A prominent travel writer has launched a passionate defence of Newport in South Wales, a city recently branded the worst destination to visit in the United Kingdom. Ben Aitken, 39, who specialises in seeking out overlooked British spots, spent time there in April last year and came away thoroughly impressed, arguing it punches massively below its weight.
Challenging the Negative Narrative
The negative label for Newport stemmed from research by GoCompare in 2025, which assessed 55 UK locations on factors like family-friendly accommodation and tourist attractions. The Welsh city unfortunately topped the list. Further context came from a Centre for Cities report highlighting Newport's high rate of vacant retail units.
However, Aitken, speaking to the Mirror, firmly challenged this narrative. He acknowledged the city centre was quieter than some might expect but attributed this to nationwide shifts in shopping habits, not a lack of inherent appeal. "British shoppers no longer use high streets in the same way," he explained, a change that naturally affects how bustling a place feels to visitors.
Discovering Newport's Hidden Gems
What Aitken found instead was a city "peppered with really excellent independent businesses," describing it as full of "diamonds in this unfashionable place." His culinary highlights included Vittorio's on Stow Hill, an Italian restaurant run by the same family for decades, with roots tracing back to Italian miners who settled in Newport generations ago.
He also praised Le Pub for its live music, the historic Ye Olde Murenger House (believed to be Newport's oldest pub), alongside the Rogue Fox café and fine dining restaurant Gem 42. Beyond food and drink, Aitken immersed himself in local culture, trying track cycling at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales and attending a lively rugby match at Rodney Parade, where he enjoyed the atmospheric buzz and delicious pies.
Architecture, Community and a Promise
The city's architecture, shaped by its history as a booming 19th-century industrial centre, immediately stood out to Aitken. He described its general design as "quirky" and not straightforwardly classic or Gothic. He was equally struck by the warmth of the local community, meeting a "fair few" residents he found "friendly and welcoming."
During his stay, Aitken overnighted at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort, which he described as "really nice," though he expressed a wish that it would do more to encourage guests to explore Newport's city centre. His final plea to potential visitors is simple: "I'm not asking people to up sticks and move to Newport. I'm just asking them to consider visiting, staying over for the night, and I promise you can fill a weekend there."
He concluded, "It has food, history, fun, and accommodation. It just goes to show that anywhere can be interesting and enjoyable if you just give it half a chance."
