A city in north Wales has been named UK’s worst seaside town.
Tourists who have recently visited Bangor, Gwynedd, described the cathedral city as “drab” and “run down”. It got the most votes in an extensive survey carried out by Which? Travel as the consumer group identified the worst seaside towns across the UK.
Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire and Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset also scored poorly but Bangor has the misfortune of the title following the poll. Wales’ oldest city ranked just 42 per cent and had one-star ratings for food and drink, tourist attractions, and shopping in the survey. For everything else, including value for money and quality of beaches, Bangor received just two stars.
But the cathedral and pier in Bangor, and scenery around the city of approximately 17,000 people were praised in Which? Travel’s findings. Tourists described Bangor as a great base from which to explore the natural landscapes across north Wales, including Eryri National Park (Snowdonia).
Tourists left comments, describing Bangor as “drab” and “run down” in the survey for Which? Travel. Reviews on TripAdvisor reflect the low score in the latest poll. One reads: “Doesnt appear very cultured even though its supposed to be the city of learning.” They refer to Bangor University, established by Royal Charter in 1885, which now caters for around 11,000 students. However, there is no official use by authorities in Bangor of the term “city of learning”.
Another review on TripAdvisor is written in Spanish. Roughly translated, it reads: “A town we expected a lot from, but it didn’t deliver anything. There’s not much to see, and it actually made us waste time [when we could have] visited other beautiful places like Beaumaris and Caernarfon.”
Mablethorpe, which is on England’s east coast in Lincolnshire, ranked poorly in the survey too. It came second from bottom with just 46 per cent, and was criticised for food and drink options, tourist attractions and shopping facilities.
But its beaches and parking are what stopped it coming in last place, as it scored three stars in both of those categories. Hotels in Mablethorpe are relatively cheap too, averaging £86 per night.
And Burnham-on-Sea, which is around 30 miles southwest of Bristol, was panned for its tourist attractions, food and drink options, and shopping facilities in the survey. It was also given two stars for its pier and seafront. Hotel prices aren’t cheap either, charging £106 a night on average.
10. Southend-on-Sea, Essex
9. Fleetwood, Lancashire
8. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
7. Blackpool, Lancashire
6. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
5. Skegness, Lincolnshire
4. Bognor Regis, West Sussex
3. Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
2. Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
1. Bangor, north Wales
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