South Queensferry is nestled on the Edinburgh side of the Forth Bridges (Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The UK boasts approximately 1,250 , each with its own unique charm or lack thereof – and now a contentious survey has ranked the most beautiful and unsightly towns across Britain.
Experts rated each town based on the attractiveness of their shop fronts, historical architecture, cleanliness, viewpoints, and green spaces, with a maximum possible score of 50.
St David’s in Pembrokeshire was named as the third prettiest town in the UK, scoring an impressive 44 out of 50, but what caused it to rank so highly?
Known for its charming shop fronts and historic architecture, St David’s is technically the smallest in Britain, with a population of around 1,600 people.
The area also features numerous cosy and tearooms that exude a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
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St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales (Image: Getty)
St David’s in Pembrokeshire offers breathtaking views of the island and sea, where lucky visitors might spot dolphins, Atlantic grey seals, and harbour porpoises. Queensferry in West Lothian claimed the second spot, scoring 45 out of 50.
Also known as South Queensferry, this town nestled on the Edinburgh side of the Forth Bridges boasts remarkable architecture and significant bridges, including the Forth Bridge.
However, the crown for the prettiest town in the UK went to Lewes, in East Sussex, with a score of 46 out of 50. Lewes, known for its annual firework display, is a picturesque town boasting a wealth of independent retailers along its medieval streets, hilly twittens and alleyways.
Despite the challenging terrain, it offers an excellent day out or even a pub crawl, with 17 pubs located in the town centre.
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Lewes is known for its annual firework display (Image: Getty)
The South Downs are also within easy reach, offering panoramic views of the hills, town and beyond. However, not all UK towns have fared as well.
Telford in Shropshire, Merthyr Tydfil in Wales and Slough in Berkshire have been named as the three ugliest towns in Britain. Telford, ranking third, scored a dismal 17 out of 50.
Noted for its lack of a real town centre, Telford was created in the 1960s as part of the New Towns initiative by Harold MacMillan’s Conservative government.
Despite its limited highstreets and retailers, experts did highlight that Telford sits just north of the Ironbridge Gorge – a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site home to Abraham Darby III’s pioneering Iron Bridge, a range of museums and a handmade pork pie shop.
Merthyr Tydfil in Wales has been named Britain’s second most unattractive town, scoring a mere 15 out of 50.
A shopper passes an empty retail unit in Slough (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Nestled in a basin at the northern head of the Taff Valley, Merthyr is plagued by numerous industrial and retail parks, heavy traffic, and high levels of crime and unemployment.
However, it does have some redeeming features such as the surrounding hills, Cyfarthfa Castle – a castellated mansion and art gallery, the UK’s largest mountain bike park, the world’s fastest seated zip-line across an open-cast coal mine, and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Meanwhile, Slough in Berkshire took the dubious honour of being named the ugliest town in Britain, scoring just 12 out of 50, including a zero for its shop fronts and views.
The Telegraph reports that Slough’s high street is one of the unhealthiest in the UK due to the number of takeaways and lack of leisure facilities.
However, there is hope on the horizon as the town is set to receive a £110million makeover in the coming years, which could transform it from ugly duckling to beautiful swan.