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Ever visited somewhere for the day and been really disappointed?

1000 replies

Summerhouse2013 · 24/04/2023 11:33

We travelled to Yeovil in Somerset yesterday for the day, wow, we were so disappointed.

It was like a ghost town. Most of the shops were shut, only a handful were open. And towards the bottom area of the town most of the shops were completely closed down.

I'd always got the impression there was a lot more to Yeovil.

We left after an hour as there was nothing to do.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Hesma · 24/04/2023 16:33

Bucklebury Farm… it’s shit and playing on Royal connections to the area

Pouringfromanemptycup · 24/04/2023 16:35

I'm struggling to see why you were so underwhelmed by Yeovil.

It's general reputation is... underwhelming... to say the least.

So what you describe would have lived up to most people's expectations of Yeovil.

SlightlyJaded · 24/04/2023 16:38

Loads of places

I think the problem is now that we look at things online - on instagram, on travel sites, so we've seen the best picture, taken in the best weather, from the best angle of the best bit...

Everything that isn't as good as the Fairytale picture then feels a bit shit.

I keep looking at pictures of those chocolate box houses in Bavaria and thinking I'd like to go, but I know it will be one or two streets that looks like that and round the corner will be an Ikea, a four lane motorway and a Burger King....

LibertyLily · 24/04/2023 16:42

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 24/04/2023 13:44

I could just stand and stare at the building. It is incredible

Me too!

For me it's Paris (was totally underwhelmed, although did enjoy going up the Eiffel Tower), Oxford (lovely architecture but that's all) and New York (was expecting to shop till we dropped, but found the shops very uninspiring so spent little).

Love Ludlow and Carcassonne. I get what posters are saying about the Pyramids, but I did enjoy the visit overall as it had been my dream to go there since I visited the Tutankhamen exhibition in London when I was five. Cairo museum otoh was amazing.

houselikeashed · 24/04/2023 16:46

@Itakecreaminmycoffee

Oxford???? What about the prison/castle? Pitt Rivers and Asmolean Museums? MOMA? Story museum? The Covered market has lovely cafes and independent stalls. Not many places have a shark sticking out of a house roof either like Oxford. River walks? Punting? You literally can't do Oxford in 1 day as there's so much to do!

Newpeep · 24/04/2023 16:50

It's not much better on a weekday.

Yeovil is sadly a shadow of it's former self. We live down the road and when we moved to the area 20 years ago it was ok. Not pretty but functional. Now it's suffered the demise of the high street but also some very poor traffic planning decisions. We never go there now as it can take over and hour to get in and out - 5 miles.

Very sad. I know it was much better once.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 24/04/2023 16:51

RampantIvy · 24/04/2023 15:39

What is strange about Bath?
I have family near there so have visited a few times, and really like it.
I love the combination of sightseeing, the history and a bit of shopping.

I too have family near Bath and have been there loads including to several weddings!

I quite like the place, it’s a bit spread out and I miss Debenhams too.

For me it’s the whole feel of the place, you’ve got lots of lovely parks, Holbourne Museum as well as lots of beautiful houses which aren’t just the Crescent.

some people on the unexplained thread have said it has a strange feeling and I can get that too.

Relatives from there are always commenting on how much prettier the countryside nearer me is (Kent, Sussex etc) but I like Bath countryside too!

earsup · 24/04/2023 16:52

Blackpool...drove in from lancaster as in the area, left after about 4 mins, even the 56p shop was boarded up....grim...didnt want to leave the car alone so drove about and out fast !

MrsMitford3 · 24/04/2023 16:53

lkkjhg · 24/04/2023 12:11

Dublin. It was a Sunday and raining.

oh no. I am going to Dublin in a fortnight for a long weekend.

Any redeeming features????

FancyFanny · 24/04/2023 16:54

Bloody hell- think you lot are best off at home so you don't suck the joy out of everywhere for normal people!

