Damning comments about England in the Rough Guide

Quite a funny article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-...-is-824569.html

Typical quotes: "The only certainty for visitors is that however long you spend in England and however much you see, it still won't be enough to understand the place."

"The guide also offers some less-than-complimentary opinions on some of the country's towns and cities. It describes Blackpool, arguably one of Britain's premiere seaside resorts, as "shamelessly brash". Derby is "unexciting", Plymouth is "bland" and, as for the English Riviera, Torquay, "St Tropez it ain't" is The Rough Guide's unforgiving verdict."

"But the North-east comes in for possibly the most stinging critique. It says that the area is "a land apart from the rest of England – more remote, less affluent", and it describes the region's distinctive accent as "often impenetrable to outsiders". "

I don't really see anything controversial in those comments.

What is getting a little boring is the same news item regurgitated every twelve months, whenever Lonely Planet or Rough Guide publish a new edition. I guess we can add "paranoid" or "insecure" to the list of British traits.

Where's hot... and where's not
Maybe we can add to their list...

"Do go to:

Bath: "Unmissable"
Birmingham: "One of Britain's most cosmopolitan cities"
Canterbury: "One of England's most venerable cities"
Cheltenham: "An appealing regency spa town famous for its horse racing"
Glastonbury: "Steeped in Christian lore and Arthurian legend"
Leeds: "There's still a true northern grit to its character"
Manchester: "The city has no realistic English rivaloutside of London"
Newcastle: "A vibrant cultural scene and nightlife"
Oxford: "Superb architecture, museums and lively student population"
Lake District: "England's most hyped scenic area"

Don't go to:

Derby: "Unexciting"
Essex: "Unappetising"
Torquay: "St Tropez it ain't"
Plymouth: "Bland"

London - "Dirty, alienating and over-rated"

I think calling Blackpool "shamelessly brash" is positively complimentary...

Rhyll?

York: "Most beautiful city in England."

Hull: "A complete pile of crap."

Halifax: "People there have the strangest accent in all of England."

Was this actualy written by someone who actualy physicaly visited the places mentioned, or did they just use google as they thought the pay was to low?

That's Lonely Planet you're referring to; this is Rough Guide and they're in a different league!

"The guide also offers some less-than-complimentary opinions on some of the country's towns and cities. It describes Blackpool, arguably one of Britain's premiere seaside resorts, as "shamelessly brash".

Have I missed something in the last 8 years Blackpool is a "premiere seaside resort" alongside Skegness I assume.

You mean they haven't been found out yet? ;-)

As someone born in Derby, I find the term 'unexciting' just plain wrong. Festering shite-hole would have captured the city's vibe much more accurately.