[Closed] What to do in [your town here]?

Liverpool. Best nightlife outside London. More bars and restaurants than you could ever visit. And contrary to what the media would have you believe, one of the safest big cities in the UK too.

In my town? Two options:

1. Be turned into a Scientologist
2. Take part in all sorts of weird pagan activities.

Seriously, they've made TV programmes about my town.

Ride. Visit many of our pubs. Visit the Castle. Visit St Fagan's. Stroll among our cool arcades. Ride.

Grease Instead, Mikey?

Had a company with an office there for a while. Strange place indeed!

Don't live in a town, but am near two cities with marvellous cathedrals, and sadly also near to Blazingsmoke. Still haven't found a reason to visit other than Waitrose! 🙂

visit the set of the Omen

Haha that's the one Cap.

Bugger all but it is a small market town so err go for a walk...

Having grown up near Swindon it's not a lack of facilities that Swindon has, it's vibe / culture was never very nice. Most UK towns are like this tbh and it does get unfairly singled out.

In my town? Two options:

1. Be turned into a Scientologist
2. Take part in all sorts of weird pagan activities.

That would be East Grinstead then ?

That obvious huh?

Leave Southampton city centre behind and head to Butser, Old Winchester and Beacon Hills in the South Downs.

Great if you can get out there by bike, but even if that's not possible (~20-25 miles from the city centre), getting out into the countryside with much less polluted air and amazing views is such an uplifting experience.

It only took me living here for just under 25 years to discover this! 😆

I live on the fringes of the happiest town in Wales. It's official. In a report out today.

We have the national cycle museum. And some great road and mtb riding in the environs.

A small number of very nice restaurants and pubs, including CAMRA best in Wales.

Bury.
Good beer watching steam trains.
Canny cycling country just out of town.
Few good places to eat unfortunately.
Seems to be the centre of the universe for boy racers.

That obvious huh?

Yeah, I used to work at Saint Hill Manor

(I’m not a Scientologist!)

Probably about the only town in the county that hasn't had the main street pedestrianized, as it's an arterial route, and as such it's the busiest with plenty indy shops, bars and restaurants.

The council don't seem to see the correlation.

I digress - nice beach, plenty eating n drinking, and an airport less than 10 mins walk from centre of town.

A golfers dream too. Home of the open, and royal Troon 15 minutes walk away, two of the most expensive, and quietest courses in Scotland.

ride (off and on road), walk, row, kayak, sail.

Enjoy the outdoors

Claim benefits,
drink fortified wine,
eat chips,
buy a house for less than a cost of a car.

Hide in it so you don't get a kicking.

Dunblane

Ride mountain bikes. Ride road bike. Ride gravel bike.
Paddle river.
Visit cathedral/museum/gold postbox.
Visit Sherrifmuir battlefield, gathering stone and Atlantic Wall.
Climb a mountain or hill.
Walk round Laighills park, riverside park, woodlands, along river to Ashfield or down to Bridge of Allan via Treasure Island cave.
Play a round of golf or game of tennis.
Eat at Tilly Tearoom, Riverside, Church House or Doubletree.
Sink a pint at the Tappit Hen.

Loddrik ..
Sorry mate but the best night life in the country is in Newcastle ..
Not that that's my town ..but it is the closest city ..40 miles away ..
I live in a small village in North West Northumberland ..surrounded by hills & forest ..so mountain biking for me is where it's at ..
Three pubs in the village I visit one very infrequently ..the co-op stays open until 10pm ..wild eh ?

Shush loddrik towns packed with people having a ball as it is. The Grapes was standing room only on Saturday afternoon and the bike lockup stands were full on Bold Street.

Visit the Wakefield Hepworth gallery and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park for some culture. Erm... Sandle Castle, Pugneys Park.
Ride round the Wakefield Wheel or follow the Transpennine Trail north or south for some biking.

Living in Edinburgh there is loads of stuff. From top notch tourist things like the open top bus tour ( surprisingly good) to Michelin star restaurants to our own mini mountain in the city centre.

Then you can go mountainbiking on the 100+ miles of trails in the pentlands just 4 miles from the city centre or swimming off portobello beach again just a few miles from the city centre.

the you can go watch either a crap football or rugby team. does any other city have one of each? supposedly in the top flight but actually completely pants

near to Blazingsmoke. Still haven't found a reason to visit other than Waitrose

Kneedown practice on the Nokia roundabout

Surf

Leave.

I'm an hour in any direction from something interesting including three national parks, but my home town has been suffering urban decay for a few of generations.

Ride Swinley forest.
Visit the local Michelin star restaurant.
Watch a movie at the new cinema.
Have a pint.
It's pretty good round this way

Not a great deal here other than a great pub and a few camping/caravan sites, but it's a good base for exploring the East Neuk. Oh, and there's a small pyramid up the road commemorating the murder of some archbishop or other.

Swyre, Dorset.

**** all happens. Some decent dog walks, gravelly beach, some fishing sometimes, lots of cow and sheep shit. People get old and die. Occasional dinner parties, where getting absolutely c*nted is the norm.

