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?

@HoppityBun , I was trying to be positive.

I've never been to Wrexham and to Nottingham once, but I know quite a few places casually . When I mentioned Plymouth, it was because I know thecity well.

Leicester is grim, so is Birmingham.

@OneLilacHedgehog

Coventry is vastly since I moved here 40 years ago.
Its never going to be a great shopping centre - too much competition from bigger places, but there are lots more facilities such as the Wave. Visually its much nicer, but half of it has just been demolished and is being redeveloped.
Will be interesting to see how it works out

Same. I love the town centre. Lovely old buildings. Lots of history.

When was Bradford ever not a dump?

@Ted27 It was never posh, but had lots of quirky places when I lived there. Kind of in a genuine bohemian way, rather than rich people way.

Bradford. Go one a year to the theatre and leave as soon as the show is over, hoping no one takes me out as the driving there is so bad. Been to Hull recently and loved it. Lots to do and really interesting, historical city centre.

Birmingham. It was always dirty, grey, and industrial but it had heart amongst the grittyness. People pulled together. it's now something else entirely. Drugs, homelessness, violent crime in every suburb, hmos on every street and gangs dominate. Everyone with any sense and the financial means moved out after covid and the ensuing rapid decline. Honestly, if you're only a visitor don't be fooled by the pretty canal side; it's not a safe city.

I was shocked to find tents in the underground exit tunnel in London. We were going to a London museum and it was mid morning. A couple of people were having a loud aggressive slanging match and there was litter everywhere. Not exactly welcoming for tourists.

It's not a research project you know. Just a chat.

Birmingham was really grim during the eighties with a massive tent city. Sounds like it is heading back there.

I have only been to Bradford a couple of times, for work twice so I saw the client's office and once for a day out, when we had a great lunch and talked cricket with the waiters.

Bangor is so sad! It was never amazing, but i used to go to school there and have so many good memories of the high st and Theatr Gwynedd and the Wellfield, and it's all so dilapidated and awful now. I went to Pontio for the first time in the summer and it's so bland compared to the old theatre.

There's a lot of good about Brum but for accessibility the main station, new st, is bonkers to try and navigate if you're not already familiar. The random colour coding!! The city itself, great. Just a special mention for the worst stationary for those with crap vision! I appreciate that's niche!

@dottydoglover I totally agree!

I’ve lived in Brum for all of my 62 years, but my son moved to Manchester for work and loves it there, he wouldn’t return to live in Birmingham.

There’s no threatening edge when I walk round Manchester with him. And of course, Manchester kept many of it’s lovely old buildings, whereas Birmingham’s have been flattened

And the Halifax Piece square is surely one of the most fabulous bits of city architecture ever constructed?

What was the place in London called, was it cardboard city?

Manchester had a sort of tent city. Horrible to see. Not sure if it’s still there or not.

Thank you for replying.

Such a shame because Bournemouth used to be beautiful. I was quite envious of the people who lived there when I was a child ( as a Londoner).

For those saying Birmingham, if you stay by the Town Hall and Council House, the museum, library and Brindley Place areas, it’s pretty nice. Also around the Cathedral and business district.

The area outside the back of New Street station has obviously had quite a lot of money spent on it at one stage but it’s declining and getting busy with druggies. Shame.

I don’t go much apart from work. Tend to shop in Tamworth instead which is pretty unexciting.

I couldn't really say which city centre is the worst but then again, I live in Hull.

I must stick up for Bradford and Preston though. OK, they aren't pretty places but the people in Preston were nice and the food in Bradford was amazing. So much choice at the Indian/Pakistani restaurants. Plenty of dishes I'd never seen before.

My favourite cities are Leeds (again, the people are so friendly), Manchester and my home city of Liverpool.

Let me be the cheerleader for Plymouth. Yes, it is a bit rundown, and it has some of the poorest postcodes in the UK, but it is geographically and scenically one of the most beautifully located cities in the UK. There are some glorious streets and urban vistas, and the seascapes should command megabucks.

Totally agree, I live between bradford and leeds. You don't go to bradford unless you have to. Its an absolute shithole.

Filthy, litter everywhere. Every double yellow line parked on. Cars driving about at brake neck speeds.

Had to visit the hospital last week. The BRI has a narrow one way system. Various cars just parked blocking the access roads. Two outside the main entrance just abandoned on double yellows causing havoc. One car load of people sat eating and just chucking their litter on the car park. Awful. Parking may not be ideal at the LGI in Leeds but its nothing like the BRI.

Bradford feels lawless and a lot of the time, it is.

Cardiff is not having a good moment, for all it is apparently one of the few cities with a growing footfall for shopping etc.

Open drug use is rife amongst the quasi-homeless who congregate around the city centre.

I'm am just crossing my fingers that the small city we plan to retire to is not mentioned here. So far so good.