From picturesque streets to soulless office blocks and a giant Tesco: Inside Britain’s prettiest and ugliest towns… but can you guess who the winner and loser is?
- Twenty one towns were rated across categories including historic architecture, views and greenery
- Among the prettiest were the quaint streets of Rye and Holt with the seaside community of Woodbridge
- But experts were less kind to the no-frills architecture of Telford and the urban sprawl of Merthyr Tydfil
Travel experts have scoured all of Britain’s 1,250 towns to crown the nation’s ugliest and prettiest places to live.
Twenty one towns from St Andrews in Scotland to Fowey in Cornwall were selected and rated across a number of categories including historic architecture, views, shop fronts, traffic and litter and greenery.
Among the prettiest were the quaint streets of Rye and Holt with the seaside community of Woodbridge and the historic market town of Ledbury.
But experts were less kind to the no-frills architecture of Telford and the urban sprawl of Merthyr Tydfil.
While they were even less impressed with Cumbernauld, once slammed as Scotland’s ‘most dismal’ town.
But which areas were hailed Britain’s ugliest and prettiest town? MailOnline spoke to residents and visitors from both to see what they thought.
The abundance of shops – or lack of them – played a part in the Slough scoring an overall mark of just 12/50 in the survey
Despite the town centre being just two miles from Windsor, a tourist hot spot attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, it is unlikely few would make the short trip across to Slough
It seems few would travel to Slough despite the town undergoing significant re-generation with millions being spent on new homes and offices
Litter surrounds lifts in Slough, which has been voted Britain’s ugliest town by travel experts
Piles of rubbish are pictured in Slough, which has been rated Britain’s ugliest town
The ‘ugliest town’ in Britain – Slough
Slough was named Britain’s ugliest town, by travel experts in the Telegraph, with a scathing assessment from its architecture to the variety of shops.
But far from disagreeing with the damming verdict, residents who live in the Berkshire town, about an hour from London, agree wholeheartedly.
Clare Henderson, 83, told MailOnline: ‘I’ve lived here for over 50 years, and it is awful. There is litter everywhere, empty shops and nothing to look at. The people who voted it bottom got it quite right.’
The abundance of shops – or lack of them – played a part in the Slough scoring an overall mark of just 12/50 in the survey and the town was ranked bottom in almost all the categories considered.
Despite the town centre being just two miles from Windsor, a tourist hot spot attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, it is unlikely few would make the short trip across the M4 motorway even though Slough has undergone significant re-generation with millions being spent on new homes and offices.
Landmarks that featured in the hit comedy series ‘The Office,’ which was set in the town, have long since been demolished to make way for new builds.
But despite the facelift, residents still have little love for the town that the poet John Betjeman urged to be flattened in his stanza ‘Slough’.
He wrote: ‘Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough. It isn’t fit for humans now.’
Far from disagreeing with the damming verdict, residents who live in the Berkshire town, about an hour from London , agree wholeheartedly that it deserves its dire reputation
Despite the facelift, residents still have little love for the town that the poet John Betjeman urged to be flattened in his stanza ‘Slough’
Homeless people are pictured sleeping near a Tesco Extra for shelter in Slough
‘There is nothing here really,’ said lifelong resident Shelly Allen as she agreed with the damning opinion of travel experts
A drab shopping centre car park is pictured in Slough, which has been voted the ugliest town in Britain by travel experts
Residents appear to agree with his sentiment which written in 1937. ‘
There is nothing here really,’ said lifelong resident Shelly Allen.
‘It has got terrible shops and there is nothing much to do. I can’t say there are any nice buildings to look at.’
Ms Allen, 43, who was born in Slough added: ‘I don’t think people come to Slough unless they have come business. It is not the sort of place to attract visitors.
‘It does look ugly. There are lots of new offices, but they are nothing much to look at.’
Marcus Clarence, 19, has worked in the town for just over a year at a marketing firm. He didn’t have a kind word to say about the place where he commutes to each morning from his home in North London.
‘I agree that the place is ugly. In a lot of places when you come out of the station there is some life, some colour. Here there is just nothing. It is boring and I would not want to live here.’
Taxi driver Ramjat Singh, 64, has worked in the town all his life picking up fares from the main railway station adjoining a giant Tesco superstore.