I honestly don't know what some of you are looking for in a place- it seems like many of you have a rose tinted view of places- do you not do research before heading out for the day. A quick google will tell you hidden gems to eat at, the best pubs for a drink, the best days to visit museums etc. Travel is about finding the good things in a place and experiencing the differences in places-

Paris- lovely! Beautiful buildings, great Art galleries, beautiful shops and boutiques, little cafes serving good food down the backstreets, stunning views of the Eiffel tower from the viewing platform near the Arc de Triomphe.

Hebden Bridge is quirky little town with two conflicting cultures- one is the old working class woollen mill town, and the more recent influx of creative types and gay/lesbian incomers. As a result there is a mix of artsy veggie cafes, craft shops, book shops, pottery, artisan food markets, cosy traditional pubs, walking shops and charity shops. There are always some tourists which is unusual for a place in West Yorkshire, but many locals too who are not always tolerant of the town's new found fame as as the capital of lesbianism. Next time you are there pop into the The White Lion for a cosy fire and great pies, or The Albert for great atmosphere. Don't use the public toilets- why would you? Head up to Heptonstall too for a wander round the cobbled streets to hear the tale Of David Harley and the Halifax Coiners in the local pub and visit his grave and the grave of Sylvia Plath.

Oxford- lovely historic university town! Walk along the river and get a drink in the historic Turf Tavern and visit the beautiful libraries and university gardens at Magdalen college. I don't know how anyone can't find it beautiful.

New York- big, brash, busy- how can you not enjoy finding a little back street burger joint, have cocktails by the river, enjoy the view from some of the tallest buildings in the world, shop at the biggest department stores in the world, see a broadway show, eat steaks and chips, view the iconic Statue of Liberty from a boat on the river, reflect on the Twin Towers atrocity, have a stack of pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast in an American Diner!

Edinburgh- love it! Deep fried mars bars, buy your own tartan piece, dark little ale houses, moody castle, grumpy Scots, bagpipers, cold weather- how can you have a bad time?

AgrathaChristie · 24/04/2023 16:54

anon12345anon · 24/04/2023 12:10

Eden Project..... Expensive bimble around a garden centre....Grin

Yes. Exactly my thought and with such rude staff.

Tabitha005 · 24/04/2023 16:55

Toddlerteaplease · 24/04/2023 12:08

Carcassone in France, thought it would be a bit like York. But apart from the tourist trap that is the castle. There is nothing else. Was bored by day 2. Couldn't wait to go home.

@Toddlerteaplease I felt exactly the same about Carcassone. The citadel is a bit of a pastiche, though - I think it was rebuilt sometime in the 19th century. It felt very 'Disneyfied' to me - and the restaurants were all a bit samey and not particularly good quality. The only excellent thing about the trip was seeing Christine & The Queens performing in the citadel.

RampantIvy · 24/04/2023 16:55

I honestly don't know what some of you are looking for in a place- it seems like many of you have a rose tinted view of places- do you not do research before heading out for the day. A quick google will tell you hidden gems to eat at, the best pubs for a drink, the best days to visit museums etc. Travel is about finding the good things in a place and experiencing the differences in places

I agree.

DiscontinuedModelHusband · 24/04/2023 16:56

Sad that a couple of you didn't like San Francisco.

My favourite place in the US (probably because it doesn't feel so American).

Agree that the poverty/homelessness is uncomfortable - but is no different to any other major city (particularly in the US) - unfortunately.

AskMeMore · 24/04/2023 16:57

houselikeashed · 24/04/2023 16:46

@Itakecreaminmycoffee

Oxford???? What about the prison/castle? Pitt Rivers and Asmolean Museums? MOMA? Story museum? The Covered market has lovely cafes and independent stalls. Not many places have a shark sticking out of a house roof either like Oxford. River walks? Punting? You literally can't do Oxford in 1 day as there's so much to do!

The museums are good, MOMA in Bradford is better.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 24/04/2023 16:57

LibertyLily · 24/04/2023 16:42

Me too!

For me it's Paris (was totally underwhelmed, although did enjoy going up the Eiffel Tower), Oxford (lovely architecture but that's all) and New York (was expecting to shop till we dropped, but found the shops very uninspiring so spent little).

