Underrated places in the UK

[MaMaLa321]

I enjoyed reading the thread on overrated places (so strictly this is a TAAT, sorry) but would love to know where in the UK people think is underrated.
Mine is Nantwich. I'd live there like a shot.

@thisgardenlife

Reading. Yes, really - vastly under-rated.

Gorgeous parks like Forbury Gardens, and riverside walks along the Thames path and River Kennet both of which meander through the centre of Reading.

Good shopping. Well, before lockdown it was but Debenhams has just closed and possibly House of Fraser too. Thankfully John Lewis is staying.

Fast and regular trains to London.

Lots of great places to eat out, and pubs old and new.

Good schools.

Beautiful countryside all around. Henley is just down the road, and Sonning / the Chilterns / Pangbourne / Hambleden valleys are all within just a few miles.

Good theatres / arts / live music.

Ancient Abbey Ruins and Reading Goal (immortalised in a poem by Oscar Wilde), a prison we're trying to save for an arts centre.

And a recent acquisition, our very own Banksy on the side of the prison wall.

Reading truly is a lovely place to live or visit.:)

I would agree. A great location - easy for London but also to go west, to the south coast or up to the Midlands etc.

Also has its own copy of the Bayeux Tapestry - that's pretty cool.

Some lovely independent shops mixed in with the usual high street chains. And nice restaurants around the Oracle/canal.

Fantastic schools.

Beautiful countryside on its doorstep.

@JustMeAndWheatley

80sthrowback

I think St Just is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to.

Love Bradgate Park too.

Now think I should visit all the places on your list that I haven’t yet visited.

I recommend them!

@RampantIvy

Carlisle I agree that not all of Croydon is rank.

I like Carlisle too

I'd say Shropshire too. In fact all the places I've been to along Offa's Dyke have been stunning.

Also West Somerset. Everyone knows Bath/Frome/Bruton now, but West Somerset is as beautiful as Devon with way less tourists.

Lincolnshire - just not Skegness, there is so much more to it beautiful countryside, sandy beaches and history of all ages!

Saltburn

Hastings & St Leonard's. I vastly prefer it to Brighton these days.
I agree with PPs about Somerset too. I've long preferred Somerset & Dorset to Devon & Cornwall. I've personally always found the people friendlier too (in Somerset & Dorset). But of course it's all personal taste

Liverpool, and Glasgow

Tankgirl97 I agree re West Somerset. Absolutely gorgeous part of the West Country. Have you been up to the top of the Brendan Hills overlooking Watchet? A PP said about Devon and Cornwall getting all the attention and Somerset very little. So true.

Beautiful Fermanagh, the most westerly county in the UK.

So glad to see Hull mentioned. I love it.
Also Northamptonshire.

Geminijust we stayed in Eskdale a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. It was crowd-free compared to the rest of the Lake District. There's a lovely little railway, depending on how big your children are, and lots of great walks. We were there at Easter, so I am not sure how busy the coast gets, but we had the beach to ourselves when we were there.

@AlanThePig

We were looking for a few days away. My lovely DIL works for a hotel chain and she suggested a place they have in Northumberland. Must admit I raised an eyebrow, not somewhere I'd ever considered before.

Anyway, up for a change we've booked it. Monday to Friday. I plan to explore the coastline, visit Hadrian's Wall and Beamish and look at Durham Cathedral.

Very pleased to see it mentioned on here.

You will love it. Beamish is fabulous and the scenery around the area is amazing. I think the North East of England is vastly underrated in general. People for other areas have a vision of poverty, urbanisation and miles of industry but there are loads of beautiful areas. Runswick Bay, Robin Hoods Bay, Goathland (where Heartbeat and Harry Potter train station scenes were filmed), Tynemouth, Guisborough, Great Ayton, too many lovely places to mention. I think people are really surprised when they visit for the first time.

Hull

Trough of Bowland and surrounding villages. Discovered it when I went for a wedding. Couldn’t believe I had never even heard of it prior. Stunning scenery, lovely restaurants, friendly people. Did a bit of Googling and jt turns out Her Majesty once said that if she could ever retire she would retire to the Trough of Bowland.

And the funny thing is the whole week in the the run up to the wedding my work colleagues were laughing that I was going to a “dodgy cotton mill wedding up norf”. The fools couldn’t have been more wrong.

Merthyr Tydfil : )

is Liverpool underrated though? It was capital of culture and is well regarded for weekends away round here. I love it.

I’d say hull is very underrated. It’s regularly hired worst place in the country but I think it’s great. Great museums and little gems of restaurants. Lots to do around and about.

Belfast

As PPs have said, Shropshire. Also, Ulster: Belfast ( great vibe) , Downpatrick, Strangford loch, enniskillen etc.

Not Liverpool!! It’s absolutely grim!! Loads of great places - Cardiff, Somerset, Salisbury etc!

Welshpool (pretty little market town)
Barmouth (stunning estuary)
Liverpool - so much stunning architecture and great beaches! (Crosby Iron Men, Formby red squirrel reserve and Freshfields) also drinking, eating, music, arts and culture. Amazing place. I don't live far
Newcastle - similar to Liverpool
Colwyn Bay - gorgeous Victorian market town
Preston - just a fab northern town

@Littlecaf

Lancashire coast. Formby, Crosby, Hightown, Southport - and the weirdness of Hesketh........

Do you mean Hesketh Bank ?

Hull - can't believe how lovely it was. Definitely underrated!

@Alwayscalminacrisis why do you think Liverpool is grim?? Where did you go?

The Forest of Bowland has some lovely spots, not far from Lancaster and Morecambe.