMlurkingMM@reddit
I never thought I’d live to see the day when Leeds was described as “touristy”.
Drinking in the Duncan in the 80s definitely wasn’t Disneyland. I agree it has got smarter since then. The floor isn’t quite as sticky, it’s mostly beer rather than blood in the carpet now.
the_merry_pom@reddit
I think I’m slightly too young to remember but am aware of this as a result of older family members… I can recall the first time I visited the city centre as a child.
I was with my Grandad and he, obviously having visited before, was amazed and said “f*g hell they’ve done a good job with the facelift!”.
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Sheffield has some liveable suburbs. Lots of green space and pubs, cafes and good vibes.
zentimo2@reddit
Exactly. I moved to the city from London, and found them almost opposites in that respect. Sheffield is pretty meh to visit, but wonderful to live in, whereas London is great to visit but (unless you've got the dosh) quite crap to live in (in my experience at least).
And as you say, pub scene and pub culture is really excellent, which is increasingly unusual in the UK.
Ill-Basil2863@reddit
I've been to Sheffield a couple of times and for a city, the streets are dead. By that I mean hardly any people about.
Sad-Huckleberry-1166@reddit
first time I went to sheffield we went to that shopping centre. not to be rude or anything but the people were universally weird looking to the point where it felt like a dream. Like how in London you will occasionally find yourself walking past a succession of really glamourous or stylish people and in a weird way (I'm not into all this) it can feel a bit exciting. Well Sheffield was the opposite.
Eyupmeduck1989@reddit
Meadowhall isn’t really representative of Sheffield as a whole
itsxafx@reddit
sheffield gets so much crap. i’m from nottingham so i’d so consider it to be my closest “big” city. both times i’ve been it’s been lovely, the locals were super friendly and there was tons of greenery about.
Eyupmeduck1989@reddit
Moved from Nottingham to Sheffield myself and absolutely love it. Don’t think I’ll ever go back.
hairychris88@reddit
I've always found Sheffielders to be a friendly bunch too
MrFeatherstonehaugh@reddit
Lived in Sheffield for 15 years. The thing is that the city centre has always been a bit grim and boring. Places I lived, Ecclesall Road, Nether Edge, Broomhall and Crookes are lovely and out towards Totley and Dore are even lovlier but you don't see all that as a visitor.
Aquapig@reddit
To be fair, they're doing a good job of improving the city centre, other than maybe the area between Castle Gate and Far Gate.
Bleperite@reddit
Agree with the centre getting better. Wandered around the other day and it was buzzing (the snooker is on of course).
I_AM_Squirrel_King@reddit
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! House prices are already on the rise!
Don’t come here! It’s just steelworks, brutalism and a thatcher hangover. Nothing to see here. Move along…
Ruthiereacts@reddit
😂
brutalwares@reddit
You joke, but the brutalism would genuinely pull me in - I’ve always wanted to see Park Hill in person.
Ok_Birthday1758@reddit
😂
gogybo@reddit
Spent 4 of the best years of my life there as a student. I'll always love Sheffield ❤️
urghasif@reddit
i love sheffield!!!!
frankie_0924@reddit
Work in Sheffield, this is all lies!!
Rechamber@reddit
I really like Sheffield, in stark contrast to Doncaster.
Been there for a few days by train from Beverley. Lovely, bright and clean. The station area is lovely and there's loads of good bars and places to eat everywhere. Loved it.
CaptainLilacBeard@reddit
I've been twice in the past 18 months, once for a weekend trip and once for work. Agree it's excellent!
CWM_93@reddit (OP)
I've only been to Sheffield once but it was nice, if hilly to walk around!
Euphoric_Necessary_3@reddit
Another place id move to in a heartbeat
txe4@reddit
Sheffield is very underrated.
Spottyjamie@reddit
Liverpool like a lot of the big cities has had a lot of development and improvements in the centre where people visit, yet further out theres still poverty and crime
bowak@reddit
I have no idea why you've been downvoted for that comment. I cycle to Liverpool a few times a year from Preston and Bootle (I think) looks more deprived than South Shore in Blackpool.
Spottyjamie@reddit
Yep! As i said, its not just liverpool thats had improvements/new developments in the centre whilst theres still issues elsewhere
Karloss_93@reddit
Slightly different take.
The big national trails, Wet Highlands Way, Coast to Coast, Pendine Way ext.. all get a lot of love but my favourite long distance walk was Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path. Easy walking, beautiful countryside and some stunning beaches. You've also got a good chance of seeing wild seals.
bowak@reddit
Preston - genuinely great parks not just in the city centre but dotted all over town. Kind of near everywhere in NW England and as it's in a geographical bottleneck basically all the trains and motorways funnel through or near to here.
A much better variety of places to go in town than even a few years ago, though they really need to abandon half the high street as there's more units than can ever be filled again.
Still quite cheap for housing.
Good views of the hills.
VerbingNoun413@reddit
They also have a statue of Wallace and Gromit and another of Feathers McGraw.
bowak@reddit
The new Feathers statue is so well positioned off to the side being sneaky.
VerbingNoun413@reddit
Wallace is mich more noticeable of course
BulkyVermicelli225@reddit
I spent a fair amount of time there eight years ago. It was not the best place to live due to its demographic but the countryside around it is top 👌 Has it improved since 2017?
bowak@reddit
Not sure what you mean by demographic? You not like northerners?
BulkyVermicelli225@reddit
It was full of Asians.
Ihavecakewantsome@reddit
A very pretty town with an 11/10 Indian style bakery. Samosas the size of my head!
BulkyVermicelli225@reddit
The vegetarian place???? 😋
Ihavecakewantsome@reddit
That's the one! Marvellous place 🥹
BulkyVermicelli225@reddit
A true gem in this filthy world ♥️♥️♥️
Straight_Physics_229@reddit
I spent a year at the University there before I transferred to Manchester and I really liked it!
ThenAccident5258@reddit
Yeah I love Preston but I could be a bit biased as I’m from there 😅
AutisticElephant1999@reddit
Nottingham
VerbingNoun413@reddit
How much Robin Hood themed stuff is there?
Few-Lawfulness-8106@reddit
So many places in Nottinghamshire are shit though. Mansfield, kirkby and Sutton are all crap
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Along with Worksop, Market Warsop, Ollerton, Harworth Bircotes and Bulwell. But there are plenty of places in Nottinghamshire that are completely fine and even nice such as Stapleford, Beeston, West Bridgford, Carlton, Arnold, Hucknall, Bingham, Southwell, Newark and Retford.
Paul-Ramsden@reddit
Cracking night out
WearingMarcus@reddit
just...no...
Trick-Station8742@reddit
It's just ok
Having lived there and now regularly go back to see the in laws, it's just ok. Good bits and really really bad bits.
City centre hasn't changed at all in forever
WearingMarcus@reddit
I am from Nottingham, lets be honest.
It has a city council that is bankrupt and cannot afford to mend or turn on fountains in the square...
Lowest disposable income in the UK
Highest council tax in the UK
From Nottingham uni to Experian to pie factories, all I see is job cuts there..(exception of Warhammer?)
It literally lost a whole shopping centre and its peripheral Retail streets
Has a rotting Debenhams, and Guidhall
Nottingham uni has a 10% reduction of applications...
Victoria Market has gone this year...
I could go on...allegedly it has the "best transport"... as if that is something to brag about...
CWM_93@reddit (OP)
I went to Nottingham for a work thing and didn't get much time to explore but there aren't many larger cities that have a massive castle and I went for a pint in Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem which was cool.
strawberrypops@reddit
Agreed, I really like Nottingham. It’s terrifying to drive there though!
idril1@reddit
Blyth, the beach is genuinely lovely blyth beach
Aylez@reddit
The beach is nice, but god some areas are rough there 😅
TheCannyLad@reddit
Yeah I never thought I'd see Blyth mentioned on a thread like this. The beach is nice, I'll definitely agree, and there are pockets of OK bits, but otherwise, it's a bloody shithole with a massive crime rate for its size, and massive levels of drug addiction (t'was always thus).
