Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
City ‘fifth worst’ says travel bible
Tuesday 29th December 2009, 2:00PM GMT.
Wolverhampton is the fifth worst city in the world according to travel bible Lonely Planet.
The holiday experts rank it alongside crime-ridden cities like Detroit and Los Angeles in America and “grubby” Central American city San Salvador.
In an on-line list, Lonely Planet author Vivek Wagle compiled the top nine “cities you really hate” based on things said on an internet forum by readers.
But while all the other cities have a write-up in the printed guide, Wolverhampton is not even mentioned. Instead the only reason given is that it is “so bad that we don’t even have it on this site”.
The only justification readers can find is a link to the forum in which someone claims tastelessly that Wolverhampton looks as bad as Ground Zero in New York straight after the 9/11 terror attacks that left thousands dead.
The city is ranked worse than San Salvador in Central America, which was deemed grubby, and Chennai in India which was found to be lacking any of the prosperity, history or buzz of other cities.
Only Detroit, with its huge crime rate, Accra in Ghana with its chaotic sprawl, Seoul in South Korea, which has no spirit, and the urban overcrowding of Los Angeles fare worse.
An expert on the city today reacted angrily to the snub, speculating Wolverhampton’s critics have not even bothered to look around it.
Richard Rhodes, who has been chairman of Wolverhampton Civic Society since 1983, said: “I think it is scandalous that they can write off our city without having even visited it.
“We have some wonderful places such as West Park and Bantock House that would appeal to tourists.
“The old town hall, now the magistrates court, is also a wonderfully attractive building.”
In the latest Great Britain edition of Lonely Planet, released in March 2009, the Black Country was omitted because it does not have “enough drawcards”.
By Daniel Wainwright
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two words for the writers…..and the second one is off.
I’d rather live here than any false, new money, shallow, botox fuelled *fashion capital* where people are judged based on false ideals and “haves” as opposed to real moral values – something most of us still have in Wolverhampton.
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“We have some wonderful places such as West Park and Bantock House that would appeal to tourists.” Crikey if that is the best we have to offer then we might as well give up. (no offence to the above they are very nice) but ‘an old house with some old things in it and a PARK???? People must be chomping at the bit to get here! Well done Wolverhampton.
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The problem with Wolverhampton is there are far too many undesirables hanging around. Gangster wannabees, hoodies and general scruffs. The decent people who live around here avoid the city because of it – for example id rather travel the extra distance to Birmingham to avoid it.
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The problem with Wolverhampton is there are far too many undesirables hanging around. Wannabe gangsters, chavs and general scruffs seem to of swamped the city and it gives it that depressing feel. Its a shame because there are plenty of decent people who live in the area who shun the place because of it. Id rather travel the extra distance and shop at the Bull Ring in Birmingham instead.
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Wolverhampton is like so many of the towns and cities in England, grey, featureless,depressing.This is reflected on the people’s faces that walk the litter ridden streets. I have visited many american cities and they are victims of a poor infrastructure, and investement – Detroit,for instance is just a larger version of what the black country will be like if investment is neglected.
I think Wolverhampton was chosen because its an example of what most English cities are – by day over populated with the ignorant parasites that feed off the welfare state, and at night hostile haunts for the drunken thugs.
Mr Rhodes failed to mention the increase in violent crime , Drugs and guns , murders, that are now common place – common in most cities and towns in England….
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I’m amazed it even got a mention at all!!! The city made it into a list alongside LA & Detroit, Hollywood and Motor City respectively; Wolverhampton: home of Slade, Jazz Mann, a couple of parks and a nice building that used to be a court. Woop woop!
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Only 5th? I think we got off lightly.
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Oh come on all you complainers – are you seriously suggesting that Wolverhampton is a better place to live than Barcelona, Berlin, San Francisco or Sydney – or even Harrogate, Brighton or Edinburgh – or even Stourbridge or Solihull?
If you do think that then your prejudice is getting the better of you and there’s no point joining in the conversation because you’re behaving like a five year old.