He also lives in Slough and admits that he never bothers to shop in the town centre as the choice of stores is so poor.
In the outlet’s survey, Slough marked 0/10 for storefronts. A quick walk around the 1970s built, drab looking and run down Queensmere Shopping Centre and its not hard to see why experts rated it at zero.
Mostly deserted of shoppers, whole sections of the indoor centre feature empty store fronts. At a Footlocker Store there were more security guards in high viz jackets than customers.
A homeware store had a ‘Closing Down’ sign in the window while a mobile phone trader offered the latest iPhone but did not have any on display for fear they would be stolen.
‘One of the reasons Slough is so awful is that it has rubbish shops,’ said chef Redouane Flissi, 34, who was sat outside the centre of graffiti covered walls.
‘I hate the place and plan to move to Ireland. There is nothing here, and its becoming increasingly dangerous with muggings and other crime.
The 1970s built run down Queensmere Shopping Centre in Slough is nearly deserted of shoppers
Landmarks that featured in the hit comedy series ‘The Office,’ which was set in the town, have long since been demolished to make way for new builds
Taxi driver Ramjat Singh, 64, has worked in the town all his life picking up fares from the main railway station adjoining a giant Tesco superstore. He also lives in Slough and admits that he never bothers to shop in the town centre
More than a dozen people were asked by MailOnline if they agreed with the survey ranking it the ugliest in the UK – and not a single person would speak up for the town
Marcus Clarence, 19, has worked in the town for just over a year at a marketing firm. He didn’t have a kind word to say about the place where he commutes to each morning from his home in North London
‘It is a depressing place and not somewhere I would want to spend much of my time. I just come here each day for work,’ said 29-year-old Terri-Lee Kane
All around the town new offices and flats are springing up and Slough is able to boast the biggest trading estate in the world where over 20,000 people work
An industrial estate looms over a suburb in Slough that has been blasted by locals and commuters after being voted as Britain’s ugliest town by travel experts
‘I was attacked for my e-bike and a friend was recently stabbed in the hand. I know its not the prettiest place but its also dangerous.
A covered walkway to the centre is closed with piles of rubbish stacked against the doors. Nearby two homeless men slept in a doorway below the great concrete structure.
Lifelong residents Clare Henderson, 83 and her friend Margaret Wheatley, 82, have both lived in the town for more than 50 years – and watched it steadily decline.
‘It is a terrible place and so much filth on the streets. No one seems to empty the rubbish bins and the place looks awful,’ said Mrs Henderson.
‘I don’t know the reason for this, but I’ve got nothing nice to say about Slough.’
More than a dozen people were asked by MailOnline if they agreed with the survey ranking it the ugliest in the UK – and not a single person would speak up for the town.
‘It is a depressing place and not somewhere I would want to spend much of my time. I just come here each day for work,’ said 29-year-old Terri-Lee Kane.
All around the town new offices and flats are springing up and Slough is able to boast the biggest trading estate in the world where over 20,000 people work.
As well as being the setting for Ricky Gervais and the fictional Wernham Hogg paper merchant real life companies such as Mars Confectionary, Virgin Media and Electrolux have made it their home.
It also houses the second largest data centre in the world with almost half of all data transferred in online shopping to social media activity to streaming TV going through the estate.
Even those who work on the estate are not impressed with the town.
‘There is nothing to see or really do so I can see why it rated so poorly,’ said an office worker who asked not to be named.
‘It takes about five minutes to drive through the centre and it is just very bland. Lots of people come here to work, but get on a train and go home or out to one of the nearer suburbs like Langley or Stoke Poges which are much prettier.’
The prettiest town in Britain – Lewes
The medieval town in East Sussex has been named the most beautiful town in Britain and came top in the list by drawn up by travel experts
Lewes has an original brewery, founded in 1790, a myriad of independent traders housed in beautiful half-timbered medieval buildings as well as antique emporiums, characterful pubs and unique restaurants
The 16,000-resident town sits close to the South Downs, boasts an 11th century Norman castle and a house gifted to Anne of Cleves by Henry VIII
With its winding river, snaking alleyways, historic architecture and rustic pubs it is easy to see what attracts visitors to the town of Lewes
Jo Harper, a local government officer, said Lewes was a ‘a unique place’ and that the history is like no other town
Lewes charmed travel experts with its hilly streets lined with period properties that boast views of the South Downs
With its winding river, snaking alleyways, historic architecture and rustic pubs it is easy to see what attracts visitors to the town of Lewes.