Arbdew@reddit
Could be worse, could be Ashghanistan. Or Cambois.
No-Meeting-7955@reddit
Rather live in any of them than join the hunting set in Hexham or Morpeth
MoistSnow220@reddit
Birmingham
CWM_93@reddit (OP)
I grew up near Birmingham and there's easily enough to fill a few days as a visitor. Some good shopping streets, lots of music and theatre venues, lots of nightlife, and some good museums. Walking around the canal basin is nice too. There's been loads of money put into improving the pedestrianised public spaces and the transport connections with the trams too.
kdnguyendl@reddit
Milton Keynes. Everyone makes fun of it for roundabouts and concrete cows. Yes it doesn't have a lot of history but the place is such a damn good place to live - lots of good restaurants, shopping places, convenient for travelling to airports etc.
dobsoff@reddit
Plymouth. Unreal in the summer, a super old barbican and waterfront, with a pub from the 1500s and the oldest bakery in England. Amazing art galleries, and a great underground punk scene. Great sea swimming and one of the best food scenes I’ve come across. Underdog cities are the best.
Andiamo87@reddit
Isnt it full of boat migrants now?
dobsoff@reddit
Pahahaha what?!
Andiamo87@reddit
So you are from UK, but you don't know what I am talking about? Ok.
dobsoff@reddit
I’m from the uk. But I suspect we don’t hold the same views. Of course Plymouth isn’t suddenly full of boat migrants. It is literally not even the slightest of issues here. I’ve NEVER heard anyone mention it in the city.
brushmushroom@reddit
Beat me to Plymouth! I've lived here over ten years and I love it. This after living all my life in Cornwall and thinking Plymouth would be the last place I'd live.
gibgod@reddit
Harrogate.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Harrogate is great but I definitely wouldn't say it has a bad rep.
DarkDugtrio@reddit
I’ve lived everywhere in the UK apart from Ireland. Scotland is the best by far, Lake District is second. Bath and south west is nice London pretty cool in parts.
Same_Grouness@reddit
Could you narrow down Scotland?
DarkDugtrio@reddit
Basically everything above Edinburgh and Glasgow is pretty awesome. Also Edinburgh and Glasgow are good places.
WearingMarcus@reddit
I think Hull
It has a bad rep but its centre is pretty nice imo..
Living there maybe different
No_Potato_4341@reddit
I actually agree with you for once. Hull does indeed have a nice centre and isn't as bad as it gets press for sure.
WearingMarcus@reddit
You always end up agreeing with me.
I use facts. Facts are not opinions with warped lies..
Hence why I win every "debate" with you...
No_Potato_4341@reddit
I mean I don't. I very rarely agree with you actually. This time is just a one-off.
WearingMarcus@reddit
Not about agreeing with me..Sheffield one of the safest core cities (you make out it'd Compton)..
And Nottingham has highest homeless rate in east Midlands, bankrupt council, can't afford to run fountains, above average crime rate , falling uni applications and lowest disposable income in uk whilst having highest council tax...
These are just facts.
Now run along back to Kelham island...
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Ok actually just fuck off at this point. I was trying to agree with you about Hull being an underrated city and now you're coming up with irrelevant stuff to the conversation again. Bringing up Nottingham and Sheffield when we're talking about Hull.
WearingMarcus@reddit
You been exposed as a compulsive liar.
I will never take you seriously until you admit wrong.
No-Math-9387@reddit
Huddersfield, went for a football night out from Manchester and it was absolutely class
Normal-You171@reddit
Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire are lovely!
TellVisible9240@reddit
Anywhere in the peaks district is better than you can imagine
koalabear20@reddit
What are your favourite walks/ hikes?
dadders69@reddit
Kinder scout in Edale is a great hike
CanWeNapPlease@reddit
Padley Gorge, especially in the autumn. It was the best forest walk/hike I've ever done.
TellVisible9240@reddit
Ooo and also my favorite place in world is Castleton aha
TellVisible9240@reddit
I mean Chatsworth house is up there or Lady Boywa ( I don't know spelling haha)
JP198364839@reddit
Hull. Lived there for almost a year, have had mates go to Uni there, got a friend from there, don’t think it deserves the bad press it gets.
liebackandthinkofeng@reddit
I went to uni in Hull and had a great 3 years. Cheap housing, cheap drinks, lovely green areas, not far from other large cities (Sheffield, York) and not too far for a day at the seaside as well. The city centre was great when I was at uni but seemed a bit lifeless when I last went to visit some friends who are still up there
LateralLimey@reddit
Blackadder: Remember you mentioned a clever boyfriend?
Nurse Mary: Yes.
Blackadder: I leapt on the opportunity to test you. I asked if he’d been to one of the great universities: Oxford, Cambridge, Hull.
Nurse Mary: Well?
Blackadder: You failed to spot that only two of those are great universities!
Nurse Mary: You swine!
Melchett: That’s right! Oxford’s a complete dump!
semicombobulated@reddit
I know this is a joke, but it’s not far from the truth. I was shocked when I went to Oxford for the first time and discovered that once you stray from the university, it’s a complete shithole. Cambridge on the other hand is beautiful. I’ve not had the pleasure of visiting Hull.
bestorangeever@reddit
Was doing my Cat C license there with the army, personally thought it was disgusting
angrywelshdude@reddit
Ah Leconfield!! What a F#cking Hole! I did a two week MT Docs and Accounts course there! I'd have preferred to spend time in Iraq or the 'stan!! I sympathise bruv!
bestorangeever@reddit
Literally starts thundering and lightening when you see the Normandy barracks sign, whole place was a morale sponge
angrywelshdude@reddit
I went as a full screw Royal Engineer, I'd have hated to gone there as a Sapper or private! F#ck that noise!!
bestorangeever@reddit
Yeah was rough as a Pte, even the rlc screws were mongs who abused their rank
angrywelshdude@reddit
😂👍🏼
OverAddition3724@reddit
Came here to say this. Lived there for three years whilst at the Uni. Cottingham is really nice, the area around the Uni is really nice and the city centre, particularly the marina end is lovely too. The Deep is a great attraction and it’s got everything you’d want for a small city.
Totally baffling why it has a bad reputation. I guess maybe it was awful 30 years ago but always been great since my first visit in 2007.
Infamous_Medium2482@reddit
I’ve always had great times visiting hull and found the city centre and some suburbs to be quite pleasant
First-Lengthiness-16@reddit
It is a bit drab and the accent is awful but yeah it does seem to get more shit than it deserves
Paul-Ramsden@reddit
I used to go out with a lass on Orchard Park. It was an interesting place. Went to the Arctic Ranger a few times and never had any trouble. Everyone was really friendly. Walking around yours see people diving into bushes when a cop car went past.
kimba-the-tabby-lion@reddit
You know what they say, Hull is other people.
luciferslandlord@reddit
Swansea and Cardiff + surrounding areas. Way better than people make out.
EmbraJeff@reddit
Glasgow.
The younger me (Edinburgh punter) would often mercilessly rip the pish out of all things Glaswegian…(I even got barred from the pie-stand in the away end of Kilbowie Park for my banter in 1992 - long story, good days).