Yes there are lots of rubbish things about London, yes there are lots of good things about Wolverhampton – but objectively, come on – there’s a seriously underqualified population which means that decent employers can’t (let alone want) set up offices here because they won’t be able to find talented staff.
There’s rubbish nightlife and poor quality housing and environments – which means even if decent employers established themselves there, they’d have trouble attracting workers to come and live in the area.
You think people will be willing to swap Paris or Copenhagen – with their decent public transport, excellent bars and cafes and restaurants, cultural establishments, great jobs, great accomomodation opportunities – for Bilston?
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How true, although top 5 is a little harsh, glad I left Wolverhampton for Canada over a year ago!
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Yes I agreee, what a dump.
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Having visited Wolverhampton Civic Hall on the 21st of this month i couldnt wait to get out of the filthy place.
Ethnic gangs on street corners puke outsdie pub doors and people just spitting every where.
I am mid 40′s not old or infirm but to be honest i honestly felt as though it was a matter of time before i got attacked or mugged. In short, Wolverhampton is a dog hole.
As for the court or the park being the attractions, only thing i can say Wolverhampton as going for it is the M6 and M54, anything else you can keep.
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How can you judge a place if you have never been there?????
Its like me saying Scunthorpe is a hole because someone told me it is.
Wolverhampton has a lot to offer. A multicultural society which live and work together. Residents who take pride and are proud of the city and proud of its football club. We have Witwick House, St Peters church, great music venues and a history going back to before most cities had been discovered.
I find it very disrespectful to be on this list. What city and towns doesn’t have gangs and crimes and drunk thugs in the city at night! Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and London have more gangs, shootings, stabbings and drunken yobs out than Wolverhampton. Just because we don’t have a Cathedral or a Royal Palace to outweigh the bad doesn’t make it a bad place to be!
How about Cape Town with their high levels of murder, car jackings, rapes and kidnappings. Is that not on the list because it is by the sea and Table Mountain!
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All the Wulfrunians who are down on their city should try living in Walsall. Wolves has theatres, concert halls, cinemas, a university, a premiership football team etc, etc. It punches well above its weight in terms of arts and culture, shopping and education and is the ultimate antidote to tacky, Americanised, crime-ridden Birmingham.
In Walsall we have all the problems of a big city but none of the benefits, I only wish we had a tiny fraction of what Wolverhampton has -at least Wolves is being talked about, Walsall isn’t even on the radar!
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like it or not, wolverhampton is a dump, like so many other towns and cities in the UK. There is nothing particularly memorable about the place.
I can’t remember the last time I said “let’s go to Wolverhampton for a day out”… can you?
Terrible place which is a classic example of all that is wrong with the UK. How it is even classed as a city is beyond me. (modern definition… not just “it has a uni”)
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I totally agree its the biggest dump of a city i have ever seen i pass through it and shop in Birmingham!!It isnt safe to be wandering around the west park and Bantock House is hardly exciting !They really need to look at the
run down shopping area a fountain which cost a fortune wont make the city good. I recently went to Liverpool what a difference !!!The city was spotlesss and the shops all trading we saw many litter collectors as they have pride in the City .Wolverhampton was a lovely place when i was a child but SORRY !!!!its now run down and shoddy.
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I love wolverhampton – I was born in the town, as were my parents and grandparents. I no longer live in Wolves but visit often – to see family and I am a Wolves STH. I was in the town, or City, yesterday (29th) and I have to say the place looks a dump. Our ‘civic leaders’ should be a driving force in resurrecting the fortunes of Wolverhampton – cities like Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle have re-invented themselves. C’mon, sort out our city! Stop the rot!
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Totally agree its a dirty ,filthy ,run down dump i just pass through and shop in Birmingham.
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wolverhampton is ok as far as west midlands cities go. But not really on the list destinations for visitors, why would it?
As an expat, living in Kentucky, theres plenty of cities here with limited appeal for travellers. If you want to go near wolverhampton go to Shrewsbury, or Bridgnorth.
