General What is the worst town in England?

[werthersoriginal]

Police have done pretty well at removing mafia control in poorer areas, still pockets of it of course and shops paying protection. Naples has more mafia influence. Beautiful place amazing food.

Yesterday in Palermo there was a big Memorial Day for the anniversary of a judge being murdered by the Mafia, with school parties taken to see his gravestone in a church

 

[Big Ron]

He’s still promoting Friars gigs as well. I’ve corrected my schoolboy spelling mistake of his name!

He also edited the fabulous Zigzag magazine in the late 70s and had his own band, the not so fabulous Vice Creems.

 

[Marked Ox]

Yeah, the one from the bridge looking towards the Anchor. And then the one from the Anchor looking towards the bridge. And, erm, yeah, stuck now tbf.

The Abbey Gardens and the Gate at St Nicks, Abingdon Museum (as long as the Shopping Precinct isn't in it) , East St Helens St (especially from the Roof of the museum), The Alms Houses by St Helen's Church and the Church of course, Albert Park and the area around Abingdon School/St Michaels Church. On the River, the view from Abingdon Bridge towards the Old Gaol back towards East St Helen's Church as well as the view the other way (especially if they do something with the empty Hotel but then I don't mind seeing something gradually being reclaimed by nature). Abingdon Lock and the Weir area are hardly shabby either.

The new estates are all samey and uninspiring without doubt. And the Shopping Precinct, bloody hell absolutely no imagination when built and the redevelopment likewise.

As a sidenote, a friend lived in one of the houses on East St Helen's and the stairs/upstairs were fantastic. The stone staircase was worn like steps in an old castle and the upper floor was warped so you didn't need much to drink for it to get interesting.

 

[Marked Ox]

There are lots of lovely landmarks and some wonderful scenery. Just as soon as you leave the actual town.

Those things are very much part of Barrow, especially Walney Island. The Submarine Sheds are spectacular to see as well. And having Black Combe prominent in the background is always a bonus.

 

[Oxford57]

January 29th 1972 was supposedly the first public outing of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars!

Bit too early for and I couldn't say much about Aylesbury itself but between 1976 and 79/79 Friars was music central for me - Mott The Hoople, Stranglers, Ramones, Tom Petty, Blondie, The Stiff package tour (Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric), Talking Heads, Eddie & Hot Rods, Adverts, Buzzcocks, Clash, Siouxsie & Banshees, Tom Robinson, Steel Pulse, Stiff Little Fingers, Undertones - probably every major punk and new wave band of the era, apart from the Pistols. Oh and from going as a 15/16 year old I was always served at the bar!

For those very reasons alone, Aylesbury will forever have a place in my heart!

I saw the stiff tour there, mink de ville,Johnny Kidd and the pirates!

 

[m]

The Abbey Gardens and the Gate at St Nicks, Abingdon Museum (as long as the Shopping Precinct isn't in it) , East St Helens St (especially from the Roof of the museum), The Alms Houses by St Helen's Church and the Church of course, Albert Park and the area around Abingdon School/St Michaels Church. On the River, the view from Abingdon Bridge towards the Old Gaol back towards East St Helen's Church as well as the view the other way (especially if they do something with the empty Hotel but then I don't mind seeing something gradually being reclaimed by nature). Abingdon Lock and the Weir area are hardly shabby either.

The new estates are all samey and uninspiring without doubt. And the Shopping Precinct, bloody hell absolutely no imagination when built and the redevelopment likewise.

As a sidenote, a friend lived in one of the houses on East St Helen's and the stairs/upstairs were fantastic. The stone staircase was worn like steps in an old castle and the upper floor was warped so you didn't need much to drink for it to get interesting.

Yeah, I was being a bit cheeky, I know Abingdon well as I've lived there in 3 phases of my life. I know what you mean about the houses in the East St Helens area too. I had a couple of friends live there. (Bizarrely, different and unconnected friends at different times* in the same house.

*obviously!

 

[Sarge]

Saw most of those and add in before them- Genesis, Queen, Roxy Music, then The Police, Cockney Rebel and loads more.
I was nearly 16 for the Ziggy outing in ‘72 and like you getting a drink was no bother. One of my mates at school got us in as his brother, Kris Needs, was the promoter.
Fun times!

Music journo, DJ & promoter .... met him more than a few times

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Those things are very much part of Barrow, especially Walney Island. The Submarine Sheds are spectacular to see as well. And having Black Combe prominent in the background is always a bonus.

Sounds like we should go together some time. You can show me all the lovely parts in an attempt to woo me, and in return I’ll show you where to score some smack and have a cracking fight.

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Hull was the inaugural winner of the crap town title, so cities have always been allowed.