Although she still has the ‘No Mean City’ tag, it’s very diluted these days as since its year as City of Culture in 1990, The Dear Green Place and her people have stepped up and created a fabulous city that St Mungo/Kentigern would be proud of. ‘Mon the Weegies’.
londonconsultant18@reddit
London…
AdRealistic4984@reddit
If you’re English, then Glasgow is probably nicer than you think
mrwoof212@reddit
Prefer it to Manchester
BrillsonHawk@reddit
Glasgows actually a really nice city, but i think most people think its all glasgow smiles and heroin
mrwoof212@reddit
As a southerner loved it but it’s a shame it’s so far north (mainly climate wise) + football is terrible north of the border
OldGodsAndNew@reddit
The West End is one of the nicest urban neighbourhoods in the whole UK; I'd even venture that it's nicer than any part of Edinburgh
My_sloth_life@reddit
I was away to say Glasgow. I’ve been here for 5 years and it’s a great city, a lot to do and a nice place to live.
Nickk1234op@reddit
Portsmouth. There are a few rough areas but it’s probably better off than most people think. Lots of culture and things to do there for a place with 200k people and has a lot of character to it
mrwoof212@reddit
Saved by Southsea
jupiterspringsteen@reddit
Not convinced
Nickk1234op@reddit
Compared to most places with a population of 200k (including my hometown of Swindon) there’s so much to do
ProffesorPrick@reddit
From near Swindon, girlfriend went to university near Portsmouth, and I vouch for that. Portsmouth has a very pretty waterfront, and actually has a bit of a culture and some grit. Enjoyed my visits there. When you consider it’s the same size as Swindon it’s night and day!
WheresMyAbs98@reddit
Used to live there.
Bit of a dump and not much going on in the town itself if I’m honest.
Access to the beach was lovely, Gunwharf Quays is nice if shopping is your thing and Southsea is nice but that’s about it.
It’s far from the worst place to live though I’ve gotta say.
Unfair-Ad-9479@reddit
Hmm I don’t know, but that could be me saying that as a Gosportian
Nickk1234op@reddit
Yeah I don’t know if I would put Gosport on this list to be honest
Unfair-Ad-9479@reddit
Oh no, we absolutely don’t deserve to be on here 😂
Nickk1234op@reddit
Don’t worry I’m from Swindon so I understand 😅
Gingerpett@reddit
I said the same!
Jaded-Initiative5003@reddit
Halifax. Not just an old decaying northern mill town. Actually pretty beautiful
mrwoof212@reddit
Worked on a job in Halifax for 2 weeks during Covid. Lovely canal and good scenic hills. However I went into Morrisons and was the only person over the age of 20 without a kid in there
txe4@reddit
Architecturally it's good.
I've said before - if it were luckier it could be a tourist destination just for its centre and the Piece Hall. There is a parallel universe where Halifax is as posh as Harrogate.
Walk out of the station and right there are the cathedral, the square chapel, the piece hall, then the market and the streets of magnificent confident stone buildings.
It's just...if you walk around the centre in the daytime on a weekday you can be the only person in sight who isn't visibly diseased. Absolute wasteland in terms of the population. The piece hall is great and is trying hard but the actual town just can't support the "destination" shops the place deserves.
MrHobbituk@reddit
As someone who walks around the centre of Halifax on a near-daily basis, this is nonsense. Or possibly I'm just outing myself as visibly diseased.
Jaded-Initiative5003@reddit
We also have the most over-engineered and confusing road system in the country
txe4@reddit
Hali?
What's wrong with it?
It does a decent job of getting the through traffic past the town (at the cost of all the stuff which got flattened to make way for the A58) and keeping the nice centre free of cars. It dates from a time when we weren't scared of actually building stuff.
The viaduct isn't beautiful but...imagine what it would be like if all that traffic was crawling stop-start along the old roads to get through town.
If you want to see some over-engineered roads, go to Bradford...there is no industry there, where are all those people GOING?
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
I read it as visibly deceased and I think I prefer that
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Yeah I agree a lot with this one. The fact Halifax is holding big bands at the piece hall as well is incredible.
test_test_1_2_3@reddit
The town isn’t unattractive but it is decaying from a population perspective. Absolutely nothing going on, no opportunities.
Obese_taco@reddit
I have family that live there and hebden bridge. Gorgeous places, but I only really went in the winter, with less desirable weather making for a gloomy atmosphere
PlatformFeeling8451@reddit
Norfolk. In my head, the place was a barren wasteland filled with 6-fingered freaks. But it has a fairly decent Tesco, and I met at least three people who weren't married to their cousins.
Seriously though, a lot of the countryside is stunning, loads of great pubs, and some surprisingly beautiful beaches. Lots of friendly people too.
Wibblywobblywalk@reddit
Why do people think that about Norfolk specifically?
Rynewulf@reddit
People like to punch down, rural poverty has always been a prime target. Plenty of other out of the way countryside places about the world with the same reputation. You're either near a road that makes a good beach holiday destination for the capital, or you're useless scum in a bush.
Although tbf I find most people have never even heard of the east of England at all, let alone Norfolk, so I imagine the reputation is fading
PlatformFeeling8451@reddit
Media portrayal of rural isolation tbh. But it's just a joke. Like saying that Welsh people shag sheep. I'd be fairly confident in stating that no living Welshman has had sex with a sheep, but it's still a common joke.
OkMarket7141@reddit
Moved to Norfolk recently and you are spot on. Beautiful part of the country. Some of the Norfolk stereotypes but no more than most other places. Living the country dream here.
LaraWho@reddit
Milton Keynes. Lots of green spaces to relax/play in, a wide range of shops, leisure activities, and a burgeoning cultural scene.
dunneetiger@reddit
It has such a bad rep that IRL it can only be better. I think I have never heard anything positive about MK from people I know
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Yeah I find quite Milton Keynes quite interesting and unique tbh. Very Green and clean as well.
Smiley_Dub@reddit
I was in Liverpool last year and loved it. Will definitely be back. Randomly asked a woman for directions who just happened to work for the tourist board. She was so nice. All the people I met in Liverpool were really really REALLY nice.
Saxon2060@reddit
Being a Liverpudlian, it's really nice that for the last 10 years loads of people have said to me "Liverpool is really nice..." I just grin and ear the "...actually!" Like, thanks, but you don't have to make it sound like it's such a surprise and be quite so patronising.
It's like people saying with a hint of embarrassment "you know Lidl actually has a lot of good stuff!"
I do wonder when people will stop being surprised that Liverpool is a great place to visit and to live.
Anyway, glad you liked it! I think it largely lives up to the positive stereotypes tbh, I find people from other places quite standoffish and dour by comparison.
Kirsty5@reddit
I visited from Glasgow and found it very similar, feel like we're kinda underdog friendly working class river cities who like to party. Love Liverpool!
Saxon2060@reddit
As good a summary as I've ever seen. And I've heard really good things about Glasgow basically for the reasons you said and that it's very like Liverpool. I'm still yet to visit!
leninzen@reddit
Unfortunately, it's part of the "scousers are bad" rhetoric which seems to be prevalent. Part of it is simply because of footy rivalries, but a lot of it is to do with classism, and disliking the fact that the people of Liverpool don't necessarily sing from the same hymn sheet as other parts of the country.
It's probably the best city in the UK though. And the people are great.
sober_disposition@reddit
“Liverpudlian”? You must be from Woolton.
Extreme-Kangaroo-842@reddit
We've stayed in Liverpool for a few nights by the docks pretty much annually since 2019, when we were visiting the uni for my daughter.
It's my favourite city in the UK. Cracking city centre, plenty to do of a daytime and evening and just a really nice vibe about the place. Going again later on this year.
Smiley_Dub@reddit
Happy to hear all and any recommendations you have! 👏👏👏
Anonymous_1112@reddit
Fled to Liverpool after being priced out of Manchester by all the people being priced out of London. Didn't expect to like living here so much, the only thing that's really missing is a good music scene
Fabulous_Resource825@reddit
My two would be:
Leeds
Glasgow
Sattaman6@reddit
Peckham
Current_Case7806@reddit
Peterborough.
