Uk towns that have been a (surprise) let down to you

[Lozz360]

I was going to say Oxford. I went there back in the eighties and thought it was a depressing dump.

Not a town. Probably a bit harsh to describe it as a depressing dump. Parts of it are ruined by modern architecture 1960’s style (mainly the centre!) but the colleges still retain their character.

 

[byegad]

That there London. Full of too many people, many of whom shout all the time.

 

[matticus]

That there London. Full of too many people, many of whom shout all the time.

What were you expecting?

 

[BoldonLad]

To be fair, Whitburn and Seaburn were nice, as was West Boldon!

Yes, indeed, they are frequently on our cycling routes.

Didn't you like East Boldon then?

 

[lazybloke]

I think many of the old Victorian seaside resorts tend to look a bit jaded and run down these days.

We'll that would certainly explain Weymouth bring a disappointing corner or Dorset.

But my nominated town is 1980s-era Billingham, and in particular the the ICI works and associated housing. It's the total lack of soul and greenery that made it a desolate and depressing dump.
I wonder if it's improved?

 

[Venod]

But my nominated town is 1980s-era Billingham, and in particular the the ICI works and associated housing

Up thread I posted cutting through Middlesbrough on the way to Hartlepool Power Station, but it was probably Billingham (apologies to Middlesbrough)

 

[BoldonLad]

Up thread I posted cutting through Middlesbrough on the way to Hartlepool Power Station, but it was probably Billingham (apologies to Middlesbrough)

No need to apologise, Billingham is the posh bit

 

[Rusty Nails]

Too many to list here but a lot of them are places that have suffered economically over the past 40 years or so, particularly places that were once thriving seaside resorts such as Ilfracombe, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Blackpool. Empty shops or charity shops everywhere.

 

[PaulB]

Westwood Ho! What a let down. I've never actually been myself, I'm quoting a song title from the ever-reliable Half Man Half Biscuit, Britain's finest touring/recording band.

 

[AndyRM]

Was that the pub which used to be a Fire Station?, last time I was there (some years ago), it was called “The Bell” I think.

If so, that is North Shields, not, Whitley Bay. Not that it really matters, that area is one big urban sprawl, Tynemouth, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay, North Shields, Percy Main, Howden. All dying on their feet.

The Fire Station is one of the 'fancy' Wetherspoons in Whitley Bay. Still is.

Depends when @Garry A went to Whitley. 10 years ago, it would have been wild, particularly down South Parade. Now, all of the clubs and stuff have been or are being turned into accommodation. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen, but it's certainly more of a family friendly area. Although many of the half-way houses are still there so there's a curious mix of people throughout the day.

I'd agree that Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth are all pretty much the same place, but once you're further inland the places are a lot more identifiable. North Shields is going through a regeneration phase at the minute, around the Metro station and town square. Criminally, they've ripped up all the grass and trees and whatnot in what was a perfectly enjoyable space. Not entirely sure what they're replacing it with.

Percy Main and Howdon are just feral. Drop a bomb on them and start again.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Westwood Ho! What a let down. I've never actually been myself, I'm quoting a song title from the ever-reliable Half Man Half Biscuit, Britain's finest touring/recording band.

Forgot about that one...or more likely wiped it from my memory it was so bad.

 

[BoldonLad]

The Fire Station is one of the 'fancy' Wetherspoons in Whitley Bay. Still is.

Depends when @Garry A went to Whitley. 10 years ago, it would have been wild, particularly down South Parade. Now, all of the clubs and stuff have been or are being turned into accommodation. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen, but it's certainly more of a family friendly area. Although many of the half-way houses are still there so there's a curious mix of people throughout the day.

I'd agree that Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth are all pretty much the same place, but once you're further inland the places are a lot more identifiable. North Shields is going through a regeneration phase at the minute, around the Metro station and town square. Criminally, they've ripped up all the grass and trees and whatnot in what was a perfectly enjoyable space. Not entirely sure what they're replacing it with.

Percy Main and Howdon are just feral. Drop a bomb on them and start again.

Yes!, I have the wrong place, I was thinking of "The Bell and Bucket", North Shields. A number of years since I was in there. I recall others as we made our way back to the Ferry to South Shields, Magnesia Banks, The Prince of Wales... It has made me quite nostalgic, will have to round up "the boys" and have a trip over there in the near future

 

[BrumJim]

Rugby. Thought it would be a lovely and picturesque historic town. Its not.

But there again, I was only there because of the large industrial site (GEC) that undoubtedly has a bigger influence on the town than a small Public school

 

[BrumJim]

Stratford on Avon

OK, it's a pleasant enough place rather than a dump, but only worth visiting if you're actually going to the theatre.

Maidenhead: a bit of a dump frankly, the high street and town proper especially. Spent a year or two in hotels there. Granted Slough is slightly more of a dump (another year there) but you don't expect Slough to be nice so it's actually better than you feared.

I remember from my student days that Stratford was the go-to place for a decent pub crawl.

 

[matticus]

Westwood Ho! What a let down. I've never actually been myself, I'm quoting a song title from the ever-reliable Half Man Half Biscuit, Britain's finest touring/recording band.

Hopefully Westward Ho! isn't as bad as that - it's such a great name, it can't possibly live upto it ...

(I'm sure that "Westward Ho! Massive Letdown" is a fine song.)