[s]Liverpool[/s] Glasgow. Best nightlife outside London. More bars and restaurants than you could ever visit. And contrary to what the media would have you believe, one of the safest big cities in the UK too.

Ftfy.

Edinburgh is boring in comparison.

I live in peebles though... If you don't kniw what do do there you're a muppet.

On the outskirts we have Cathy Barry who lives on Cock Road.

Trying to workout where the flying ix lives without googling.

I was trying to figure out where flying ox is is too 😆

“Town”? I can do village.. ?

Heard of Howard’s Way?

Then you can go sailing here.

We also have a couple of decent pubs, hardly any restaurants of note, lovely countryside and beachfronts though.. so really the best thing to do is get outside.

josh - saucer of cream? At least us in the east know where the soap is 😉

I'm more or less equidistant between 3 towns.

Aspatria- keep on driving.

Maryport- Blues Festival is worth a look.

Cockermouth- lovely little town, hidden gem is the museum in the back of Banks hardware store. Jennings tour is good too.

Doncaster. No, wait..

Actually a fair bit for the visitor these days, enough for a weekend maybe. Yorkshire Wildlife Park would be the big one, really well established now but still growing. Then you can go peek at the Vulcan, have a clamber round Conisborough Castle or see how the other half lived at Brodsworth Hall. A day at the races is still an event, and the market is still great for fresh food shopping. Shopping is pretty rubbish, we're overshadowed by Meadowhall, Sheffield and Leeds for that, and with the main line railway, M18, A1 it's easy to be in these, or York, Nottingham or Lincoln with an hour.

Houses are cheap, beer is cheaper and a few good places to eat. Riding? Did I mention it's easy to get to other places?

tjagain - Member
josh - saucer of cream? At least us in the east know where the soap is

Lived in edinburgh too its great also.

I'm a fifer though so everything seems nice.

josh - saucer of cream? At least us in the east know where the soap is

Aye, when ye bend over for it.

East Grinstead

Why does that place ring a bell?

Sure I went to a rave there back in the day...

LOL@ Josh and no beer

Barnsley

Close to the Peak District. Unfortunately like a lot of places the town centre has deteriorated due to the number of out of town shopping centres.

50% of the shops are TV repair shops

There’s only one TV repair shop

Near (but not strictly my town)

Submarine Museum and in particular HMS Alliance in Gosport. In fact all the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

I live in London so quite a lot, but even within walking distance we are very lucky:

Loads of sports facilities (rugby, football, cricket, lacrosse, rowing, canoeing, sailing, tennis, squash, racquets, fives - both major codes, swimming, athletics etc) Major rowing events and a championship football team.

Venues: Major venue of bands and comedians, top jazz venue, large theatre and also some small ones, a few cinemas including a chi chi one.

Wetlands centre, a number of festivals, pubs, restaurants etc.

Submarine Museum

That sounds awesome!

But don't you get awfully wet?

Look at Georgian architecture
Go to a spa (new or old)
Watch a rugby match

Beat up a womble, smug little ****ers

Retire. That is about all there is to do in Ferndown as it is full of retirement homes and the average age of the residents is about 70.

On the plus side it is 6 miles from the New Forest and 12 miles for the Purbecks so the riding is excellent.

For the next few days, risk being virtually infected by a pandemic. Terribly exciting.

Some of the best restaurants in the UK.
Brilliant bars covering everything from ale to cocktails.
Stunning architecture.
Hugely varied museums, modern art, fine art, natural history, science and more, all boxes ticked.
Diverse and accepting culture covering a huge variety of race and religion.
World class sporting and cultural venues and (bar the football) and world class performances taking place in them.
And more canals than Venice.

Yes, it's safe to say that Birmingham is a damn fine city.

My town is apparently the happiest in England, according to some kind of bullshit algorithm.

You wouldn't know it to look at the miserable old tykes wandering around town.

Er...we have a castle, a pretty canal and some wood with all the mud you could want.

Go to the Wimpy burger restaurant which Brad Pitt has eaten in.

There's a pretty good micro-brewery/pub as well.

Errr, that's about it really! 😆

Leeds.
all cosmopolitan now.....or so I am told.
but, good pubs, good food, lot's of live music.
some nice riding around the outskirts.

Go hunt Martians

and some Mod bloke lived here (Mod in the musical sense)

Shoot a bear, go snowboarding, eat a cinnamon bun.

Östersund

Go to the theatre
[s]Lots of[/s] Some pubs, cafes, restaurants. It's ok for a small place.
Swim in the lido
Nearby Downhill venue. (accessible by train)
Ride directly to the trail centre via a new linking cyclepath

hunt reindeer, deer, Elk or fish for trout in the lakes or salmon, cod etc

nowhere to eat out or get a drink though, but a couple of okay take aways and beer available in the supermarket
5 mins to mountain bike trails and the forests

absolutely no culture at all. Nearest cinema or theatre is 15 miles away

“Town”? I can do village.. ?

Heard of Howard’s Way?

Then you can go sailing here.

We also have a couple of decent pubs, hardly any restaurants of note, lovely countryside and beachfronts though.. so really the best thing to do is get outside.

Ah yes, the lovely Bursledon beach.

