A new ranking of the UK's 25 largest towns has placed Crawley, West Sussex, at the very bottom, scoring just 0.5 out of 10. The list, compiled by destination expert Chris Moss of The Telegraph, criticised the town for its lack of character and memorable architecture. Crawley shares the bottom spot with Watford, Hertfordshire, which also scored 0.5.
Moss described Crawley as having a 'functional, manufactured quality', with few noteworthy buildings. 'Very few of its modern constructions are noteworthy,' he said, singling out the Church of St Edward the Confessor and St Alban’s Church as 'sleek but humble concrete blocks'. He added that some of its 'boxy housing' might appeal only to 'psycho-geographers' who can find artistry in 'a slab of reinforced concrete'.
Crawley, situated between London and Brighton, has a population of around 118,000 according to the most recent Census data. Historically a small settlement, it expanded rapidly after plans were drawn up in the 1940s, growing from 9,500 residents to well over 50,000. Despite its size, Moss noted that there is little to do in the town unless you are heading to Gatwick Airport.
Residents have mixed feelings about the town. On Reddit, one user commented: 'Better off to be in one of the smaller towns and villages nearby in my opinion. It’s pretty grotty but fine as commuter towns go.' Another said: 'It’s largely okay. Not great by any stretch, but okay. The crime isn’t all that bad. The town centre is a bit of the Wild West in the evenings at weekends.'
The ranking placed Luton, Bedfordshire, third from bottom with a score of 1 out of 10, followed by Oldham, Basildon, and Basingstoke. At the top of the list was Blackpool, scoring 9.5 out of 10, with Cheltenham and Ipswich also ranking highly.
