The UK boasts a whopping 1,250 towns, with plenty of spots being our pride and joy. However, not all towns are as aesthetically pleasing: after all, life is about balance. Queensferry in Edinburgh was named the second prettiest town in the UK, while Cumbernauld in Glasgow is the fourth ugliest town in the country.
The Telegraph asked experts to rank the most beautiful, and, as a result, most unfortunate-looking towns across the UK. The experts went and examined the “pleasantness of shop fronts, historic architecture, low traffic/litter, stunning viewpoints and plentiful greenery”, scoring the places out of 50.
However, even the not-so-aesthetically pleasing towns received some grace, with experts claiming “there’s always some magic to find”, despite needing some TLC.
The prettiest towns in the UK
- Lewes
- Queensferry
- St David’s
- St Andrew’s
- Ilkley
- Chagford
- Ludlow
- Fowey
- Crickhowell
- Ripon
- Ledbury
- Woodbridge
- Holt
- Rye
Lewes in East Sussex is officially the prettiest town in the UK boasting panoramic views and plenty of historic places, scoring 46 out of 50.
Queensferry in Edinburgh is a close second on the list, scoring 45 out of 50. With one of the most architecturally impressive bridges in the world designed by Eiffel himself, the Forth Bridge is a noteworthy attraction.
Plus, visitors can have a stunning day out by the water, including having drinks and food at Scott’s South Queensferry or Orocco Pier. What is more, ‘Outlander’ fans can explore Hopetoun Estate, with Hopetoun House hailed as “Scotland’s Versailles”.
The ugliest towns in the UK
- Slough
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Telford
- Cumbernauld
- Newton Abbot
- Lowestoft
- Stanley
Slough in Berkshire was named the ugliest town in the UK, scoring 0 both on its views and shop fronts, with an overall score of 12 out of 50. Merthyr Tydfil in Wales is second on the list scoring 15 out of 50, while Telford in Shropshire is the third-ugliest town in the country. However, it is worth noting Abraham Darby III’s pioneering Iron Bridge is a UNESCO Word Heritage site, so it’s not all bad!
Cumbernauld in Glasgow is the fourth ugliest town in the UK, scoring just 20 out of 50. Filled with brutalist architecture, the place is not the best looking, indeed – the town was compared to Eastern Europe in the Soviet Union. What is more, Cumbernauld is the only Scottish town named “Scotland’s most dismal” by the Carbuncle Awards twice. On a more positive note, its green spaces are not so bad, having received the Garden for Life Biodiversity award in 2017.
So, is there still hope for Cumbernauld? Could it still see a resurrection like Battersea Power Station in London did? We shall see!