Find that slightly surprising - far from the worst place I have visited on my travels

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Leeds and Bradford have to be up there, having recently visited them

Nowt wrong with Leeds - some shite areas like all cities but pretty vibrant in parts too

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

I was less than impressed with Cheltenham.
Colchester is a bit yuk too

There is a nice part of Chelteham but yes large parts of it are surprisingly shiteholes - Gloucester too

 

[Wandering Yellow]

Find that slightly surprising - far from the worst place I have visited on my travels

Middlesbrough often gets mentioned too but I actually quite liked it when I went. Certainly way less crap than Stoke.

I wonder if there is any way to mark out a town as "scientifically" the crappest. My money would be on Gillingham/Chatham or Stoke taking the title.

 

[greatunclekip]

It's a two place tie for me.

Luton - having worked there for several years it's an absolute hole of the highest order, far right breeding ground and the palpable sense of tension and danger on a night out is like nothing I've experienced before.

Barrow. Visited for the first game of the Patto reign. Stunning drive from Newcastle. Then whaaaaat?! Genuinely walked into a pub which fell silent (just the clock ticking) had a pint of Guinness, left and the noise started up again as the door closed. Never had that anywhere before or since.
The getting bottled in the car park merely added to a thoroughly brutal experience. What. A. Shithole.

A few places near me in the North Derbyshire coal fields could certainly challenge- Staveley, Mastin Moor, Maltby etc.

Really surprised to see places like Huddersfield on there. A proper old school town with some great pubs and a warm welcome, surrounded by stunning scenery. Not the prettiest but MILES apart from the Stokes and Luton's.

 

[werthersoriginal]

It's a two place tie for me.

Luton - having worked there for several years it's an absolute hole of the highest order, far right breeding ground and the palpable sense of tension and danger on a night out is like nothing I've experienced before.

Barrow. Visited for the first game of the Patto reign. Stunning drive from Newcastle. Then whaaaaat?! Genuinely walked into a pub which fell silent (just the clock ticking) had a pint of Guinness, left and the noise started up again as the door closed. Never had that anywhere before or since.
The getting bottled in the car park merely added to a thoroughly brutal experience. What. A. Shithole.

A few places near me in the North Derbyshire coal fields could certainly challenge- Staveley, Mastin Moor, Maltby etc.

Really surprised to see places like Huddersfield on there. A proper old school town with some great pubs and a warm welcome, surrounded by stunning scenery. Not the prettiest but MILES apart from the Stokes and Luton's.

Certainly with you on Luton, am oddly curious about Barrow

 

[Marked Ox]

Sounds like we should go together some time. You can show me all the lovely parts in an attempt to woo me, and in return I’ll show you where to score some smack and have a cracking fight.

I already know where to have a fight in the area.

 

[Marked Ox]

Genuinely walked into a pub which fell silent (just the clock ticking) had a pint of Guinness, left and the noise started up again as the door closed. Never had that anywhere before or since.

Had that in 2 places, Sandown, Isle of Wight and Porthmadog (where when they started talking again they switched to Welsh after previously speaking english).

 

[Marston Road yellow]

It's a two place tie for me.

Luton - having worked there for several years it's an absolute hole of the highest order, far right breeding ground and the palpable sense of tension and danger on a night out is like nothing I've experienced before.

Barrow. Visited for the first game of the Patto reign. Stunning drive from Newcastle. Then whaaaaat?! Genuinely walked into a pub which fell silent (just the clock ticking) had a pint of Guinness, left and the noise started up again as the door closed. Never had that anywhere before or since.
The getting bottled in the car park merely added to a thoroughly brutal experience. What. A. Shithole.

A few places near me in the North Derbyshire coal fields could certainly challenge- Staveley, Mastin Moor, Maltby etc.

Really surprised to see places like Huddersfield on there. A proper old school town with some great pubs and a warm welcome, surrounded by stunning scenery. Not the prettiest but MILES apart from the Stokes and Luton's.

Barrow has some lovely views of a submarine shipyard, and at one point was the heroin capital of the Uk. Really high unemployment and all round dump. I always used to stay in a fairly dodgy looking pub that was really charming about 5 mins out of town called The Ship.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Luton has to be the worst. Bicester and Banbury, locally, are both pretty depressing. I was born in Aylesbury but it’s become an absolute sh*thole.

 

[OX14]

I'd agree it looks awful there but it's in Wales, unless you mean the Shropshire one.

Being in Wales has probably saved it from making the list, absolute dump, Swansea isn't much nicer either.

 

[Berliner]

I am actually writing from Sicily. Ive really liked the bits I’ve seen so far but I know there are parts so shitty they’d make Luton look posh

Know what you mean, each city has its bad bits. We had a great week driving around there. Can heartily recommend Castelmola, it's a lovely little town on the hill above Taormina (which itself is best avoided...packed, no parking and full of tat shops). Also, Siracusa in the south east is very nice, as is the place where they shot The Godfather (Savoca).