Places in the UK that have been surprisingly good/bad

Places in the UK that have been surprisingly good/bad

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theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
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In the spirit of the other thread, and UK centric so we can test them out more easily, are there any hidden surprising places you have come across in the UK that you were not expecting, or conversely that you expected more from?

For me Bath was a bit meh. People have said Stonehenge.

I was surprised Newcastle was enjoyable and Bolton.

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
captain_cynic said:
theplayingmantis said:
For me Bath was a bit meh. People have said Stonehenge.
I've wanted to visit Stonehenge as it's not too far from where I live, others have suggested Avebury as an alternative. They seem pretty close to each other so why not see both I'm thinking?

Things like this are something I think should be seen once, but once is usually enough.

theplayingmantis said:
I was surprised Newcastle was enjoyable and Bolton.
Speaking of the North, I've had Hartlepool suggested to me... but the bloke was from Hartlepool.

In either case, looking forward to the responses as I intend on touring around the UK for a bit in the next year or two as I've got more time off.
ive never been stonehenge, just driven past, always too busy and managed when we've consdiered turning in.

Avebury is great. a couple of decent pubs there too.Plus its in the whole world heritage site, along with west Kennet, the avenue, the ridgeway, silbury hill and the sanctuary, which i find very interesting, and there are some great walks linking all the sites and you can get up close and personal to them (apart from silbury these days, although people still climb up it) unlike Stonehenge.

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
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The Leaper said:
Glad to see the thumbs up for Avebury: wife and I will be there 1 May for the day.

R.
Pagans?

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
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The Leaper said:
No, not pagans, just coincidence as we're stopping off in the area for two days on our way back from a week in Cornwall.

R.
'Avebury Well Water' is a very decent pint, despite being brewed by Greene KIng (not that they advertise it as such) and can be got in the Red Lion which is in the circle/village itself (think its chain pub but very historic). Waggon & Horses which is on the A4 just before the roundabout that you can turn off at for Avebury does far better food though imo.

if you haven't been before, there's a nice walk from avebury on the ridgeway around via silbury, then towards the sanctuary, cross the A4 down into East Kennet village then around the back crossing the a4 into avebury again beside the cricket pitch. if you feeling energetic can extend and divert it to west kennet long barrow or windmill hill and get all the sights/sites in.

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
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marcosgt said:
Funnily enough the wife and I did Stonehenge and Avebury one day (with a pub lunch in the middle) last July (14th - I remember because it was our anniversary - Exciting stuff eh? biggrin)

Anyway, we had an English Heritage Membership, so it was free to get into Stonehenge - Always worth a look, but being old enough to remember the days when you could clamber over the rocks and stand up against them, it feels a bit remote now. One good thing is that you can reasonable photos, because the people aren't in the way! smile


I don't think I'd pay what they charge, though, to be honest.

Avebury isn't as impressive as Stonehenge, imo, but it's impressive in its own way, with the stones and the earthworks - It's actually quite a long drive (further than you think from looking at a map, anyway) between the two, but you can do them in a day.

Surprised people are a bit down on Bath, we did a trip around the baths at night once (20+ years ago now though), which was wonderful and it's a picturesque town.

Brighton always seems a bit disappointing to me, but even my old home town of Bournemouth is going the same way...

M.
yes they are a fair distance, always go a4 down to the west country, and come back a30/303 so always pass Avebury on the way down and stop as a start of holiday tradition.

bath does look good for a night tour, but I've been dragged round there town a couple of times for whole days and just couldn't see the point after we'd seen the baths and cathedral.

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
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The Leaper said:
mantis,

Thanks for the info,

I've always wanted to visit Avebury, and we never have despite going reasonably close by (A303) to Cornwall twice a year out of season for the past 30 years or so for family visits.

I am sure we will visit one if not both pubs! We are actually staying in Chiseldon for two nights.

Not sure about the suggested walk, though: my knees and legs are probably not up for it now!