Seriously. It's ALWAYS ranked worse place in the UK and the youtubers will go down Lincoln Road and find that same row of crack houses that are crumbling down to film and get some local crackhead to perform for them...but it's a great city - Ferry Meadows, Flag Fen, Cathedral, nice villages all around the city, great links to London.
OkMarket7141@reddit
Never lived here but visited many times due to close proximity - I agree. While I wouldn’t say it’s the best city, it always surprises me to always read negative things about it. There seems to be a negative bias towards the Fens and surrounding areas
Taucher1979@reddit
My brother lives near Ferry Meadows and it’s the best park I’ve been too in the UK. And with the heritage railway line nearby my children love our yearly visit there. And the cathedral is an absolute stunner. Been visiting Peterborough a couple of times a year for fifteen years now and never understood the negativity.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
I agree it isn't as bad as people say. It has a great cathedral and a cool guildhall too.
Saintee_00@reddit
Dundee - Great city that’s developed so much compared to the last 20 years, fantastic nightlife, friendly people, lots of cool restaurants and cafes and decent shops
wulbhoy78@reddit
Dundee is brilliant now
Brido-20@reddit
Drongan in East Ayrshire.
Nah, only joking. It's a shithole.
wulbhoy78@reddit
It is.
Clear-Ad-2998@reddit
While Saltcoats gets unanimous pelters for its plenitude of junkies, it's still beautifully situated and has the cheapest real estate prices for a seaside town anywhere in Britain. And transport links to Glasgow and Kilmarnock are many and cheap.
wulbhoy78@reddit
Saltcoats is horrendous now. I grew up in Stevenston and remember Saltcoats from the 80’s/90’s. Boating pound, the fair at the front. It was brilliant but the three towns are brutal now.
wage_zombie@reddit
London. It is pretty good. So much to do and so varied.
Professional_Elk_489@reddit
Chipping Campden. Never even heard of it. Went there last weekend and maybe the nicest place I've ever seen in UK
DevilishlyHandsome63@reddit
Salford. Yep it can be rough, but there are some nice bits too, loads of greenery and parks, and it's the most convenient place I've ever lived. I can walk into Manchester city centre in 20 minutes for gigs and nights out. My 2 bedroom flat costs me 530 a month.
Due_Specialist6615@reddit
Bradford!! Yes the center is a shithole but 10mins on the train you have Saltaire, ilkley, baildon moor etc
BulkyVermicelli225@reddit
Ilkley is lovely
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Nah sorry its a shithole.
OrangeMongol@reddit
This is disingenuous. Ilkley is Bradford council but might as well be in another dimension. Saltaire has nice buildings but thats just about it. Baildon moor is the absolute edge of Bradford that its basically where the city meets the countryside.
Due_Specialist6615@reddit
Saltaires got a lovely park and canal walk and decent bars/restaurants. Baildon moor is the end of Bradford but its still Bradford.
I do admit I reached a bit on Ilkley but I know how much it angers those that live in Ilkley
OrangeMongol@reddit
I don't live there, but basic Geography makes me always wonder why it is Bradford at all.
Dystopianita@reddit
Skipton having a BD postcode up in North Yorkshire is even more confusing.
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
It does make sense if you look at the map though - it's closer to Bradford.
But it's it's own place really
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
There's a few in this thread talking about how the shit cities are surrounded by much nicer towns out in the country.
Well, no shit
Interesting_Hawk4339@reddit
tbh I have never felt unsafe in bradford centre, yes parts are run down but thats the same everywhere
Theratchetnclank@reddit
It's more the people that make Bradford unpleasant rather than the city itself.
ballistic-wisdom@reddit
The people are generally fine
Theratchetnclank@reddit
They don't take care of their own area. So many areas of Bradford are full of litter and dirty because the community don't give a fuck about their local area.
ballistic-wisdom@reddit
Many try to via voluntarily litter picking but yeah some people don’t see any value in taking care of a run down deprived area unfortunately
spidertattootim@reddit
No it's not.
test_test_1_2_3@reddit
Bradford city is the pits of the earth, some more rural areas outside of Bradford but are served by Bradford council and have a BD postcode are lovely but are not Bradford itself.
ScientistJo@reddit
None of the people who live in those towns would be happy about being lumped in with Bradford, BD postcode or not!
Due_Specialist6615@reddit
Baildon and Saltaire are 100% Bradford, Ilkley fair enough
ScientistJo@reddit
I know people who live in Shipley that deny all knowledge of living in Bradford!
Due_Specialist6615@reddit
They were most likely born elsewhere. If you come from Bradford then Shipleys is Bradford no escaping that fact.
ScientistJo@reddit
They are Shipley born and bred, they just hate Bradford!
adhder79@reddit
Your conflating Bradford town with the metropolitan borough of Bradford
spidertattootim@reddit
So what you're saying is that it is a shithole but it's near some places that are nice.
That's not as complementary as you think it is.
dtl811@reddit
So the best thing about Bradford is leaving it
WearingMarcus@reddit
You say its not a nice centre, but architecturally I think its nice
plus is a new market opening there?
Gingerpett@reddit
Portsmouth.
Specifically Southsea.
It's a good position - South coast so plenty of sun and yet not like Cornwall where it takes fucking ages to get there.
It's the most densly populated city in great Britain (apart from some areas of London so that doesn't count), which means it's buzzy buzzy buzzy. But it's all coastline (because it's an island) so it doesn't feel claustrophobic. And there's big open spaces, like the common and the beach.
It's got a university for an influx of young people, and loads of history related to the dockyard, for influxes of older tourists and families. So it feels vibrant and not cut off.
Has loads of street art, and festivals and free music.
It's similar to Brighton in some respects but waaay cheaper and not up it's own arse.
I think it's a gem.
BulkyVermicelli225@reddit
I must disagree with that. Portsmouth is not a safe city and has a lot of rubbish on its streets.
TemporaryCommunity38@reddit
Seriously though, Southsea shouldn't even be considered "Portsmouth" really. It's got a distinct identity of own and is far nicer than the rest of Portsea Island, which is a dump.
DrSquigglesMcDiggles@reddit
I went to university there and I agree, it's a nice place. A real sense of community as well with Albert Road and people gathering on the common to watch football matches and the like. Never had any trouble even in the "rougher" areas. Plenty of history, lots to do and see, and the university itself is pretty good as well, especially for marine biology and oceanography which I studied
BulkyVermicelli225@reddit
Bristol
Haunting-Director294@reddit
Outskirts of Bradford. They are amazing, safe and exactly the opposite what people portray online. 10mins drive you get to the city, at home you get a lovely view, and another 10 mins drive, you get to a breathtaking scene.
inopotamo@reddit
Bradford City is terrible, but there's some nice towns and villages in the borough
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
I like how every so often there's an argument on the Leeds sub about whether Ilkley is Leeds or Bradford, because it has a Bradford postcode.
All of those little towns around there are lovely tbh
geoakey@reddit
It has a Leeds postcode but is in the City of Bradford
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
Ah yeah, so it does!
I could've sworn it was BD!
Hank_Wankplank@reddit
Yep, I'm from Leeds and moving house and was seriously considering Apperley Bridge or Idle/Thackley, genuinely really nice areas and you get loads more for your money than Leeds.
menegerie5@reddit
Lincoln, York and Durham all beautiful historical cities with a warm northern culture. Can be lacking in resources if living there (especially Lincoln and Durham from my experience) but beautiful to visit. ♥️
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Do they really get bad press though?
menegerie5@reddit
Some of my friends down south genuinely think anywhere of north of Cambridge is the Dark Ages....!