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I DO AGREE WOLVERHAMPTON IS THE DIRTIST CITY IN BRITAIN. I LEFT WOLVERHAMPTON 8YRS AGO AND NEVER BEEN BACK UNTIL THIS XMAS AND FOUND ITS THE DIRTIST PLACE IN BRITAIN. THERE WAS MORE CHEWING GUM ON THE GROUND THAN THE MAKERS HAD IN STOCK. ALL SO IN QUEEN STREET. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MACHINE THEY BOUGHT YEARS AGO ROTTING IN SOME COUNCIL YARD.
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I am amazed that it wasn’t ranked as number one. The traffic is appalling, the layout moronic and the traffic lights every 50 yards incite the kind of violent thoughts best left in the realms of shock horror video nasties. It is no wonder Wolverhampton is such a hole, all the locals goodwill and creativity has been literally been driven out of them!
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They have obviously never been to chapel ash
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I’m sorry but Wolverhampton is a lot nicer than some of the cities I’ve been to. I also prefer it to Birmingham, although I may be bias.
The trouble with Wolverhampton is that there are a lot of undeveloped brownfield sites which have just been left abandoned;
Raglan Street (Sainsburys and Tesco dispute)
The old Charles Clark building in Chapel Ash
Netto in the City Centre
Whatever it used to be coming into city on the Willenhall Road just before Horseley Heath
and numerous old pubs which need to be knocked down.
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What more experts we will soon be a world full of so called experts and who the heck is Vivek Wagle who cares anyway
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As an avid Wolves fan – I obviously have a soft spot for the “City” that I always regard as a town. Sadly – I would never live there and only really visit to watch the Wolves. Like many peope – I find it an intimidating place without the soul it so very much needs ….as for “undesirables” every city has those – so Wolverhampton needs to look beyond its excuses. Smarten the place up – make it frendlier – get success for the football club – which will spin off to the locality and lead to better times ahead !! A safer, nicer , more successful Wolverhampton will have critics back pedalling !!!
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Still beats Walsall, birthplace of 1/4 of Slade and Audrey Roberts from Coronation street.
Oh, and a concrete hippo,(although the hippo is just the right height for putting a can of beer onto while you light a roll up)
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I have to agree, I think people try and kid themselves in to thinking that Wolverhampton has something to offer when really it doesn’t. It is a nothing town,. with nothing worth visiting. Why would anybody want to come to Wolverhampton? why? I mean really its an honest questions, I can’t see any reason for anybody to choose to come and visit this TOWN wich pretends to be a city.
I hate the place, it has nothing to offer, its Town Centre is a waste land thats grubby, unattractive and lacking in retail and entertainment.
Anybody thinking of coming to Wolverhampton… Don’t! Birmingham is just dont the road, go to Birmingham instead.
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Wolverhampton has the council to blame for its demise.
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What makes a town or city a gem or a dump is the proportion of council estates and slum areas to upper and middle class areas. If you consider Wolverhampton, Bilston, Walsall and Willenhall, all these places have several council estates where you see graffiti, cars on bricks, lavatory pans in the front, overgrown gardens, druggies and drunks lurking around rough pubs. The area then reaches a tipping point where middle class people will not venture.
Places like Bath, Ludlow and Four Oaks have virtually no council estates and the towns are totally different.
One thing I have never understood about Counsellors is their lack of common sense in the planning of towns. If you have a high proportion of council estates populated by the people mentioned earlier, why spend money on art galleries and museums when there are insufficient cultured people to view them?
Picture the scene. Wayne and Waynetta drive into Walsall in their untaxed, uninsured car. Having come out of McDonalds and thrown their wrappers on the floor are they really going to enter the art gallery to view some masterpieces? I don’t think so.
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Sorry but that travel guide sucks. What pillocks wrote it?? I can think of many cities in the uk A lot worse than wolverhampton. Manchester is a dump. and so is glasgow. Nottingham really takes the michael with gun crime. Anyone ever been to London and Birmingham lately?? Enough said!!!
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I moved here from Bath 18 years ago and have never regretted it once. Barring Bilston it is my favourite part of the West Midlands.
Bath has its architecture and history but is arrogant, pompous, snobbish and unfriendly. Keep it real Wolverhampton!
