\n \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 Our expert provides his candid verdict on the country\u2019s most populous towns<\/p>\n
Which big town do you think is the worst?<\/p>\n
Read the full list and ratings at the link below \u2b07\ufe0fhttps:\/\/t.co\/N5R2SoMmxC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1ASaUSWYzv<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n \u2014 The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 6, 2026<\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n Following the launch of the UK Town of Culture contest, The Telegraph has taken a look at the 25 biggest towns in Britain and ranked them from best to worst.\n<\/p>\n \n Each town is given a mark out of 10, based on several factors, including:\n<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s 25 biggest towns ranked from best to worst<\/p>\n \n Britain’s 25 biggest towns ranked best to worst, by The Telegraph<\/a>, are:\n<\/p>\n Why Swindon is among the best ‘big’ towns in Britain<\/p>\n \n Swindon is one of the biggest towns in the UK with a population of 224,942 people, behind only Northampton (249,093), Oldham (242,003), and Luton (225,262).\n<\/p>\n \n It was ranked the 14th best town in Britain by The Telegraph, with a rating of 4.5 (out of 10).\n<\/p>\n \n The “once small market town” came highly recommended for its events, “off-beat” arts venues, and award-winning railway museum.\n<\/p>\n \n The Telegraph said: “Once a small market town, in the 1840s Isambard Kingdom Brunel made Swindon the site of the Great Western Railway engine and repair shed on the London-Bristol line, changing its fortunes forever.\n<\/p>\n \n “Rail lovers rate Steam, its award-winning railway museum, as highly as the one at York and gather in numbers to ogle GWR locomotives.\n<\/p>\n \n “Others come to attend innovative events \u2013 last year the museum hosted wellbeing, jazz age, and beer festivals.\n<\/p>\n \n “The town has a fair number of green spaces \u2013 the Old Town Gardens with its Victorian bandstand are lovely \u2013 and some off-beat arts venues, including the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, which has one of the best collections of 20th-century British art outside London.\n<\/p>\n \n “Palladian House at Lydiard Park, and the iron-age hillfort at Liddington Castle, are other draws.”\n<\/p>\n \n \n If you are looking for the best spot for a bite to eat, Yak The Himalayan Kitchen (SN1 4BJ) has been labelled the “King” of restaurants in Swindon<\/a> by locals.\n<\/p>\n \n If you are looking for a takeaway, Xana’s Fish Bar offers the best fish and chips in town<\/a>, according to Google<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n If you’re simply after a coffee and cake, Brew Book Ltd is the highest-rated cafe in Swindon<\/a> (Google).\n<\/p>\n \n For those that like a bit of retail therapy, Designer Outlet Swindon has you covered, offering a “quality mix” of high street and designer brands, “all housed in the beautifully renovated Grade II listed buildings of the Great Western Railway Works”, Visit Wiltshire<\/a> says.\n<\/p>\n \n RECOMMENDED READING:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \n If you fancy a little day trip, there are plenty of picturesque villages in nearby Wiltshire, or the Cotswolds is only a short drive away.\n<\/p>\n \n If a city break is more your speed, Bath and Bristol are both under an hour’s drive away from Swindon.\n<\/p>\n \n Do you live in, or have you visited, Swindon? Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments below.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n
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Swindon was ranked the 14th best town in Britain. (Image: Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n