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Wow they really don't know what they're missing.
menegerie5@reddit
I am Yorkshire born and bred and since adulthood almost universally loved 'up north' so I am trying to convert them 🤣💕
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Same and we do generally have some beautiful places in Yorkshire. Skipton, Whitby, Beverley, Ilkley, Harrogate, York, Howden, Knaresborough to name a few.
menegerie5@reddit
Whitby is lovely but I find how busy it gets difficult. Beyond that is probably my favourite seaside spot!
gin0clock@reddit
Wakefield.
Just moved outside of it and yeah like every city there’s some rough edges to the city centre, but if it had the investment that Leeds & Sheffield had, it would be a lot better.
Also having lived in Leeds for 4/5 years prior to moving, I think the people here are way more warm & welcoming.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Nah sorry Wakefield is grim.
sweetpapisanchez@reddit
Stockport.
Grew up there, watched it decline and now within the last few years it's really bounced back. The ghastly old bus station being replaced by the travel interchange was a big step forwards.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Yeah the town is certainly on the up now with Manchester developing fast.
bowak@reddit
I"m genuinely impressed with what they did there. It's much nicer as a pedestrian & cyclist - haven't used the ground level for a bus yet so don't know how well it works as a bus station tbf, but the old one was grim and nasty so almost anything would be an improvement.
It's just good to see how they've managed to make use of the multiple levels.
Dancinglemming@reddit
Stoke. I went to football, stayed in the Hilton, walked around the botanical gardens and visited the Potteries museum.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Nah sorry its a shithole.
Odd-Loan-5704@reddit
Stirling, Scotland. Loads of history, cafes and quite a good buzz about it compared to the neighboring towns.
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Halifax. The Piece Hall is amazing.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Especially with the fact it's hosting big bands there now.
SlightlyIncandescent@reddit
Wigan. Predominantly working class, ex-mining town in the north. Many would assume it's going to be grim and lifeless but I've been living in Wigan 10 years now and love it.
There's a healthy local pride about the area. The town centre is doing ok relatively speaking, I see local events running all the time, there are some beautiful rural areas, the sports teams are well supported etc.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
I don't think Wigan is as bad as it gets press for but I also don't think it's anything to rave about.
moofacemoo@reddit
To be fair you can apply alot of that to many Northern towns.
SlightlyIncandescent@reddit
You can but some truly are absolutely grim. Off the top of my head Salford and Bolton are absolute shit holes.
havaska@reddit
I’m from St Helens so it’s a hard disagree from me 😅 j/k
Haigh Hall is lovely and a hidden gem. Standish is also surprisingly nice with decent places for food and drinks.
SlightlyIncandescent@reddit
Yeah Albert's in Standish is our go-to for a special occasion
pertweescobratattoo@reddit
Was pleasantly surprised by Wigan. It's definitely not the best, but it has history and identity and seemed a lot more bustling than many other similar towns.
suxamethoniumm@reddit
This website you can review your local area or see others reviews
In general I'll stick up for the North East. Amazing areas of countryside and coastline. Housing prices are low and people are friendly. Newcastle's a decent city. There is however a lot of deprivation and a lot of outcomes are the worst in the UK on the downside
fillyourguts@reddit
Can I be the one that ask’s this tomorrow?
pharmamess@reddit
No
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Hull. Very nice city centre and actually quite a fair bit to do with the museums it has.
No_Walrus7014@reddit
Stockport
Pure_Recognition_715@reddit
Oxwitch bay
PytheasOfMarsallia@reddit
Aberdeenshire.
OkConversation2865@reddit
But the Doric accent 👎
jock_fae_leith@reddit
It's not an accent.
OkConversation2865@reddit
Mate I'm in the Highlands. Well aware that Doric is a language/dialect but it also gives speakers a pretty unique Scottish accent which to me is fairly grating.
jock_fae_leith@reddit
Fair enough, not sure it's any worse than the Sneckie accent though. What's worth than both though is Glaswegians who think that they are the same accent.
pertweescobratattoo@reddit
Nah, pretty enough, but full of Tory oil money and cattle farmers.
acnebbygrl@reddit
SHHHHHHHH. Let’s keep this one quiet 🤫
sadscience@reddit
Liverpool and Glasgow are two of my favourite cities in the UK. They’ve got a real soul to them.
Icy_Help_8380@reddit
Dover is on the up. Still rough around the edges but green shoots are starting to
Jesssssssssssieeee@reddit
Belfast
ginbandit@reddit
Went there about 15yrs back for a mates birthday, was really surprised how much the locals 'owned' the Troubles and were keen to move forwards. Pubs were cracking and didn't get any grief, mind we didn't go do anything totally stupid!
Shoddy-Computer2377@reddit
What really got me about Belfast was just how dead it felt during the working day. You'd look out of the office window and see... nothing.
In other cities there are always cars on the move, people out and about shopping, running errands, just wandering about. Belfast was just dead until lunchtime when everyone suddenly appeared, then it died again until the evenings.
Ihavecakewantsome@reddit
I hoped someone else would write Belfast too! Loveliest city to visit being full of Victorian Grandeur style buildings.
Interesting-Pop-8629@reddit
I genuinely think me and my wife didn't go to the right places in Belfast, because everyone says the buildings are beautiful, but I don't remember them being spectacular, a lot of them were that red brick industrial style.
Jesssssssssssieeee@reddit
The buildings to me a pretty normal, it’s the natural beauty there is here which is just fantastic and a very different vibe to what I was used to in the midlands!
Ihavecakewantsome@reddit
You probably did go to the right places; I should caveat my words in saying I love that particular style of building. That said, I think our favourite pub was Duke of York and that definitely had a strong Victorian feel.
WheresMyAbs98@reddit
Went there last year.
Cracking city. Will be back.
tmstms@reddit
Almost everywhere! Because people living somewhere have a micro-life made up of what gives them some fulfilment, and so they seek out nice places to go, whether urban or countryside.
In general, people who disparage somewhere fall into one of the following categories:
1) non-residents who drive through deprived localities or visit depressed town / city entre
2) people who grew up/previously lived in a given place and don;t like how their own locality has changed.
SnooBooks1701@reddit
Nah, Bognor is still a shit hole
Icy-Tear4613@reddit
Most the time people moaning about a place is just a “insert local town here joke”
Dannybuoy77@reddit
Folkestone. I grew up on the south coast and never visited. I went there last summer and it's bloody lovely. The harbour has been regenerated and it's got a very cool vibe there. Also Dungeness, you know by the massive NUCLEAR POWER STATION, that's nice too
Lady2nice@reddit
It's nice if you are a certain shade....but yes...the place is beautiful...the ppl...not so much
Prestigious-Gold6759@reddit
Was waiting to see if Folkestone mentioned.
spicyzsurviving@reddit
recently went to stay with a friend in Wetherby and it was really nice strolling around her area. it just felt like being in a nice neat small town. probably not much to do, but it was nicer than I expected when I got to Leeds
ChipCob1@reddit
Hull has come on a lot recently...there's a good weekend to be had up there!
CrystalKirlia@reddit
Norwich. It's not the 2000s anymore. It's much more culturally diverse, got 2 universities, even more colleges,a thriving arts scene and is the most accepting place I've ever lived.
The subcultures are also great! Got everyone from goths to pirates, to those people in the 50s dresses everyday. The best part? Everyone gets along really great! Norwich is very... Norwich. But in a good way, yknow?
Careful_Bake_5793@reddit
Was looking for this one! A great smaller city to visit, great pubs, historic centre etc. Massively underrated!
DJ_Beardsquirt@reddit
As someone who spent their teenage years in Norwich during the 00s, I'm kinda surprised by your "not the 00s" anymore comment. It was a great place to grow up and while some things have improved, I think the city has lost a lot of its charm and identity over the last couple of decades.