What about our canals? – beautiful industrial heritage to be proud of. I’ll take my advice from Lonely Planet with a pinch of salt next time I’m on holiday.
It’s a shame the Tories and Lib Dem councillors want to close our Tourist Information Centre as now we will no longer be able to promote our city or what goes on here to visitors.
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I’m surprised there’s 4 cities deemed worse in the World!
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I have never been to any of those other Citys,but i do know i visited Wolverhampton for the first time in 1963( twelve year old) to watch Everton play the local Football team Wanderers and just fell in love with the place ,and i have been visiting on a regular basis ever since,stange old life is it not.
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I live and work in Wolverhampton but rarely use the City Centre, it is a dump and doesn’t feel safe, just sample the bus station. It has some good points, The Bilash, The Posada, The Grand Theatre. Shopping is the pits, I go to Shrewsbury. Sorry Wolverhampton, but I can understand your ’5th worse city’ status.
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Speaking as a Albion fan…… nah, too easy!
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There was no justifictaion for Wolverhampton to be on the list to the point they couldn’t even explain why. I’ve noticed one or two Albion fans congratulating the list maker and I suggest you go to the website and register your disgust.
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i can only agree with the author it is a crime infested dump its a good job they built the ring road at least you can go round it saying that there is not much to pick and choose between most town and cities localy take sandwell somebody please take it they want sandwell to be twinned with the moon both have got no atmosphere they have got a £73oooooo public building pity its empty never mind the councilors seem happy enough
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what a load of crap, yes to be fair it is a little rough round the edges. lots of scum bags hanging around, and investment needed badly, i mean come on has anybody been to west brom., bloody hell. thats a hole. the fact ppl say we are a town is crap to, i believe we are the 12 biggest place in the uk so town wouldnt match us at all, i imagine ppl saying that on here are from places like west brom
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The only things surprising about this are: 1. The folks at Lonely Planet bothered to mention such an insignificant place alongside the likes of LA, and 2. the reporter and it seems some residents of the ‘town’ are actually surprised that people view it so unfavourably. It is, frankly, a miserable place.
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sounds about right!
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top 5, i would have said top 2 in the world for grubby, but hey im from wonderful west brom where its a pleasure to get up every day ,happy days
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Wolverhampton may be a bit worn down, but I had to chuckle when the article points out that the ratings were: “…based on things said on an internet forum by readers.”
Bearing in mind that every internet forum (and these comments are no different) are full of negative people, with whiny-whiny complaints, is it any wonder?
Tip to all – if you want things to change, then actually CHANGE things rather than moaning on a forum.
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Fortunately few people if any will ever read the feature. I have yet to meet anyone who has ever consulted “Lonely Planet”. Indeed the only time I ever hear it mentioned is when some town or city feels slighted.
Wolverhampton is badly run down. That is directly due to the gerrymandered boundaries which leave a City with the income of a large village.
It is also the legacy of virtually perpetual Labour rule and a Labour clique who gloated, though not publicy, about keeping people in their place. Keep them in council houses and ensure a Labour vote…. etc.
Meanwhile any visitor approaching Wolverhampton from the West will have an entirely different opinion to anyone approaching from the South or East. The problem is the areas you have to travel through to get to Wton. If only Wton was signposted on the M6Toll. Many people would be spared the horrors of the Birmingham eyesore.
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As a non-Wulfrunian, I have to say Wolvverhampton is alright.
It has it’s grotty bits – but then so do most other British industrial cities. It has a crime problem – but then so do lots of places in Britain subject to law-and-order as practised by oour New Labour government (or rather the lack of it!).
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I live and work in Wolverhampton and have to agree with the many negative comments about the place. It is a dump, I rarely go into the City Centre. Just spend 10 minutes in the bus station, that will put you right off the place. The approx £7 return rail fare to Shrewsbury is well worth it. Try it and compare the two.
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moved from wton a few years ago to the south west.
wolves is a run down abandoned place but not the very worst. blame the council for lack of investment and redevelopment
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CORRECT! for 10 points!!!
