The “rundown dump” has been named the worst town to visit in the UK

From vibrant Liverpool to bustling London to beautiful York, Britain is packed with cities worth visiting.

But while there are some places that we Brits love to return to again and again, other destinations aren’t quite as popular.

And now a league table has revealed the best and worst travel destinations in the UK and has placed one city in the East Midlands at the bottom of the list.

Described as “run down” and a “garbage dump”, Derby can now secure the “prize” for being the UK’s worst big city for a short break.

They narrowly beat the city of Leicester, also in the Midlands, and the second largest city in Wales, Swansea, and won the not-so-coveted title.

Which? They created their ranking by surveying 3,967 members who rated British cities and towns that they had visited for leisure purposes since April 2022 and where they had spent at least one night. The results were divided into small, medium and large cities and listed 62 destinations in total.

So what makes Derby so good, nonsense? According to Which? it scored “poorly on food and drink, accommodation, cultural and tourist attractions, shopping and ease of getting around – all just two stars”. Ouch.

And to the uninitiated, Derby might not seem like an exciting getaway.

Visitors to Reddit often described it as a place to just travel through, describing it as a place where they felt “lonely and depressed.”

Locals added that it “never feels like there’s much to do,” and a third said it “lacks identity.” Others called the place “a dumping ground.”

But don’t start writing just yet if you’re not there – dig a little deeper and Derby might surprise you.

Firstly, there is the impressive Derby Cathedral, which is home to the oldest ring of ten bells not only in Britain but in the world. Most of them have been there since 1678. And the original church was probably built around 943.

Meanwhile, Derby-based sculptor April Jones told the Independent that her city is “a sleeping artistic giant”. Things are quiet and creative here thanks to Derby’s Vibrancy Fund, a £250,000 fund distributed to local artists. The money was used to fund street art, murals and installations.

There’s also the newly renovated Derby’s Museum of Making, the Derby Art Gallery and the stylish Sadler Gate, a trendy street full of independent shops and boutiques.

It even aims to become Britain’s City of Culture in 2029.

Derby also has a rich automotive tradition. The town began producing Rolls-Royce cars in 1908 and also briefly made Bentleys in the 1930s. A new museum, Great Northern Classics – based in the former Rolls-Royce Heritage Centre – is a great place to admire vintage cars.

And you can’t ignore the fact that Derbyshire is home to the Peak District National Park, which welcomes 13.25 million visitors every year. Stroll the picturesque streets of Castleton or treat yourself to a famous pastry in Bakewell.

And while the Which? may have given the city a poor rating for food and drink in a survey, any resident will point to Birds Bakery as a popular Derby star. Founded in 1919 by three brothers, their famous corn on the cob still draws queues out the door.

And if you’re lucky, you might even see a few famous faces during your visit. Niall Horan and even George Clooney are said to be fans of Derby County Football Club.

While it may not be quite as attractive as some of Britain’s top-rated cities – including Liverpool, Edinburgh and York – perhaps it’s time to give the UK’s ‘worst’ city another chance.

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Contact us by email at MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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