Top 5 Cities in the UK You Would Not Move To (And Why)

Top 5 Cities in the UK You Would Not Move To (And Why): A Complete Guide

When thinking of relocation within the United Kingdom, one’s mind inevitably goes to beautiful countryside villages, vibrant urban hubs, or ancient fishing ports. Yet not all towns are equally charming; in fact, some are far from being ideal places to live. Beauty is, indeed, in the eye of the beholder, but when taking into account issues of cost of living, crime rate, career prospects, and general satisfaction with life in general, there are certain cities that tend to get unfavorable marks in polls. Prior to deciding to relocate, one must do more than skim through the tourist pamphlets. In this article, we take a look at five cities in the United Kingdom where you would rather not reside.

The Distinction Between "Avoid" and "Visit" Cities

It should first of all be noted that there is a major difference between living in an undesirable city and visiting it on holiday. Quite a number of the destinations mentioned below have a very interesting history, impressive cathedrals, as well as lively nightclubs – a great place for spending a couple of weekends. Meanwhile, in terms of relocation, such factors as transportation (for example, having access to a reliable cab service provider like Cabs In Hemel for commuting to work on a daily basis are taken into account. Having all that said, let us take a closer look at the top 5 cities on the list of being the least desirable to live in UK.

1. Bradford, West Yorkshire

Bradford is usually ranked among the worst cities in quality-of-life studies, for valid reasons. Even though the city hosts the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Saltaire village on the outskirts of Bradford, the urban center is battling with extreme economic poverty. Since the decline of the textile and manufacturing sectors, Bradford has been unable to transition towards the new economy sectors such as information technology or services.

The figures on education are indeed daunting for any family. It is a well-known fact that Bradford always ranks at the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to the achievement levels of its residents in their secondary education along with extremely high child poverty levels. In addition to that, Bradford suffers from a very poor traffic situation as well as a complete absence of proper city planning. While one can certainly say that the cost of housing is indeed low—which is why many people like living in Bradford—what you pay for is indeed what you get, considering the high pollution and crime rate.

2. Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

On the surface, Peterborough looks like an intelligent choice. Being located in the East of England, it provides quick access by train to London King’s Cross in just about 45 minutes. But living in the heart of the city is a completely different experience compared to the one you imagine as a commuter. Indeed, Peterborough has a big identity problem. There is a magnificent cathedral, but the surroundings consist of brutalist architecture built in the 1960s and old shopping centers.

The main problem with living here is the alarming rate of crime in Peterborough. According to statistics from the police, Peterborough is the place where the highest number of anti-social and violent offenses occur in Cambridgeshire. In addition, the city has turned into one of the major hubs for county lines drug trafficking, resulting in increased gang-related crimes in the neighborhood areas. Moreover, if you travel by public transport, you need to be prepared for frequent delays in local bus services, which forces residents to use more expensive private vehicles for evening transportation. Despite the pleasantness of the surrounding area (e.g., Ferry Meadows), living in the center of the city is considered gloomy and lonely. If you have to travel reliably, Airport Taxi Hemel Hempstead becomes a standard.

3. Luton, Bedfordshire

Luton may well be the most controversial choice of all, being as it certainly is extremely functional. It has an internationally renowned airport, a university, and a growing population base. Still, Luton has remained consistently ranked as one of the most undesirable places to live in England for both satirical publications and serious surveys. While the reason cited in many cases may have been the infamous "Luton airport runway extension" noise, there was something more about the town center.

What made Luton such an unpleasant place is a combination of the fragmented sense of community and the level of deprivation in its urban areas. The previously prestigious Arndale Centre has become a reminder of the town's struggles with declining retail space, packed with cheap outlets and charity shops. Much worse, however, are the conditions in the urban area itself. Luton's streets are notorious for being dirty, with extensive cases of fly-tipping reported in residential backstreets. There is hardly any nightlife in the town apart from a couple of Wetherspoons pubs.

Moreover, the property market within Luton is characterized by both expensive new constructions and dilapidated Victorian terraces. The traffic is chaotic, particularly during the peak activity periods at the airport. In case one does not own a car, the bus terminal is known to be dangerous, particularly late at night. Although Luton is functional as a transit point, establishing oneself within the city implies that one accepts a high cost of living while lacking all the advantages of a metropolitan lifestyle.

4. Hull (Kingston upon Hull), East Yorkshire

Hull has made strenuous efforts at rebranding itself. Being named the UK City of Culture in 2017 led to the opening of several museums, creation of public art pieces, and an overall sense of hopefulness. And truthfully, Hull has done much better than before in terms of its urban core. The reason why Hull earns an “avoid” tag is that of geographic and economic reasons. Hull’s geographic situation makes it quite unique, since it is located way up north in the most remote area of Britain. It can only be reached by car through long drives.

The bigger problem, however, concerns the economy of the area. Although the renewable energy sector, offshore wind, is becoming increasingly popular and is growing, deindustrialization has caused major problems and deprived areas exist with an extremely low life expectancy between postcodes. The city is also known for a high level of drinking and associated health problems. Finally, the geography of the town confuses many visitors due to its Dock road system, which leads to traffic jams. In general, although the residents of Hull are famous for being nice and tough, the lack of decent employment and poor weather conditions prevent it from becoming an attractive destination.

Also read: Beyond the Capital: 7 Stunning & Affordable English Gems (Not London or Manchester)

5. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

The final one on our list would be Middlesbrough which is an epitome of what could happen during post-industrialization. Located in Teesside, Middlesbrough has the worst cases of poverty among children in the UK. As if to reinforce this point, the Transporter Bridge located there is now rusting. For a prospective tenant of Middlesbrough, the first indicator of the poor state of the city would be health issues. With a record-low male and female life expectancy, one can clearly see that people who live there suffer from air pollution as well as high rates of smoking. There is also no easy access to greenery within the city limits. With the exception of countryside locations such as North York Moors, there is little retail activity going on with a lot of vacant storefronts downtown. High burglary rates as well as car-related crime make living in the city less desirable. The main types of employment available are low-paying care jobs and retail positions.

Conclusion: Doing Your Homework Before the Move

In essence, moving to any city is a matter of personal choice. A person’s dilapidated area might be an opportunity for someone else. Nonetheless, the above cities frequently find themselves featured in the “worst places to live” category, and all for valid reasons – crimes, poverty, poor infrastructure, or bad weather. If you are thinking about relocating, then visiting the place in question several times is crucial. You must see beyond viewing a particular house; walk the main street at nine PM on a Friday night, for example.

In addition, take into account the process of relocating itself. Many people living in the above cities ultimately realize that they need to get out of there sooner or later. Regardless of whether it is for visiting relatives or because you have found better prospects elsewhere, the ability to travel quickly and efficiently to one of the major destinations is key. For example, booking the services ahead of time will guarantee that you will not be held up by poorly organized local transport options. To summarize, take into account that although rent prices might be favorable, they come with a cost.