What do you think is the worst city centre in the UK and why?

[OneLilacHedgehog]

So many cities have gone downhill since COVID. But which is the worst?

No, it's not OK when you say it was not like the UK anymore. It's racist.

I agree. I was a student in Leicester in the 1990s and continued living there until 2007. It was never the most quaint city, but did have a decent selection of shops and other venues, and I enjoyed nightlife with my friends. I continued to work part time in Leicester until a few years ago and visit from time to time and have been dismayed at how much Gallowtree Gate has changed. There’s a definite edge when you walk around there, even during the day. When I first came to Leicester Gallowtree Gate was quite nice with the nicer shops like Marks and Spencer but now it’s just desolate and looks neglected.

Yes - that would be very useful.

Gloucester isn’t great. I’m from a suburb of Manchester and Gloucester is about the same size as the town I grew up in and nowhere near as nice, tbh. It’s a shame because it has so much history and should be so much nicer than it is. Charles II and the 60s town planners have a lot to answer for.

Cheltenham can also get off its high horse, though. Cheltenham acts like it’s the second coming when the pockets of deprivation there are appalling.

I live in Stoke and it's so sad to see my city now. It used to be thriving, great nightlife, shopping centre full of great shops, my parents had a business there.

Now the shopping centre is empty, homeless, drug taking. It's terrible.

I don’t know where you were but Manchester is absolutely thriving.

What I call St Awful 😀Although, nothing like a bit of people watching at Par market 😉

Oh that’s disappointing. I’ll cross it off my list then .

southend on sea Essex is the wrose Town all the shops have close
down banks and post office have close and universal college in Town
will will close down will make the Town much wrose Homeless people
on the streets i dont flee safe in Town southend Town used to be nice
many years ago nice big shops i do flee safe on southend seafront cost off many people around

Yes we do have that in West Sussex. Great if you like a roundabout though 🤣

Around the canals is lovely.

Correct. It’s village size really but gorgeous cathedral. Beach close by. Independent shops and restaurants.

The wolf fleece mothership 💙

I am really cheered by this thread. Only one town that I have considered moving into has been named. No, not saying.

What is wrong with Staines? It's a really nice family orientated town on the banks of the Thames. A busy thriving shopping centre with hardly any empty units. High employment and low crime rates. 35 minutes direct into Waterloo. Very close to the M25, M4 and M3.

Coventry

theyve even written songs about how bad it is

I haven’t said anything about Staines. Someone else maybe?

The poster was referring to Croydon not Staines.

They were, but they inferred that Surrey should take Croydon back as they already had Staines so were used to dealing with rough towns. I have no idea whether Croydon is grim because I have never been there. Staines I do know. It's not perfect, nowhere is, but it is a very convenient, pleasant place to live and the Thames is beautiful.

Just to clarify it was @popstarrwho referred to Staines!

Newport, followed by Bristol and Coventry. Horrible.

You're overthinking

I went to Staines recently and was pleasantly surprised.

Shall we take this thread in a 'nice direction?

Liverpool was much less bad than I was expecting.

Manchester is dirty and grimy but very lively bar/restaurant scene and a fun night out.

I went to Marlowe for the first time recently and it was like being in a different, much wealthier and less depressed country. Maybe slightly too far the other way!

Love St David's

Bracknell is much better than it sounds/used to be these days since they redeveloped it, nice, busy shopping area.

The cathedral, castle, colleges and some historic bits are lovely, but on a wet February day it was very apparent that beyond the few touristy bits it was all a bit shabby.

We live in Bath- but Liverpool is one of the few city’s I love for the odd weekend break away - I like the people too - whereas I find Manchester a bit claustrophobic and a bit too edgy and grubby for me -I’m not over fond of our neighbour city Bristol either , for similar reasons -

Aww. You sure????