Icy-General1530@reddit
The south wales valleys have a bad rep for crime, drugs, poverty etc but they are stunningly beautiful
el_pieablo@reddit
Paisley. Loads of green spaces, mostly tidy, good bars and food places. Affordable housing and all the amenities of a big city but at town prices. Close to Glasgow if you need to venture into a big city(I hate Glasgow).
InZim@reddit
I did a bit of work near Johnstone for a few weeks and stayed in Paisley because of the airport and not wanting to be too isolated; I'd heard so much shit but it was actually really nice. I'm with you on the Glasgow hate as well.
Same_Grouness@reddit
What's wrong with Glasgow? It's a perfectly pleasant city, tons to do, amazing nightlife, one of the greenest cities in the UK (only behind Edinburgh) with some stunning parks (Edinburgh might be greener but it's parks are boring in comparison), friendly people, and it's a fairly compact city so it's easy to get about.
-Aqua-Lime-@reddit
Agreed! I really like Paisley, especially if you're close to the centre - there's a lot going on, you've got a pretty decent range of amenities, and I like that someone's clearly making an effort to keep the centre looking nice with flower displays and all that.
DiscoSkrtel@reddit
Why do you hate Glasgow? I’ve visited and loved it
_WhatSheSaid_@reddit
Yes…Liverpool is a BRILLIANT place. I live about 30-40 mins away and I adore it so much I dream about living there. One day I will live in the Georgian quarter 🙏
People who speak badly of liverpool have clearly never been.
It’s so unique, refreshing, fun. I love the celtic feel of it, the maritime X industrial heritage and beautiful old buildings.
There’s so much to do, and a lot of it is free then not far off up the rd you have formby beach which is also great.
wayneio@reddit
Cheltenham.
Known for the origin (rightly or wrongly) of the CHeltenhamAVerage (CHAV).
Actually it's got a great town center with good shops, a great weekly market and often Literary/Science/Music festivals.
Just avoid it on St Patrick's race day.
xdgamerguy@reddit
Cheltenham is kinda boring ngl. It's got good architecture with the buildings but that's it. There really isnt much to do there.
Maned-wolves@reddit
I think every town in England that starts with CH thinks that's where that comes from
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
Haha, who thinks Cheltenham is bad? Hasn't it got a reputation as the Harrogate of the South? Eg. a posh spa town?
Straight_Physics_229@reddit
It has. I live there for that reason lol
Straight_Physics_229@reddit
I live in Cheltenham. Never heard that it is bad? It's a lovely regency town
Chunderdragon86@reddit
Clacton actually really nice beaches
Prior_Pear9873@reddit
I agree about Liverpool but I think a lot of people now know it's good. I've been here about 4 years and it's a great place to live.
Funkdoobs@reddit
Stevenage.
Ill_Kaleidoscope5233@reddit
I knew you’d pop up here. Do you work for the council?
Funkdoobs@reddit
Ha! I should do.
No, I’ve been living here for 3 years and have travelled to many a towns which are a dive in comparison to Stevenage.
Its negative reputation isn’t justified.
TheFlyingHornet1881@reddit
It's an average town but certainly better than it's reputation as a bit of a dump. Looks ugly but has a decent selection of amenities, things to do, transport links and a surprisingly good selection of restaurants.
Funkdoobs@reddit
Spot on, the town centre is in desperate need of a revamp but apart from that there are plentiful green spaces in the town, cycling lanes everywhere and plenty to get on and do.
I see Stevenage often voted one of the worst places to live in the UK, and I always think that those voting can't be very well travelled.
DDAAVVEE123@reddit
You did some of the pubs on the Hartshill Mile by the sounds of it. Glad you enjoyed it, wherever it was 👍
Klossomfawn@reddit
I found Stoke is quite useful to live in if you have offices in Manchester, Birmingham and London.
Wibblywobblywalk@reddit
I went to stoke for work once and went on a little pub crawl on my own on a weekday evening. It was so friendly! And loads of nice old pubs.
DDAAVVEE123@reddit
Stoke is ace for pubs, which pubs did you visit?
Wibblywobblywalk@reddit
I can't remember the names but it was a little circuit from the hotel by the station into town, taking in one modern hipsterish ale bar and three older ones, one of which had good sized garden and paintings on the walls. I met a group of people going the other way and when we bumped into each other again they all shouted the name of my town :)
BennyHudson10@reddit
It was a long time ago (2006-09), but I went to university in Leicester (big up my DMU alumni) and absolutely loved it. Safe, welcoming, clean… really, really liked it.
DaveBeBad@reddit
We went to view Leicester where junior was looking at universities. Is the only city within a couple of hours we haven’t been back to…
Drammeister@reddit
There’s some nice parts. The Cathedral, Guild Hall, Castle Precincts, New Walk and St Martins for Cafes Restaurants and stuff. Parts of the centre are awful though.
DaveBeBad@reddit
I’m sure there are. It was just rough in the city centre when we went.
Drammeister@reddit
It’a a city of two halves. The part from Highcross up to DMU plus down to Leicester Uni is actually really nice.
The rest of the centre not so much.
BennyHudson10@reddit
For me the place went to the dogs when they shut The Quay pub and replaced it with a Tesco Express directly opposite a mini Sainsbury’s. That annoyed me, but otherwise I won’t hear a bad word about it.
TREBILCOCK@reddit
Same time, same place as you and I agree. I had a blast.
Littleleicesterfoxy@reddit
Thank you x
Constant-Estate3065@reddit
Southampton.
People assume it’s just a new town attached to a container port, but it’s got so much history, including some of the most complete medieval city walls in the country, Tudor buildings, Georgian terraces, stone gatehouses etc. Also birthplace of the Spitfire, and embarkation port of the Mayflower and Titanic. The streets of the old town are full of buildings with attachments to the great ocean liners of the past.
It also has a surprisingly vibrant city centre by today’s standards, especially on a sunny day, with vast amounts of parkland, loads of galleries, museums, restaurants, and music venues.
20 odd years ago it wasn’t that great, but it definitely has a better vibe these days.
damapplespider@reddit
For a port city though, there’s so little public access to the water which makes me a little sad. I mean the best view is from IKEA’s cafe. And I confess to invariably getting lost in the one way system so I hate driving there. But there are some definite lesser known gems.
Constant-Estate3065@reddit
It definitely could be better. There are some ambitious plans to open up Town Quay and make it more of a destination, and Mayflower Park is a nice spot on a sunny day, but that aspect of the city definitely needs improvement.
springsomnia@reddit
Sidcup! It’s not the armpit of England as James Corden would have you think. Granted it’s not somewhere I would personally stop if I were a tourist and I would rather live somewhere else, but if you live there and enjoy green spaces, it’s a great place. I have 3 large parks and 1 meadow within walking distance of my house. I only have to cross the road and I’m in an open green space. The Highstreet was pretty dead for a long time, but now it’s getting some life into it and decent cafes and shops are opening. Schools here are good and it’s one of the cheaper London boroughs in the south too. It’s a good in between if you like the countryside but still want to be near London and like your local amenities. It’s close to Kent’s attractions too so it’s the best of both worlds.
Mr--Chainsaw@reddit
Suffolk countryside.
There is definitely a lack of amenities and probably not a lot for young people to do in some places, but it’s absolutely beautiful. Someone else commented re North Essex and I’m saying South Suffolk for similar reasons.
Some of the prettiest little villages and amazing nature and views I’ve seen. Search for images of “Constable Country”.
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
I agree it's beautiful, but does anyone (other us from Norfolk), think the Suffolk countryside is bad?
Ill-Basil2863@reddit
Lancaster is nice.