But now the medieval town in East Sussex has been named the most beautiful town in Britain after coming top of the list by drawn up by travel experts.
The 16,000-resident community sits close to the rolling South Downs, boasts an 11th century Norman castle and a house gifted to Anne of Cleves by Henry VIII.
It also has an original brewery, founded in 1790, a myriad of independent traders housed in beautiful half-timbered medieval buildings as well as antique emporiums, characterful pubs and unique restaurants.
The town has a seasonal outdoor swimming pool in Petts Pool and a Grade I listed ruins in Lewes Priory which Henry III retreated to during the Battle of Lewes in 1264.
Lewes is also famed for its colourful, if sometimes controversial, Bonfire Night which sees different areas of the town pitted against each other for the best display.
All these assets make it a major attraction for visitors to Sussex who love to wander the old streets.
It got a score of 46 out of 50, based on shop fronts, historic architecture, litter and traffic, views and greenery. Travel journalist Sally Howard gave Lewes ten out of ten for its historic architecture and views.
She wrote: ‘You could spend a day wandering the hilly twittens and alleyways of Lewes, and they really are hilly, so it would be wise to coincide such a day with a pub crawl.
‘There are 17 in the town centre these days, many of which are supplied by the local Harvey’s Brewery, including The Swan Inn to the Gardener’s Arms on Cliffe High Street.’
And visitors to the old town were in agreement this week when MailOnline asked for their views.
Dan Bannister and his wife Sophie both lived in Lewes some years ago but often return to shop and walk in the parks and along the River Ouse which winds its way through the town to the coast at Newhaven.
Mr Bannister said: ‘We love it. We don’t get back as much as we’d like but when we’re here it is really lovely.
‘It’s got so much going for it. The river, the brewery, the architecture and the history. It’s an amazing place – a quintessential English town.’
Mrs Bannister added: ‘It’s just got so much character and many of the shops are independent offering things you simply could not get anywhere else. I really love it.’
Jo Harper, a local government officer, said: ‘It’s a unique place. The history and architecture are simply like no other town and are preserved for everyone to enjoy and it is really lovely to walk through the old town.
‘It’s got a magical quality and just walking through the town on a sunny day is a very enjoyable experience.’
Fruit and vegetable traders, Colin and Sam Hall have been working their fresh produce stall for more than 10 years.
Shoppers stroll through tree-lined cobbled streets of Lewes and look for a bargain in the flower and vegetable market
Lewes got a score of 46 out of 50, based on shop fronts, historic architecture, litter and traffic, views and greenery
Many visitors travel from far and wide and coaches drop day-trippers in Lewes as part of a tour around Sussex which also takes in Seven Sisters and the iconic white cliffs of Beachy Head
Dan Bannister and his wife Sophie both lived in Lewes some years ago but often return to shop and walk in the parks and along the River Ouse which winds its way through the town to the coast at Newhaven
Lewes was voted Britain’s prettiest town for its quaint streets and pleasant views of the South Downs and its historic castle
They do a busy trade every Wednesday and Friday and their produce is always in demand.
Sam Hall said: ‘I live in Lewes and it’s an incredible place. The Norman castle, Grange Gardens, the Priory ruins, the all the beautiful medieval buildings are just great. To me Lewes is unsurpassed.
‘It is clean and tidy. It appears to be well run and planners ensure that any new building developments are designed to reflect the character of the town. I really love living here.’
His father Colin said: ‘It has some really incredible features. It has more mathematical tiles on the old buildings than anywhere else in the country.
‘One of the biggest attractions is the character and atmosphere of the place. It has a unique personality and you can’t replicate that.’
Many visitors travel from far and wide and coaches drop day-trippers in Lewes as part of a tour around Sussex which also takes in Seven Sisters and the iconic white cliffs of Beachy Head.
Terry and Jackie Newby from Nottingham were visiting for just a few hours as part of a coach tour.
They said they loved ‘the history’ and were looking forward to exploring the town more fully.
Their friend, Val Martlew, said: ‘It certainly looks very beautiful and its immaculately preserved. I like the river flowing through the centre and the lovely bridge over it. It’s certainly very photogenic.’