Love Ludlow and Carcassonne. I get what posters are saying about the Pyramids, but I did enjoy the visit overall as it had been my dream to go there since I visited the Tutankhamen exhibition in London when I was five. Cairo museum otoh was amazing.

I sort of agree with Carcassone but friends (English) live nearby and we see all the other places like Mirepoix (medieval village loved by Americans) and Montsegur which had a siege and the Cathars were burned to death in the flames by the king (?). I like the area as we saw sanglier (mum, dad and babies) there (wild boar) and then next day villagers asked us why we didn’t shoot them! Day after that we saw sanglier pate for sale in a canal side bistro.

Itakecreaminmycoffee · 24/04/2023 16:58

houselikeashed · 24/04/2023 16:46

@Itakecreaminmycoffee

Oxford???? What about the prison/castle? Pitt Rivers and Asmolean Museums? MOMA? Story museum? The Covered market has lovely cafes and independent stalls. Not many places have a shark sticking out of a house roof either like Oxford. River walks? Punting? You literally can't do Oxford in 1 day as there's so much to do!

I must’ve missed it then though we’ve been 3 times now as dd is at uni there - we did ask several people where we should go for a “nice lunch” and kept on getting directed to the covered market - we had already walked through that…and kept on walking! Sorry but it wasn’t nice at all - there was a greasy caff selling chips with everything and a couple of falafel-type stands with two or three benches outside! That was about it.

I live in a really nice town surrounded by other nice towns/villages so I think I’m a bit spoilt for nice shops/cafes etc - eldest ds kept saying “it’s not like home mum, let’s just get a takeout baguette” - I was wandering around in dismay thinking “where is the nice bit?”😂

AskMeMore · 24/04/2023 16:59

RampantIvy · 24/04/2023 16:55

I honestly don't know what some of you are looking for in a place- it seems like many of you have a rose tinted view of places- do you not do research before heading out for the day. A quick google will tell you hidden gems to eat at, the best pubs for a drink, the best days to visit museums etc. Travel is about finding the good things in a place and experiencing the differences in places

I agree.

Many of us do not have time off to go to museums at quiet times. Especially in the UK people are looking for places to go when they are off work at the weekend.
There are lots of good pubs where I live. Yes I google, but I do not travel to look for things like this. That is where we go for a stop in between seeing the places we went to see.

AskMeMore · 24/04/2023 17:01

@Itakecreaminmycoffee I agree the covered market and independent shops are nothing special.

Useyourfork · 24/04/2023 17:02

creamedcustard · 24/04/2023 13:34

Noone except my DP agrees with me on this one but - Kew Gardens. Expensive, over-cultivated, and the kitchen garden was shut the last time I went (last summer, so well after COVID). The greenhouses are the best thing about it but there are too many wide, open lawns without any interest.

Agree re: the pyramids. The further south in Egypt you go the better it gets imo.

I agree about kew. I was expecting beautiful gardens and well , it’s park land really isn’t it. 😊
The green houses were nice.
Hampton Court on the other hand, I loved.

Homeworkhell82 · 24/04/2023 17:04

Nannydoodles · 24/04/2023 16:22

ilfracombe today! Always imagined it a lovely seaside holiday town. But it’s just depressing, shops, hotels all boarded up and men hanging around with beer cans at 11 in the morning.
Actual harbour & the RNLI station was ok though.

I live near and all the locals think the same.

samsmum2 · 24/04/2023 17:06

No suprises about Yeovil. As a Somerset local, it's considered a bit of a shit hole. Along with Shepton Mallet...

samsmum2 · 24/04/2023 17:07

Surprises.

JadeSeahorse · 24/04/2023 17:11

Petra!

Went as a day trip from a holiday in Egypt years ago.

The Treasury is much smaller than appears on screen and apart from that there is nothing else worth seeing.

Also, the poor horses carrying overweight tourists back up the long, steep path that you see in the Indiana Jones film in the steering heat upset me so much. I wanted to shout, "Walk back up you lazy bastards"
as the poor horses looked exhausted and they just spent all day ferrying people up and down. 😥

comingintomyown · 24/04/2023 17:13

Yeovil 🤣what on earth were you expecting from Yeovil ?

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