Spottyjamie@reddit
Centre yes, some of the estates are a big contrast mind
myblackandwhitecat@reddit
I came on tow rite 'Liverpool' as well. It has really improved since the 80s and there is so much going on there now.
gabrielks05@reddit
Huddersfield, lots of really pretty architecture and so near amazing countryside!
anabsentfriend@reddit
My mum's from Huddersfiled (I was born and live on the south coast). I used to visit regularly as a child. It was really quite grim in the 70s, but it's so much better these days. I think the improvements have a lot to do with money being spent on the university.
Bethlizardbreath@reddit
Norwich!
Fascinating place, full of history and intrigue.
So many fantastic coffee shops.
Cool undercover market.
If you’re into second hand shopping, it’s your city to visit! Particularly love the multiple churches that have been turned into “antique markets” for want of better phrasing.
Definitely an alternative/ art studenty place, but lots of mainstream shops too.
Always have a good day out visiting.
Drammeister@reddit
It’s a fine city. It says so on the sign.
anabsentfriend@reddit
Norwich surprised me. I think I'd been turned against it by Alan Partidge, but I actually really liked it. There's a lot going on, and it's a nice-looking town (the central area, I haven't visited the outer suburbs).
Wandering_sage1234@reddit
Norwich?
WilliamRileyStuart@reddit
Milton Keyes😂
Rastadan1@reddit
Blackpool
Hull
v2marshall@reddit
Weston super mare. Town centre has plenty of good restaurants. Loads of places to walk including beaches, woods and fields. Close to Bristol, easy drive to Cornwall. Housing is still relatively cheap
MattyFTM@reddit
People love to shit on Sunderland but the people are lovely, the beaches are outstanding & there are some really nice areas to live with relatively affordable housing. More recently the town centre has been undergoing a bit of a transformation. Still not much in the way of shops (but which town centre in the country doesn't have that problem in 2025) but there has been a boom in restaurants & venues.
There are some rougher areas and the older side of the town centre is still pretty run down, but on the whole it's not a bad city to live in.
Heypisshands@reddit
Larne, best filled sodas in the country, hey.
OpeningDealer1413@reddit
Nottingham & Leicester. I live in between the two, both have genuinely fantastic ‘cultural quarters’ each has a big and very clean shopping centre, both have got absolutely superb independent cinemas, both have got fantastic historical sites and there’s brilliant architecture dotted around in both. Also being in the middle of the country you get a fascinating cultural mix of people like you would in the bigger cities like London & Birmingham. Neither city is perfect but I love living a short drive from both
Big-Teach-769@reddit
Couldn’t disagree more on Liverpool. What a dive. If it wasn’t for the Beatles there would be zero tourism there.
Havhestur@reddit
Derry. Class place. Chill. Pretty. Great craic. Lovely countryside nearby including good beaches and The Sperrins.
getfucckedd@reddit
Barnsley. The council reinvented the indoor market and it's been a huge hit in the town centre. It's always packed and a delight to walk around.
johnsonboro@reddit
I went to University/College in Barnsley in the late 90s. It wasn't great back then. I drove round it a bit a year or two ago and could barely recognise the place. I could do with having a proper walk around the centre to see how much has really changed as there's only so much you can see by car.
getfucckedd@reddit
Funnily enough, I left the area in 97 to attend Uni. I moved overseas after graduation and didn't go back until last year (moved back home to look after my parents). I was pleasantly surprised.
pertweescobratattoo@reddit
Relatives slagged off Barnsley, but I honestly thought it was fine. It's had investment, there's the impressive town hall, it could be far worse.
Smiley_Dub@reddit
In noooo way whatsoever did I mean to be patronising. Liverpool, for me, was such a refreshing break from the South, which I find not necessarily unfriendly but certainly lacking in the warmth of those I met in Liverpool.
elegant_karlie@reddit
Liverpool’s spot on, Newcastle’s another one. Way more charm, warmth, and nightlife than people give it credit for.
johnsonboro@reddit
I'm not sure about Newcastle. I think it's had a great reputation and rightly so. Liverpool had a terrible reputation but has probably the biggest glow up of anywhere I can think of in the UK.
Sad-Huckleberry-1166@reddit
a bit niche but Aldershot will come up from time to time in these things but it's really nice here! Football team on doorstep, quick to London, lovely quiet little suburbs, surprising access to nature. It's not all roses but I think much nicer than people realise.
Euronymous316@reddit
Portrush. Yes there are a load of weirdos there obsessed with religion or nationality, but on a summers day it is a really nice place to visit with one of the best beaches in the country.
crev_of_smeg@reddit
Hull! Went to uni there a few years back and it was friendly, very cheap, and I never felt unsafe living there. It absolutely does not deserve the bad rep, and a lot of locals would definitely say that it's improved a lot in the past few years, especially since becoming city of culture
Zoesmethurst@reddit
Swansea
kieranrunch@reddit
Came here to say this. Lovely coast and a great night out
Lionheart952@reddit
In my twenties I worked all over the country, in every major town and city. In we were working in Wales we’d always make sure we stayed in Swansea on a Wednesday night! Good old ‘Wine’ Street ❤️
kieranrunch@reddit
Nice one! I was there for 3 years as a student - so many fond memories of that place 😂
Hullodurr@reddit
Why? 😊
Silent_Post_8543@reddit
My Grandad used to say ‘Lord, keep me away from Hull, Hell and Halifax’ but Halifax is now a really nice little town, got Piece Hall for events and some nice food/drinks places, plus it’s well connected on the train and close by you have great walks and countryside. Can’t speak for Hell and only been to Hull to visit the Deep though.
PracticalBobcat7730@reddit
Birmingham
Glasgow
helleboresandthread@reddit
St Helens, we moved here 5 years ago and we've never lived somewhere with such a lovely community (my partner Scouse and me having moved around quite a bit). Never have I made friends so quickly somewhere. The town centre is a bit dead outside of the world of glass but people here are extremely friendly and it's convenient for Liverpool/Manchester/very easy to get to national parks. We love it here.
We keep calling it a hidden gem because everyone thinks it's super rough and I probably shouldn't mention it here as we don't want house prices don't go up 😂
geth1962@reddit
Darlington. Nice little place
One-Prior3480@reddit
My now husband lived in Salford when we first got together. Some surprisingly nice bits and way greener than I’d expected.
The_39th_Step@reddit
Lots of Salford is really nice, you’re right. Worsley, Monton, the city centre parts - it’s much improved.
I mean realistically Salford is just west Manchester, rather than a real place in its own right, but yeah it’s much better than it used to be.
One-Prior3480@reddit
Yeah, just don’t say that in Salford! We went to a party in the park thing and one of the bands said ‘we’re happy to be here in Manchester!’ Half the crowd booed and the other half shouted ‘SALFORD!’ 😂
The_39th_Step@reddit
lol it’s funny. Some people really care and others couldn’t give less of a shit. I used to live in Castlefield, so I was in Manchester but could walk to Salford in 2 mins
Icy-Tear4613@reddit
Peterborough has a tonne of green space and decent transport. It’s more of a town than a city but never get why it tops worse places in the uk.
Unusual_residue@reddit
This is a popular Reddit post. This time, I nominate Bishop's Waltham.
Ihavecakewantsome@reddit
It has a cool church!
havaska@reddit
People who think Liverpool isn’t a nice city must be still living in the 80s; it’s been rather nice for quite a while now!
Firepanda@reddit
Manchester. Probably not controversial if you live up north though.
I grew up in Bath and everyone I know has a real bad impression of it, and when I voluntarily moved to Manchester back in 2017 I had right ear full from my parents.