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ooops – seems to have stirred up a few folk – its all about adapting and respecting you environment – clearly the majority of folk that now live in the “likes” of Wolverhampton do not have the moral foundations to understand that the place in which we live has a significant impact on urban , social, industrial development. I moved to Norfolk from the hell of Bentley 8 years ago , since then Ive been fortunate to live in the USA – to go back to the west Midlands now would be a step backwards on so many fronts. Its time for the those that can make that change to start now – a start would e with the litter – honestly people this is so apparent to all that visit England.
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If they think Wolverhampton is a toilet then so be it. My problem is that a supposedly reputable company is saying so without even having visited the place.
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Whilst I am not sure about the merits of reviewers not visiting somewhere and then claiming they have reviewed it, it has to be faced that Wolverhampton is a dump.
I say this with a sad heart, because as a lifelong wolves fan I now only visit for the games and occasional concert.
Travelling from Worcester to Wolves, it was noticeable how much more hip and ‘with it’ Wolverhampton was. NIghtlife was buzzing and there were shops and outlets which were quite unique where you might buy something fashionable for the weekend. The wit in the south bank was always sharp and there was a sense of belonging.
Compare this with now, shops and pubs shutting and boarded up all over the town centre, no one nows anyone and the city is a gloomy and dark place.
The council urgently needs to invest-whether it be offsetting rents on city centre properties or getting community service offenders to scrub graffiti off walls.
A taskforce needs to be set up to tackle the run down city centre- particularly from the station towards town.
There needs to be people on this taskforce who genuinely care about this city and who are not just in it for the perks of being a councillor.
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I used to live in Wolverhampton but moved away several years ago, the council is to blame. Look at Portobello-on the edge of Wolverhampton and what do people see 1st?…derelict shops and demolished flats that have been wasting away for a few years already. Come up the Willenhall Road into Horsley Fields and it’s no better. Such a shame.
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I agree Manchester has a dump-ness Wolverhampton could never begin to achieve. They have a prettier train station though, good to get away from.
People who write muck about towns or cities just pass through Wolverhampton and don’t absorb the community which is made of pretty much, well, everyone. Scousers, Mancs, Irish (North & South) & the rest of the World. For some reason it’s the place to be.
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Wolverhampton has a Tourist Centre ? what the hell for, to warn against the drug dealing, mugging, scum vermin scum that patrol the City looking for victims.
Its nothing like it was when i lived there 15 years ago, now i would NEVER visit the dump unless i had to even then i would never go in the evening.
Its the most itimidating place i have been to in my 45 years.
Gun crime, drug crime, alcholol crime.
What a shet hole Wolverhampton is.
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29. I left Wolverhampton 20 years ago to live in Manchester. This is what Manchester City offers – great nightlife, independent bars & cafes, open minded locals with a celebrated gay culture, multi cultural society, great gigs, inner city living, open minded environmentally aware council, galleries, green spaces….. do you want me to continue?
Wolverhampton is small minded, grey, shortsighted and , Im sorry, it doesnt have the mentality of a City.
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Btw no. 30 – I assume you have forgotten Aprils devastation of the Staffs / Worcs canal in Pendeford when Barnhurst Sewage plant killed thousands of fish by releasing untreated sewage into the water? Still – fish live underwater, no one sees them do they? Especially with a pair of Rose Tinted glasses on…..
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W-ton is the only place I know that when you go shopping at a famous supermarket someone nicks your Quid out of your shopping trolley while you are going round,also someone can be mugged at knife point at 10.00 am along a well used footpath.
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I have to agree that Wolverhampton is a dump! It is full of beggars, single Mothers on benefits, druggies and prostitutes, [oh, and the rats outside Asda!] Need I say more? I left 12 months ago and have never regretted it. I couldn’t wait to leave! I now have a better job and live near the coast. Wonderful …
J E Martin
Norfolk
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ref comment 11: kevin you really didnt enjoy the place and that is your opinion but dont slag the place off when you came to see roy ‘chubby’ brown who thinks the C word is funny!!!! double standards i think!!!!!