Six pubs, three Indian restaurants, two Chinese takaways, one live music pub, a supermarket, half an hour on the train to brum and pretty decent riding half a mile from the centre.
£2.70 a pint for prize winning ale.

[b]Harrogate[/b]

Eat overpriced food

Drink overpriced beer

Pay over-the-odds rates for workmen

Sit stationary in the clogged up streets

Count Range Rovers

Count trophy wives in Dior sunglasses no matter the weather

But...

Watch bike races

Trying to workout where the flying ix lives without googling.
...
I was trying to figure out where flying ox is is too

Trying to workout where the flying ix lives without googling.
...
I was trying to figure out where flying ox is is too

I'd hope i'd have a better chance than most spending 1000's of hours cycling roads and trails in East Fife, but even i don't remember any pyramids

You would have to go on some pretty long rides it is on the other side of the country

Not a great deal here other than a great pub and a few camping/caravan sites, but it's a good base for exploring the East Neuk. Oh, and there's a small pyramid up the road commemorating the murder of some archbishop or other.

I'll give you a clue. It's neither Ceres nor Guardbridge.

Hednesford

a) Go to the chase
or
b) Get the train out of hednesford.

You are quite right, I confused him with another poster. Slightly west of St Andrews I would have thought

If you like Chinese food you will be in hog heaven here though there's restaurants from every corner of the world if you look and all at worst a 45 minute metro or taxi ride away at most.
Despite the impression people have of huge megastructures and lack of private space its 60% country parks so there's lots of places to get out and ride.
Nightlife, culture and Asian exotisim all in one melting pot, being one of the most famous cities in the world its almost a match for Swindon (where I was born and lived the early years of my life).

Do you like?
Rain.
Riding up and down big hills in the rain.
Walking up and down big hills in the rain.
Friendly people, usually a bit damp, with an unusual but justifiable pride in their town.
An almost disturbing lack of litter.
Endless trails and back roads.
Being an hour away from everywhere else.

Then welcome to Burnley.

Honestly, they've hidden a couple of flat bits alongside the canal, but basically, it's steep.
🙂

Surprising amount of off-road riding to do - which is one reason why I moved here from London; the real reason, though, being my wife told me to. Then it drops off a bit.... Lots of awful charity shops, the major restaurant in town is Maccy D, and we've a light industrial estate with an Indian Bikes dealership. And at one point we were supposed to have the highest proportion of care in the community people compared to not in care residents.

Nico - Member
“Town”? I can do village.. ?
Heard of Howard’s Way?

Then you can go sailing here.

We also have a couple of decent pubs, hardly any restaurants of note, lovely countryside and beachfronts though.. so really the best thing to do is get outside.

Ah yes, the lovely Bursledon beach.

Ah, yes.. you must be thinking of the Jolly Sailor slipway...

We do have a great little Bistro in one of the many marinas, which I forgot to put in the original post, its got itself a nice pizza wood fired oven and sells ice cold lager too.. which is nice to watch the sun go down.

Sunderland - has very few redeeming features other than a road network than can connect you to places that are slightly less shite.

The council has closed all the museums bar one. Closed all the libraries and moved a selection of books into one room in the one remaining museum. The town centre is a shambles even though they are renovating it. I think the only half decent place is the beach. All this from a place that is bidding to be UK City of Culture in 2021.

@midlifecrashes

Houses are cheap, beer is cheaper and a few good places to eat. Riding? Did I mention it's easy to get to other places?

Steetley Quarry would be the main one, then there is Rother Valley about 40 mins away.

Portsmouth mentioned on the previous page - (not my town either, thank gawd, but nearest) - visit Albert Road, Southsea, other bits of Southsea, especially if you like antiques. Gunwharf Quays for all your outlet shopping needs plus a decent cinema and lots of restaurants. However! DO NOT DRIVE! Get the train or you will go (like me) nuts.
And go up the A3 to ride Butser, QECP and the South Darns innit.

Ainsa, Aragon - MTB, kayaking, hill walking and mountain climbing, bars and restaurants, amazing views, bird watching, geological marvels . . . Same old same old.

I once lived in Littlehampton - aside from Smarts Amusments there was pretty much nothing.

Weymouth.
Water sports. MTB in the quarries on Portland. Purbecks and Puddletown. Seaside pubs. Great seafood. Good local music scene.
Great sunsets best viewed from the Cove House Inn.

I live between Oxford and Wycombe. Wycombe is awful - end of.
Oxford has plenty of highs - but I'm too old and grumpy to tolerate the crowds

Best bet is to head off into the Chilterns on the bike

You can watch the rugby and other sporting events, and the occasional concert.

Have a chat and a pint with David Icke.

Go for a Long Walk (sorry)
Visit the Queen

Not much. Used to be real top class rugby but now not so much.

Oh we have common riding which is OK if you're male and like horses and rum n milk and getting pissed at 5am. Not so much fun if not.

A park (actually a nice Park) which is soon to have a £300k pumptrack, once we've raised the last £285k.

Lots of good road riding and some good local mtb riding. But we're not in the fashionable tweed Valley so the cooncil ignore our cycling tourism potential.