Places that make you feel uncomfortable.

[SingingKettles]

And those that make you feel very comfortable, too!
I mean in the UK, or could possibly be outside it too.
I don't mean tourism exactly, just places where you felt uncomfortable or were eager to return home from. It doesn't have to be a bad area, it could easily be somewhere known to be beautiful and thriving.

For me it was Hebden Bridge, a sort of looming gloominess I couldn't shake off. I know people who live there so visit a few times per year, and that sensation never changes. It isn't easy to explain.

As much as I adore Shrewsbury (it has a cat cafe, so it's a winner!) I have felt a bit off there, too. A sense of manic energy, insanely loud traffic in the town centre, I found that I couldn't seem to rest, even in the suburbs.. A shame because I loved so much about it and it is a very friendly place with gorgeous buildings.

Liverpool didn't work for me either. I find the local people to be so helpful and lovely, but something about the Mersey and especially the docks made me feel unutterably depressed (yes, I know it's history, but it wasn't simply that).

Ambleside made me on edge also, and unlike the rest of the areas amongst the fells I felt drained there. It didn't help having single file sized pavements so everything felt slightly dangerous and overwhelmed.

Now for my favourites:

I do love Ludlow though, I felt so calm and at peace there. The light was mellow and soft. There wasn't all that much to do, apart from the good grub and castle, but I could live in an attic there and paint all day forever. If only..

I also loved Edale in the Peak District. A very tiny village with one shop if I recall and a great pub called the Nag's Head. I used to feel as if my heart was being torn out when I had to go home. I felt as if the landscape there had it's arms around me, softly.

I was happy in Penrith, although this was 10 yrs ago so it may have changed somewhat since. I hadn't wanted to go as it looked miserable and grey but I felt so at home there.

I also adore just throwing myself into the heart of London. I always come alive there. Not sure I'd move in, even if I could afford it (!) but yeh.

I had to visit Bradford a few times for work it was grim with kids throwing stones at our cars (apparently they were always doing or according to colleagues) as you drove past and never been so cold in my life! Bolton pretty unpleasant as well. Absolutely dislike Bude in Cornwall with a passion, everytime I've been ive felt unsettled and anxious and felt the need to leave quickly.

Love Cambridge and adore Wells Next the Sea my happy place

Greenock for a horrible feeling, I loved the swimming pool as a child but went on mother's day (mum's request) and the town centre - i'm not surprised drug usage is so high.
Troon or Maidens or Arran for best feeling

Hated:

Top of my list has to be the Fens - flat nothingness as far as the eye can see. I'd be suicidal within a week if I lived there.

Manchester - I've met Mancunians who have almost been aggressive in their insistence that you MUST love Manchester. Every time I've been I've found it grey, wet, and depressing.

The Latitude Festival - just because you've covered your baby buggy in rainbow streamers and fairy lights, still doesn't make it OK to push it through the middle of a mosh pit, FFS....

Tottenham - hard to put into words. Just felt proper menacing - the tension in the air was palpable.

Loved:

Newcastle. Lived there for several years and feel a deep, almost spiritual, attachment to the place. Very hard to put into words but it feels like belonging.

The Stour, Blackwater and Colne estuaries in Essex. Lots of quirky waterside villages, wildlife and just peace and calm. Under-rated gems.

I adore Northumberland- all of it. It's my happy place- Banburgh is one of my favourite beaches in the world. An instant calm comes over me. Similarly, Sands of Morar , Camusdarach- other worldly & magical. Liverpool also makes me feel like home, as does Rome. I'm always in awe of the History under my feet in York.

I know what you mean about Aviemore- it feels like a 70s, brown-tinged TV programme, as opposed to the beautiful, stunning areas around it. I HATE Blackpool with every ounce of my body- always a thinly-veiled edge of violence, and very depressing.

The weather makes a difference for me in a lot of these places. Having said that, I love the Yorkshire Dales at any time.

If the weather is humid and close I find myself put off the place.

Places I've loved; first time I went to Liverpool was 1984 and it was freezing and felt it had been shat on by Thatcherism. But going back years later, on university open days with both dc, it really liked it. The last time was a beautiful early spring day. Felt thriving.

Aberaeron on the coast in Wales, had no expectations. Whether fabulous and beautiful place. Felt Mediterranean.

Conversely, Banbury. Stopped on a canal holiday. I think it was in time of recession and lots of stuff had closed down and lots of people hanging around. Felt sad and despondent .

Anywhere in the countryside where there's no one else around. It gives me the creeps like nothing else.

Boscastle. I felt so claustrophobic there like the cliffs were closing in on me. Would never go back.

Oh and went to Suffolk for a holiday. On the morning we left we had breakfast in a cafe in Bungay. Nice food but the other customers were all staring at Dh & I and happily loudly talking about us in an unfriendly manner. We found it quite amusing though.

I really dislike Brighton, I thought people in shops and cafés were so curt and rude, and we felt very unwelcome.
Dundee is so lovely, as is Aberdeen.
Glasgow - so friendly!

Oh & Rhyl. Feels like time has stopped: the air is thick with disappointment of a place that should have been something, but isn't & the people have blank faces with nothing behind their eyes. Shiver.

@EmpressOfTheThread I never thought I'd see Aberdeen and Dundeed mentioned on here!

Do you know that some people refer to Glasgow as the real life Gotham City? I'm a Weegie and I'll always love it but the city centre is in bad shape at the moment!

Loved them! So full of character, and the people so friendly and helpful. We just had such a great time in both!

The last twice I've been to Glasgow I've seen people bleezing drunk in the middle of the day and police called to a pub in the city centre where it was all kicking off. I like it for the shops but that's about it. My OH stepped out for a cigarette and was propositioned "for business"

I don't get the friendliness either. I don't want to engage in conversation with some random person and hear their life history when I'm in a queue.

Brighton is the best!

I never heard anyone's life story in a queue in Glasgow. I'm talking about in shops, cafés, hotels - people being kind and helpful.

Every time I'm dong anything I seem to get accosted by somebody who wants to tell me their tale of woe - I guess I'm just unlucky or must look like I'm sympathetic!

Whitby had an odd feeling of gloomy depression to it and I found the locals really miserable.
ullswater in the lakes had the same gloom to it but the locals were lovely.

I obviously look unsympathetic! I think experiences do vary. I found Brighton awful, but it's popular on here.

Swaffham in Norfolk. The strangest place I’ve ever been and I felt really uneasy, like time had stood still and not in a good way, just weird

I was totally underwhelmed by Brighton. I couldn't see what the fuss was about.

I much preferred Hastings.

Worst - Aberystwyth in Wales. Totally depressing and sad looking town. We actually left a day early to come back home.

Best - Pickering/Thornton le dale in North Yorkshire - lovely little English towns, well kept, nice eateries and not over run with tourists. We stay in a nearby woodland lodge, just fab! Yes please.

OP this documentary might go some way to explaining why you felt uncomfortable in Hebden Bridge. It's on YouTube https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1531010/?ref_=ext_shr

Agree with this. We went on the steam railway and had a couple of hours here with nothing to do…
we went into a hotel bar and asked if they did food- we were told rather abruptly that they only did sandwiches ‘ham or cheese, white bread only’
5 minutes later an obviously local group came in and were handed big menus to choose from!😂😂😂

I used to live in york and feel exactly the same about rowntree Park

I also can't bear the minster-it just looks black to me and oozes evil vibes

Can't stand Lincoln cathedral either

Where I moved to has a tower block
I cannot bear to go near it-there is an asda round the corner and I have to run in so I don't see them

My dp thinks I'm mad but it's like the evil vibes will touch me