The UK’s towns have been by experts in a new list, ranging from the prettiest to the ugliest. Find out if your town is on the list.
A new survey — bound to be deemed controversial by many — has ranked the most picturesque and least appealing towns across Britain.
With approximately 1,250 towns scattered across the UK, there’s a diverse mix of charming, unattractive, and middling locales. So how do you pick? You bring in the experts, of course.
In a new list, experts have weighed in to determine which UK town can claim the title of ‘fairest of them all’. The Telegraph enlisted these specialists to rate each town based on the attractiveness of their shop fronts, historical architecture, levels of traffic and litter, viewpoints, and green spaces, with a maximum possible score of 50.
UK’s prettiest towns
St David’s in Pembrokeshire was crowned the third most beautiful town in the UK, earning an impressive 44 out of 50. Renowned for its delightful shop fronts and historic architecture, St David’s holds the distinction of being Britain’s smallest city, boasting a population of roughly 1,600 residents. This charming destination also features a host of cosy pubs and tearooms, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Additionally, a four-mile trek to St David’s Head offers spectacular views over the island and sea, where fortunate visitors might spot dolphins, Atlantic grey seals, and harbour porpoises frolicking in the water.
UK’s prettiest towns
Queensferry in West Lothian clinched the title of second prettiest town in the UK, scoring an impressive 45 out of 50. Also referred to as South Queensferry, this town nestles on the Edinburgh side of the Forth Bridges and boasts remarkable architecture, including the iconic Forth Bridge.
However, the crown for the UK’s most picturesque town went to Lewes in East Sussex, scoring an impressive 46 out of 50.
Lewes, renowned for its annual firework display, is a charming town brimming with independent retailers lining its medieval streets, hilly twittens and alleyways. Despite the inclines, it offers a delightful day out or even a pub crawl, given that there are 17 pubs within the town centre.
Visitors can also explore the nearby South Downs, easily accessible and offering panoramic views of the rolling hills, the town and beyond.
Lewes in East Sussex has been crowned the prettiest UK town (Image: Getty)
UK’s prettiest towns
- Lewes
- Queensferry
- St David’s
- St Andrew’s
- Ilkley
- Chagford
- Ludlow
- Fowey
- Crickhowell
- Ripon
- Ledbury
- Woodbridge
- Holt
- Rye
Britain’s ugliest towns
Telford in Shropshire, Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, and Slough in Berkshire were identified by experts as the three least appealing towns in Britain.
Telford was ranked third, achieving a disappointing overall score of 17 out of 50. With scores of five or less across all categories, Telford was criticised for lacking a distinct town centre.
The town, which didn’t exist until the 1960s, was established as part of the New Towns initiative under Harold MacMillan’s Conservative Government. It lacks a specific centre and only has a few high streets with limited retail options.
However, it’s worth noting that Telford is situated just north of the Ironbridge Gorge – a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is home to Abraham Darby III’s groundbreaking Iron Bridge, an array of museums and a shop specialising in handmade pork pies.
Telford in Shropshire has been criticised for its lack of a distinct town centre (Image: Getty)
Merthyr Tydfil in Wales was named as Britain’s second most unattractive town, scoring a mere 15 out of 50. Nestled in a basin at the northern tip of the Taff Valley, Merthyr is characterised by numerous industrial and retail parks, congested roads, high crime rates and unemployment.
Its redeeming features include the hills encircling the town and Cyfarthfa Castle – a fortified mansion housing an art gallery. Additionally, it boasts the UK’s largest mountain bike park, the world’s fastest seated zip-line over an open-cast coal mine, and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Claiming the dubious honour of the top spot as the UK’s ugliest town was Slough in Berkshire, which scored a paltry 12 out of 50, including a zero rating for its shop fronts and views.
Slough’s high street has been criticised as one of the unhealthiest in the UK due to the abundance of takeaways and lack of leisure facilities. Just a few minutes from London on the Elizabeth line, it has been dubbed the ugliest town in Britain.
However, there is hope on the horizon for the town, with plans for a £110 million makeover in the pipeline, which could potentially transform Slough from drab to fab.
UK’s least attractive towns
- Slough
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Telford
- Cumbernauld
- Newton Abbot
- Lowestoft
- Stanley