R.
you wanna get on the a4 next time! (maybe a bit far north for you depending on where in surrey) its a great driving road down to the west, much more relaxing and fun than the m4, until you get to near chippenham when its a bit of a faf getting down to the 303 via trowbridge and frome.

its worth checking out all those sites, either way, each has a carpark near enough, west kennet long barrow is slight walk uphill but its well worth it for views even if the long barrow itself isnt much to see, and to me at least they all give off a nice vibe. im not spirutual or into the new age stuff or anything like that, but the landscape around there does seem to give off a vibe that has something ancient/timeless about it, maybes is the sun on the chalk landscape and the effect it has on the light, i dont know, just seems slightly otherworldly in that neck of the woods. Its captured brilliantly by the artist Anna Dillon.

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
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deckster said:
Lands End. My god, what a festering pustule disfiguring the otherwise beautiful backside of Britain.

Conversely, Glasgow. Worked there for three months and consistently found excellent restaurants, lively bars, and friendly people.
land end i remember as a kid going to see tunnels through time and my gran getting stuck on the land train (she had done her knee in playing tennis the day before and it didnt stop long enough for her to get off) and some petting zoo there and 'cornish gold' whatever that was.

its even more commercialized now it seems and the charges seem to be ridiculous i popped in in the summer and immediately turned around again in the car park. its worth visiting the end bit just to say you've been and there's some nice views. to avoid the silly pricing its worth parking at sennen cove and walking to lands end if your mildly fit.

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Thursday 22nd February 2018
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TVR Moneypit said:
Pretty much anywhere in the Peak District. Absolutely stunning scenery, fantastic buildings, from small little cottages to great big country estates, warm and friendly people and some of the best driving roads on the planet. But then again, being a local, I might be a touch biased.

The wife and I, (or fiance as she was then), went to Portmerrion back in 2005. Driving down the lane onto our suite in the village was simply breathtaking. I've seen The Prisoner 100 times, but it still doesn't prepare you for how utterly beautiful the place is. We had 5 days staying at a suite in the village, then stayed on for an extra 2 days in the Castle. It was worth every penny. And the food in the Portmerrion hotel was very, very good. As an added bonus, the roads around there are some of the best I've driven on, (I had a Golf VR6 Highline at the time), with the EVO triangle and Snowdonia on your doorstep.

Edited by TVR Moneypit on Thursday 22 February 01:33
agree with this. great place.

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Friday 23rd February 2018
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StevieBee said:
Going to put in a shout for north Essex; particularly Dedham Vale but most of the county north of the A120 (except Braintree) is one of the loveliest regions in the South East IMO.
The essex coast is underrated too (not southend).

But north essex wont be nice soon. the number of houses that will be going up in the next couple of decades and expansion of villages to accommodate the uncontrolled population growth in this country are going to change its character forever, such as West Tey. Mid essex has been destroyed already, Chelmsford has gone from a nice'ish market town in the mid 90's to a horrible ever expanding commuter'ville with a generic high street, development everywhere, unwanted city status (apart from the pompous council idiots) and huge population growth from people moving out of London. the same people who support those who are making London undesirable that they are wanting to move out.

Its truly awful what Chelmsford has become, who wants to live in the sort of properties they put up in the huge new (and previous) development that is Beauliu park for example is beyond me. Not affordable housing, horrible modern faux local design, with the complete wrong finishing materials, that looks completely out of place, 'executive' houses that have tiny gardens, overlook each other and don't have and never will a sense of community/neighborhood with all these executive living right on top of each other all built on what was once productive farmland.

Maldon likewise is in the process of being changed forever from a once small and characterful estuary town that has benefited from no railway in retaining its charm, to a huge over developed dormitory town - at least the population growth should solve the rampant inbreeding in Maldon! That is if the incomers can bear the barmysness of the locals!

Edited by theplayingmantis on Friday 23 February 14:10

theplayingmantis

Original Poster:

3,779 posts

82 months

Friday 23rd February 2018
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sinbaddio said:
Really like the North Yorkshire coast - Robin Hoods Bay and Staithes are beautiful.

Equally enjoyed walking the Shropshire Way. Some truly untouched places. Church Stretton and Clun are lovely.
yep agree, some lovely restaurants too