Right from the start Ramsgate was leading the way in the competition. However, once Banbury started to energise the locals and fans via social media channels, the competition heated up. But, in the end, it was not quite enough to stop Ramsgate, who stormed to victory.
LONDON – Which ist the most l(i)oveable city/town in the UK aside from the well-known tourist destinations? The international online booking portal HOTEL INFO wanted to know the answer to this question and let British internet users decide. More than 2,500 users took part in the voting and chose their favourite. In social networks the voting received especially high attention and was widely shared.
HOTEL INFO had researched 30 small cities/towns in the United Kingdom with less than 60,000 inhabitants and put them to a vote for three weeks from 16.06.2015 to 07.07.2015. The high participation of more than 2,500 internet users shows how popular these towns are not only among locals but also travellers who enjoy visiting new cities.
Right from the start Ramsgate was leading the way in the competition. However, once Banbury started to energise the locals and fans via social media channels, the competition heated up. But, in the end, it was not quite enough to stop Ramsgate, who stormed to victory.
Bromsgrove and Chorley battled it out for third place, and were neck and neck until the very end. Eventually Bromsgrove secured that third position, with a difference of only 16 votes.
Ramsgate – the most l(i)oveable town in the UK
Ramsgate in Kent is the winner with 1,121 votes and can now call itself the most l(i)oveable town in the UK. From humble origins as a small fishing hamlet, Ramsgate’s popularity grew as did its population. Construction of the harbour started in the 1700s, and has the rare honour of being the UK’s only Royal Harbour. The main attraction of Ramsgate is its coastline, and this charms many visitors throughout the year. This coastline, combined with the bustling marina, is complimented by a continental cafe style culture with an abundance of bars and cafes. Culturally, Ramsgate celebrates its maritime history with a museum, and also boasts a reconstructed Viking longship; a key landmark of the area.
In second place follows Banbury. A charming market town, located just on the edge of Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Banbury has been a busy town for centuries. Even though a lot of Banbury has been redeveloped over the years, there are still quaint alleys and traditional inns where visitors can experience the heart and soul of this slice of England.
Bromsgrove (Worcestershire), which is well-known for the Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, was voted into third place. First documented in the 9th century Bromsgrove has a long and interesting history. Its economy has changed over the years from hunting and farming to wool trade in the middle ages, and then nail manufacturing. In the centre of town visitors will find beautifully preserved half-timbered buildings, which capture the architecture of a bygone age. For a small place, Bromsgrove is a hub of activity: Throughout the year The Artrix (an arts centre opened in 2005) organises over 400 events.
Top 5 of the most l(i)oveable cities/towns in the UK
1. Ramsgate (Kent)
2. Banbury (Oxfordshire)
3. Bromsgrove (Worcestershire)
4. Chorley (Lancashire)
5. Warwick (Warwickshire)
Abingdon, Bicester, Barrow-in-Furness, Buxton, Droitwich Spa, Dumfries, Durham, Great Malvern, Horsham, Huntingdon, Kendal, King’s Lynn, Lancaster, Lichfield, Llanelli, Newbury (Berkshire), Newmarket (Suffolk), Newquay, Penzance, Perth, Ryde, Skegness, St Austell, Stratford-upon-Avon and Stroud were also nominated for the voting.
The complete results can be found at www.hotel.info/en/citymoments/top-city-voting-2015/.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.