The city centre and people are interesting, and I loved my cycle commute. It has everything and I never felt bored
Doc_G_1963@reddit
South Shields; A beautiful coastline and a Roman fort :-)
Mrmulvaney@reddit
Portsmouth and Southsea. Moved here 3 years ago for a job and it’s great. Loads to do but not too busy and housing is cheap. Within 1hr and a half to London by train. Access to Gatwick Heathrow Bournemouth and Southampton airports under 1hr and half. International ferry port for Channel Islands, France and Spain. Loads of history, loads of old pubs. An island so all round coast, pebble beach. Lots of Green space. Free events/festivals through the summer. The food scene was lacking when we first moved here compared to Glasgow but it’s improving and there are a lot of good independent places to eat and drink. Honestly a hidden gem, we weren’t expecting much moving down blind and a lot of people thought we would regret it but I’ve been very impressed.
Striking-Amoeba-5563@reddit
I’m from Liverpool and I’d agree but obviously I’m biased!
Personally I think London is fab and I don’t think it deserves the reputation for being unfriendly. I lived there for a few years in the early 00s (south east London) and found people there really warm and chatty. I’ve visited recently though, with the kids, and I found it a really enjoyable experience and again, pretty friendly to be honest.
the_merry_pom@reddit
Truthfully, I think the whole “it’s grim up north” line is just a generally outdated view actually and it can often prove the exact opposite with plenty of beautiful countryside and dynamic nightlife to be had in the north of England and Scotland.
That’s not to say there isn’t any of this in the south, obviously, but as a general rule I think one end can be slightly overrated while the other is often underrated.
sirgreyskull@reddit
I’m not telling you as I don’t want other people to ruin it for me
Euphoric_Necessary_3@reddit
I went to uni in Liverpool in the early 2000s and I’d move back in a heartbeat. I was heartbroken to have to move to London for work and feel like I would have made a much better life for myself in the north. When I’ve visited Manchester, for example, there’s just so much more diversity, culture and vibrancy.
Express_Sun790@reddit
surely London isn't any less diverse than Manchester??
Euphoric_Necessary_3@reddit
I don’t live in London anymore
Express_Sun790@reddit
yes but London is and has always been at least as diverse as Manchester
MagnificentBollocks@reddit
I always thought London was more diverse than Manchester.
dtl811@reddit
London. Infinitely better than what you see on the news and/or from serial complainers.
HotPaleontologist589@reddit
Southampton. I bought my first home here after living in the outskirts for most of my life in the areas considered ‘posh’. I love living here. Great links into city centre. Good food scene. Great cinema. Can walk to the seafront in 20 minutes.
Common_Man7669@reddit
Another vote for Hull. Only ever been there on a few day trips though, might be different living there tbf.
RiseUpAndGetOut@reddit
Kidderminster.
(jk)
CWM_93@reddit (OP)
I see you've been snooping!
RiseUpAndGetOut@reddit
??
CWM_93@reddit (OP)
Guess where I lived before Liverpool...😆
RiseUpAndGetOut@reddit
Haha. I'm not surprised you find Liverpool good 😂
I'm joking, of course. I love Liverpool, and Kidderminster is the easy butt of any shit English town joke.
CWM_93@reddit (OP)
Yeah, I get it. It's obscure enough that most people have no frame of reference other than the industry it no longer has!
There aren't many work opportunities in the town itself so you need to be willing to travel for work, either into Birmingham on the train or by car to the surrounding areas. The countryside around Kidderminster is really nice, with lots of places to go for a day out though.
JaNaDa90@reddit
Nothing wrong with the outskirts of Kidderminster, the town itself though is very run down. In desperate need of some renovation and money spent on it
CWM_93@reddit (OP)
The ring road absolutely killed the town centre. From most places people live, the only way to walk into the town centre is via dark underpasses which go under the dual carriageway. The irony is that it was built to support the factories - which are now all closed!
pertweescobratattoo@reddit
Leicester. Lots of beautiful architecture, history and seemingly a much healthier city centre economy than many others I've been to.
GarethGazzGravey@reddit
Again, I agre with you OP, Liverpool is a great place
Admittedly, I think I did fall for the stereotypes and portrayals of Liverpool and Liverpudlians (I have several friends from there) but they are friendly people, and the city itself is a great place. I've only ever been once, but I will make it somewhere to visit again
el_diablo420@reddit
Swindon
Nickk1234op@reddit
I’m from Swindon and have lived there most of my life, while it might not be the absolute worst place in the U.K, it’s definitely in the bottom 20% of places in the U.K. Very few opportunities now, cultural desert and speaking to people from other areas, very violent as well
Gulbasaur@reddit
It does have nice-enough bits but when I go there I'm shocked at how barren a lot of it is. There's this wasteland of mid-tier out-of-town shops you've got that aren't really worth visiting on their own and you're always practically the only person in there.
The some bits are nice enough and there's a surprisingly good escape room, but it feels like a failed experiment.
Nickk1234op@reddit
There’s a fair amount of green space and the countryside just outside of Swindon is amazing but that’s about it
bowak@reddit
Is the Oasis centre still open? Loved that as a kid when visiting family.
Nickk1234op@reddit
Nope it’s closed now. Things are closing down at a really high rate here
Melonpan78@reddit
The Swindon lot are little slugs.
DonaaldTrump@reddit
Only if you are a fan of roundabouts
ThePineappleSeahorse@reddit
Disclaimer: I haven’t been there for 9 years but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Nottingham while there. It was the perfect size for pottering around and there were some really good restaurants and shops. I liked it a lot and should really return.
throwthrowthrow529@reddit
Came here to say Sheffield. Everyone seems to think it’s a shithole but I grew up on the Sheffield dronfield border.
Loads of parks, loads of greenery, nice pubs pretty easy to travel around. Was loads to do in the city centre which I understand is now getting better and better. Pretty affluent where I grew up paired with some lovely council estates.
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Who thinks it's a shit hole? The city centre might not be the greatest but a shit-hole it is not. Some very nice parts indeed.
throwthrowthrow529@reddit
Everyone I’ve spoken to who isn’t from Sheff. I’m constantly telling them it’s the greenest city in Europe!
zentimo2@reddit
Yeah, Sheffield is lush, I've lived there for more than ten years now. The city centre is pretty meh and has some rough spots, which is what I think a lot of people get a mediocre impression of the city from. But loads of the areas outside the centre are absolutely lovely - loads of parks, lovely pubs, some great little shops and artsy venues dotted all over the place.
youmong@reddit
Read the title, thought Liverpool instantly, glad it’s not just me haha
PlymLeon@reddit
As someone who lives in the southwest, London. I go up there a fair bit for England games and gigs etc. Never had any issues and met lots of friendly people.
Yet the general stigma down here is that it’s a dangerous place and should be avoided, especially from people who have lived in the southwest all their lives.
Sure, bad things happen. But they can happen anywhere. It’s such a big city with a big population that petty crime is inevitable, as with anywhere else in the world.
Also shout out to Falmouth. I went there for the first time a few weeks ago and found it to be a lovely little place. It recently topped a list of most depressing places to live in the uk (or something like that).
Melonpan78@reddit
Portsmouth.
Better than Southampton, less touristy than Brighton, comes alive in the summer.
Wessex-90@reddit
I live near Liverpool- I absolutely love it!
Outrageous_Jury4152@reddit
Unless you loved there you can't really say. Most people rate a place based on their experience there, which isnt always the average experience
FrezzyyAndroid@reddit
Milton Keynes if you live in the centre.
traditionalcauli@reddit
I found myself living in Reading for a while, a place I was convinced no one had ever actually decided to move to but rather found themselves following some misfortune or miscalculation.
But I was pleasantly surprised - it’s actually rather nice, and even if you don’t like the town itself its proximity to any number of places you can’t help but like easily redeems it.
Me-myself-I-2024@reddit
Cemeteries
cloche_du_fromage@reddit
I moved to mid / north Essex a while back.
Was expecting flat, barren farming / industrial landscape.
Surprised to find lots of beautiful countryside and lovely villages.
Zestyclose_Key_6964@reddit
Lovejoy country
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When repling to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.