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Wolverhampton has been going downhill for years and for it to be mentioned in a ‘worlds worst places’ list is just unbelievable – it does not deserve to be mentioned at all, it is so bad!
I left the city many years ago as I could foresee how things were going and having been back only once since, I know I made the right decision!
As for that twit who suggests Bantock Park and West Park are attractions for visitors, who would come halfway across the world to visit those places?
And Connor Davies’ comments… well it is you sir who needs to open his eyes and see what a dump Wolverhampton has become. The likes of Harrogate, Solihull, Brighton etc are NOT the size of Wolverhampton and therefore are not comparative whilst Edinburgh is a city of culture appealing to all ages, could you say that about Wolverhampton? – Not bloody likely!
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I’m sorry but what makes it even more depressing is the utter hatred that many of the posters show for anyone different from themselves – that’s what makes the Black Country so awful – the snobbery, the hatred, the anger, the aggression – not the buildings, the environment or the Council.
Shame on you those of you who disparage “ethnic gangs” or “council-estate scum”. How different to think that language is to that of Hitler or Pol Pot?
Shame on you.
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i moved into wolverhampton 18 years ago. I LOVE IT. The people are so friendly you would,nt get these communities like the poshies.
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I think some of you ‘locals’ bemoaning the article need to get a reality check.
Wolverhampton does not offer much at all with regard to the ‘Tourist Pound’. Take away the the Civic, the Grand and Boscobel House nearby and you dont have anything else to offer that Walsall or Sandwell/Dudley already have.
As much as I enjoy a good night out here and there in Wolves and the genuine character of us Black Country Folk, I wouldn’t recommend a foreign visitor to go to Wolverhampton and thats the unfortunate reality.
The council need to take note and do something about it instead of whingeing about it. Do some proper regenaration instead of losing millions of pounds wasting Taxpayers money.
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The council has to take its share of the blame – no good building a fancy fountain in Queens Sq when no-one bothers to keep Lichfield St clean (especially near the Art Gallery). What’s happened to “elfin safety” in that neck of the woods?
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Some of the comments on here are quite offensive to us city folk that live in the city that is Wolverhampton, Yes it has its bad points such as yobs but so does every other city and yes we could do with some further investment, on the other hand the city also has its good points, Good infrastructure, Decent housing and good national transport links.
If your knocking the city you obviously dont appreciate the fact you have a roof over your head and modern facilities unlike some people in the world, If you dont like the area move away, If you dont live in the city then keep quite as you have no right to judge, Im sure where you live is just as bad unless its Fantasy Lane!!!
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I live one hour from Detroit, And trust me i have been to your city a few times and Detroit is the worst by far!
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All I can add now is, if you don’t like it…leave!
It’ll instantly become a better place without all of the negative residents living in it!
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24 – Wolves Mick – I totally agree. It saddens me to see the place freefalling into decline again, whenever I visit the old place. I’m old enough to remember how terrible the place looked in the early 80′s, and it’s heading that way again. The people are still friendly, but even that’s becoming frayed at the edges. The subways haven’t been cleaned in 20 years. And how long have those Lichfield Street pubs/bars been boarded up?
Telford has more going for it – Wonderland, for a start. A great place to take the kids. Where’s the Wolverhampton equivalent? INVESTMENT, INVESTMENT, INVESTMENT. Make the place at least look like a nice place to visit, and visitors will come. Kevin Painter, the darts player, wasn’t joking at the Grand Slam of Darts – there really was nothing for him to see, and ITV made a running joke out of it. The council, and local business, need to act.
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Garry – comment 32-reKevin.
Slag the place off ? its the biggest dive i have been to, i lived there for 20 years and have seen it go down and down lower than a snails belly.
As for double standards just because i went to see Chubby Brown – you have serious problems mate to be honest.
The ”C” word can be very funny when said in harmless joke context, hearing or saying the word doesnt in anyway make you a druggie, a prostitute, a mugger or thug.
The place is a dive and a slum and most people will agree with me.
And as for Toms comment Number 40- i did leave and now live in a nice area on the coast.
Nothing but trouble, gangs, drugs and rats
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Totally bang-on. Every return to Wolverhampton is a very depressing business.
