Just visited Newport, couldn’t wait to leave, what’s your get me outta here place?

[TheChristmasElf]

Just have just visited Newport for an appointment, we weren’t there long, toilet stop and cuppa in Asda, half hour appointment in city centre and then got lost on the way out but felt very uneasy the whole time were there. It had quite a menacing feel to it and even on the bare aesthetics of the city seemed quite run down with a lots of old closed pubs, shops etc…

I would actually go as far to say it made me feel quite unwell but I guess that would just be coincidence!!

We actually live rural Devon so not even like I’m not used to the odd lay line of two but I was quite relieved to get back on the road…

Has anyone else felt that about a place before?

Portsmouth. I pulled up and got a Hitler salute from some pub yobs. Charming

Coventry and Southampton both not v nice, both badly bombed in 2WW and lots of ugly, grey 1950-60s architecture.

@Stevie6 What's the point of walking fast when there's no where to go? 🙍

There are at least two Newports in Wales. You went to Newport, Gwent. Newport, Pembrokeshire is Hampstead-goes-to-Wales in the summer — boaty types, bird-watchers and superfit grey panthers doing miles along the coastal path. 1950s vibe. Nothing to be scared of at all.

My DH has come up with another one (he's obviously more tuned in to weirdness than I am!): Delgetie Castle in Aberdeenshire.

Aldershot is ok but I don't like it at night. However that's down to the sort of people who hang around, not the town itself. I think it is twinned with Newton Abbot actually - a previously fairly nice town with great housing stock which has been allowed to run down and is unloved and lacking a M&S. Whatever you say about M&S, it keeps a town centre more alive.

London.

Utter shit hole that I can never wait to leave (I work there regularly).

Ely and the Fens. We went to look at a house there and while driving I felt it was very creepy. Didn’t book a second viewing. Many people love the area, but I can’t make myself visit it again.

Bognor Regis. Creepy.

Medway towns. Chatham and Gillingham
in
particular

Mansfield

Valleys girl here. Met my DH online, he lived in Lincolnshire. The flatness was eerie.

Anyway, DHs initial response was Sleaford, but he approves of the number of mentions of Luton has received.

Walton on the Naze - I had such great memories from there as a kid, and went back a few years ago and was literally horrified at how shit it was.

Same for Hemsby in Norfolk - went on a trip further up the coast with friends and on the way home I insisted we stop at Hemsby as I remembered it being so lovely - my mates thought I was nuts!

But but…

Leeds. The road system is hideous and I always get lost. I hate the architecture, and the whole place stinks of skunk.

Craven Arms in Shropshire. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside and lovely market towns, but it's basically just a crossroads with shops from the 1950s and a massive slaughterhouse right in the centre. Horrible place. Also Ardrossan in Ayrshire, just feels like the end of the line somehow.
Port Isaac in Cornwall is somewhere that really feels like it has had its soul torn out by second homes / holiday lets. I remember wandering around the village centre one late afternoon in May and there was hardly anyone else around and everywhere seemed empty, it was eerie and a bit sad. Beautiful place though.

There is a Brixton in Devon too. Great fish and chip shop.

Ramsgate

Margate for me

Yes, felt really threatened the whole time I was there.

St Neots - flat, massive housing estates and an area called Eynesbury was beyond awful - so run down and the most unattractive houses. Went to the marina - rough. I was thinking of moving there, not now!

Galashiels. Awful place.

I hate it and I felt so vulnerable there it took over an hour to get to a small sized grocery store
I was so worried I was very sick and pregnant with kidney problems. I thought they would have to send a helicopter to get me it was so remote

Sorry @Puzzledandpissedoff
Just read you googled it.
@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps why do you get that vibe from rural Devon? Is it Dartmoor?

I used to live in Crouch End, which was quite trendy. I'd sometimes use Wood Green tube to get into town and it was okay — usual slightly seedy London tube station vibe but never thought twice about it. Moved away in 2001. About four years ago an old contact from Crouch End invited me to visit and I took the tube to Wood Green intending to take the bus on from there. Don't know if it's me that's changed or the area, but it felt dodgy as hell. Loads of staring men everywhere. So many men hanging around the streets on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, looking at women. It felt very oppressive. Won't go there again.

Milton Keynes town centre - the walk from train station to conference centre was grim, grey, cracked pavements, few cars and no people - weirdly empty.

Swindon - the town is built for cars so walking is unpleasant, dusty and long.

Dundee in the 1970's - freezing wind, concrete walkways, everyone looked ill. It's better now.