Yeah Veg, Hackney still has a way to go, but there are some enclaves there that are little havens. Some of the Olympic stuff seems to be making a difference too. I don't really like these best/worst threads very much either.

Fair point about the best/worse threads Suzy. Like my mum used to say there is good and bad in everyone and it's the same for places too.
The estate I live on has a fearsome reputation but I've only ever had trouble with my next door neighbours and she would be a psychopath if she lived in Totteridge or Hampstead.
I don't know what it is about Hackney that makes me feel unsafe. I've never ever felt that way about any other place I've visited. I have friends who live/lived in Toxteth and Brixton when they were considered no go areas and I never felt uneasy there.
I'm just weird I think

Doncaster, its a cultural wasteland.

I've lived in Brum for 33 years now and I love the place Mr Prom 

must say though if people continually speak to Brummies the way I'm sometimes addressed (i.e. they think because they're in Birmingham it's acceptable to treat us as if we're all thick, brain dead and unable to speak the Queen's English) then I'm not surprised some of them come across as a bit rude  but that is the exception not the norm.

Although Birmingham was very ugly, there's been a hell of a lot of redevelopment in recent years and I'd defy anyone not to put it on a par with other great cities   but mebbe I'm just biased cos I l live here 

I've spent a fair bit of time in Brum (the OH is from there) and no-one's ever been rude to me. I find it a cheerful place and the accent is warm and friendly - although nobody does  moaning better than a moaning Brummie!
Worst place I've ever been is general North Herts area - full of bumpkins who think they're cosmopolitan and "better" than everyone else in the UK because they live (sort of) near London!

Stick Brighton on the list.

It's a terrible, terrible place and so is St. Leonards which merges into Hastings.
Then, along from there is Bulverhythe which is another decrepit, filthy area which boasts the notorious Coombe Haven (yeah, right!) holiday camp.

They're now revamping the Stade on Hastings seafront.  The hoardings, plastic sheeting and metal railings haven't made it look any worse than before.

Agree with Velvet too - Brighton's not much better and its 'Little London' nickname is laughable.

 
There's a serial killer thread?

Did you start it by any chance?

Have to agree with the positive opinions on here about Birmingham..  it's got some of the friendliest people in the UK there, and a lot of clubs/pubs/concert venues and squillions of shops with several huge shopping centres, plus some old historic places and great road links and rail links... Some people love to attack it though (and its people,) and often it's an unjustified attack, from people who have been on one day trip, and experienced a couple of grumpy people...  they were probably not even from Birmingham anyway!

My friend runs the furniture recycling project there and she lives there during the week as she actually lives in Peacehaven which is just outside Brighton.  It's such a shame about the rundown old fashioned aspect of Hastings as it could be lovely. I think the council are trying to do what they can but it's hard for seaside towns when they're not fashionable enough to appeal to holidaymakers

Rochdale.

Colne (nr Burnley)...rows and rows of dull streets that all look the same...I think you drop off the edge of the world at Colne.......

Bolton (where I live) is pretty depressing, though we do have Rivington and the West Pennine Moors to compensate....we are lucky to have such beautiful countryside on our doorstep....it truly is stunning...

....can i also add Skelmersdale.....**shudders**....the town of roundabouts...

Noooooo i absolutely adore brighton! Id love to live there if i could.

I love Brighton as well.I go there quite a bit because I've got rellies in Hove. Lovely place.

It is every time ive been there ive had a lovely time, its got a lovely feel to it and loads to see and do.

I love the fact that there isn't any fashion fascism there. People wear whatever they like and look pretty individual, compared to the trendy clones you see in a lot of cities.

I nearly lived there once

Birmingham
too many people we dont want

Mods?

LOL

I know Peacehaven well too, Veggie.

It's pretty much hit and miss all along the coast from Hastings to Brighton;  some towns and surrounding areas are quite picturesque whereas others are just tatty, tacky and run down badly.  It's not easy when your economy is still mainly dependant on tourism.

As with most things, I guess it's what you're used to and what you're comparing it with that forms someone's opinions.

Hastings is a very Historic place ......................surely to God it could be a REAL MONEYspinner in the tourist trade, What a shame nobody saw the possibilities,

Yeah...Morecombe.

I felt like nicking Eric and sitting him next to Les Dawson.

swanage.............it's so dull and boring even the seagulls don't bother crapping on your head..........awful place.....

Its dead exciting if you are a 10/11 year old away from home for a week with the school though!

I went there with my school too! The Purbeck Centre or something. I loved it.

They've got the Old Town, Soozy, where all the main historic and fishing nostalgia is promoted.  The fact that they've got no fishing industry is another subject altogether.  Londoners drive all the way down to buy fish not realising that they've passed the lorry coming down from Billingsgate on the way   There's also the Smuggler's Caves and you can walk around the original old town shops and houses which are still quaint - some will have some info printed detailing who lived there etc.,

Battle has got the heads up on all the 1066 history, but Pevensey Bay (small seaside village) and Norman's Bay (a couple of camp sites but mainly residential) where the landings took place are just ordinary villages - it definitely not promoted as it should be.

Battle is by far the nicest of the above mentioned, although it's not on the seafront.
The surrounding villages are quite rural and there's some lovely property...but it's hardly holidaymaker-land.

croc xx....(sorry to read about your son's team btw x).well yes i can imagine it is.....but there's soooooooo many great places around it that makes it so dull......corfe castle..the purbecks...old harry rocks....lulworth cove etc...it just makes it duller!!!

I would assume it depends what you are looking for...etc.I'm in Glasgow and it has it's awful parts, any big city has,however  we have the "Wee wummin' on tha' bus!" Yes you sit beside a wee granny for ten/twenty minutes and you get the whole family history etc.,..brilliant!

Glasgow is wonderful. I love it. It struck me how much i love it, and miss it this last time i was up. I was busy all week so the other half and my daughter went to all the art galleries and museums. I love that it is all free. In England you have to pay to go to see art and museums and how is that meant to inspire and promote art? No Glasgow has it right. I dont think i could be bored in Glasgow.

Yes Gypsie it is free...so far.!.I've yet to visit the refurbished Art Galleries etc.,I do love that in waiting at a bus stop etc,someone will always srtike up a conversation,maybe to say .."Oh I've been waiting ages fur this   bus!"..etc.  I love it...!

Derby,its so depressing.
I also have to put Newcastle on the list.

Lol
My thoughts exactly the last (and only) time I went to Basingstoke 
Not an unpleasant town but, how can someone live somewhere so flat
In fact the same is true of the whole of the south of England; How much f*cking sky do you need to see ???
I likes my land with sides

 

The Chilterns...
loads of hills.

Probably best not to cash in on places where the English were embarrassed.. Not in England anyway 
 
 

I spent time in Basingstoke when it was a new city (my sis lived there) was great fun for clubbing but nothing much more really.
I now reside at the top of a very steep hill in Devon (very hilly county) -Walking up it is brill for the ol buttocks
Norfolk is the place to go for flat - I went to Boarding school there & spent many an afternoon out cycling, something I can't refuse to do here in Devon...

 
Pfft! A view from the aforementioned.. Up here we'd call 'em... foothills