Terry Newby said: ‘It looks lovely. It’s certainly very pretty so I’d agree with the judges on that one.’
Friends Elizabeth Williams from Cuckfield and Philippa Groom from Uckfield often come to Lewes to take in the independent shops and to eat lunch in the restaurants.
They said the unique blend of antiques shops alongside independent retailers made it a draw for them.
And thousands of visitors who flock to the old town each year would agree.
The full list of Britain’s prettiest and ugliest towns
Prettiest
Rye, East Sussex
Overall score: 36/50
Historic architecture: 8/10
Shop fronts: 10/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Views: 6/10
Greenery: 5/10
Holt, Norfolk
Overall score: 37/10
Historic architecture: 8/10
Shop fronts: 8/10
Low traffic / litter: 8/10
Views: 6/10
Greenery: 7/10
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Overall score: 39/50
Historic architecture: 8/10
Shop fronts: 8/10
Low traffic / litter: 8/10
Views: 7/10
Greenery: 8/10
Ledbury, Herefordshire
Overall score: 40/50
Historic architecture: 9/10
Shop fronts: 8/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Views: 8/10
Greenery: 8/10
Ripon, North Yorkshire
Overall score: 41/50
Historic architecture: 9/10
Views: 7/10
Shop fronts: 8/10
Low traffic / litter: 8/10
Greenery: 9/10
Crickhowell, Brecknockshire
Overall score: 42/50
Historic architecture: 8/10
Views: 9/10
Shop fronts: 8/10
Low traffic / litter: 8/10
Greenery: 9/10
Fowey, Cornwall
Overall score: 43/50
Historic architecture: 8/10
Views: 10/10
Shop fronts: 9/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Greenery: 9/10
Ludlow, Shropshire
Overall score: 43/50
Historic architecture: 9/10
Views: 10/10
Shop fronts: 9/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Greenery: 8/10
Chagford, Devon
Overall score: 44/50
Historic architecture: 8/10
Views: 10/10
Shop fronts: 10/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Greenery: 9/10
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Overall score: 44/50
Historic architecture: 8/10
Views: 10/10
Shop fronts: 9/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Greenery: 10/10
St Andrews, Fife
Overall score: 44/50
Historic architecture: 10/10
Views: 9/10
Shop fronts: 9/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Greenery: 9/10
St David’s, Pembrokeshire
Overall score: 44/50
Historic architecture: 10/10
Views: 9/10
Shop fronts: 9/10
Low traffic / litter: 7/10
Greenery: 9/10
Queensferry, West Lothian
Overall score: 45/50
Historic architecture: 9/10
Views: 10/10
Shop fronts: 9/10
Low traffic / litter: 8/10
Greenery: 9/10
WINNER: Lewes, East Sussex
Overall score: 46/50
Historic architecture: 10/10
Views: 10/10
Shop fronts: 9/10
Low traffic / litter: 8/10
Greenery: 9/10
Ugliest
Stanley, County Durham
Overall score: 28/50
Historic architecture: 4/10
Views: 8/10
Shop fronts: 3/10
Low traffic / litter: 6/10
Greenery: 7/10
Newton Abbot, Devon
Overall score: 22/50
Historic architecture: 5/10
Views: 4/10
Shop fronts: 5/10
Low traffic / litter: 3/10
Greenery: 5/10
Lowestoft, Suffolk
Overall score: 23/50
Historic architecture: 4/10
Views: 6/10
Shop fronts: 4/10
Low traffic / litter: 5/10
Greenery: 4/10
Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire
Overall score: 20/50
Historic architecture: 3/10
Views: 3/10
Shop fronts: 4/10
Low traffic / litter: 5/10
Greenery: 5/10
Telford, Shropshire
Overall score: 17/50
Historic architecture: 2/10
Views: 4/10
Shop fronts: 3/10
Low traffic / litter: 3/10
Greenery: 5/10
Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Overall score: 15/50
Historic architecture: 4/10
Views: 5/10
Shop fronts: 2/10
Low traffic / litter: 1/10
Greenery: 3/10
WINNER: Slough, Berkshire
Overall score: 12/50
Historic architecture: 2/10
Views: 0/10
Shop fronts: 0/10
Low traffic / litter: 3/10
Greenery: 7/10
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