The place is a very poor excuse for a “city” I’m sorry to say. It really has nothing positive going for it at all.
The council should hang their heads in shame. And a large percentage of the populous aren’t above blame either.
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Wolvo is a Secound class city thats the honest truth! the whole black country has a real image problem
Friends of Dudley town centre
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Wolverhampton ain’t perfect – we all knows that – but I have to say I really like the place and I’m proud to live here. Wolverhampton is a city, and well worthy of city status! Be proud Wulfrunians!
What I like best about our city is its diverse and multi-cultural population. Our city is vibrant! I love hip-hop and therefore Wolverhampton just suits me totally.
I also like the fact that our city has superb public transportation links – a mainline train station and a wide variety of bus routes.
Wolverhampton also has some great shops that offer real value for money and a wide selection of goods.
A-Jay is proud to live in Wolverhampton.
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We all knows that Wolverhampton ain’t perfect, but I likes the place – warts and all.
Wolverhampton is a city, and W’ton deserves its city status. Be proud Wulfrunians!
What I likes best is Wolverhampton’s diverse and multi-cultural population. Our city is vibrant! I’m an urban dude who really likes hip-hop and I just feel right at home here.
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As I now live abroad, and havent been to England in 5 years, I am not equipped to comment on the current stated of Wolverhqmpton or anywhere else for that matter. I would just like to say tat I would put little store by anything said by a bunch of chattering “trendies” whose “research” is so notoriously flawed and inaccurate that even their name originated as a typing error!
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As I now live abroad, and havent been to England in 5 years, I am not equipped to comment on the current state of Wolverhqmpton or anywhere else for that matter. I would just like to say that I would put little store by anything said by a bunch of chattering “trendies” whose “research” is so notoriously flawed and inaccurate that even their name originated as a typing error!
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I wouldn’t get too worked up about this folks. It’s an old story of very little substance that the Express and Star, as it so often does, has raked up and given over-inflated prominence on a quiet news day.
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I think that Wolverhampton is generally a dirty, uninviting city..but there are worse places that this. It is drab and rundown but it also offers transport links and cheap trade fairs as well as cheaper housing than in a lot of other parts of the country. Let’s also remember that not too far away is some spectacular countryside. Wolverhampton is a victim of poor administration, and changing lifestyles as well as ways of doing business..like so many other cities here, it missed the boat. I’d say Walsall is worse, however.
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It appears that Wolverhampton is, as it has been for the last 30+ years, slipping into the anonymous morass that is the West Midlands conurbation.
Back in the early ’70s, I seem to recall, bigwigs all over the place were seemingly happy to lump the Black Country, Birmingham and any adjascent areas into one huge socio-economic experimental area. I think it might not have worked out well.
Just for the people who like to sayit, leave”, after 37 years of the “joys” of Wolverhampton, I left the area entirely, since which my standard of living has improved, as has my general health.
My wife sometimes asks me if I ever intend to revisit the region. I’m afraid my answer is always in the negative.
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I live in Auckland,New Zealand which has been rated the fifth best place to live in the World.I previously lived in Vancouver,Canada which is up with Auckland.While i like to visit the place from time to time and support Wolves,i don’t think i could ever go back there.I know where my bread is buttered and things are a lot easier this part of the World.
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Wolverhampton has never had any pretensions to being a tourist town [sorry,city] has it so it’s a compliment to actually be on the list.A bit harsh however to be number 5 considering the other dumps around England and the rest of the world.Anyway,what about glorifying the canal system,have some million pound firework displays,grandify the rail heritage, create an industrial museum or two and the place should be on the way to moving down the list at the next evaluation!
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I agree, Wolverhampton is a hole and needs sorting out.
Get rid of the dossers for a start.
People of Wolverhampton seem to have no pride, you see them walking along throwing litter, fag ends and the like – Its disgusting.
As for the water feature, well the less said about it the better.
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I agree that all cities have there share of undesirables – but its the ratio – For example in Birmingham you dont notice it too much because you get many more decent people around. Whenever I go to wolverhampton the majority of people around look rough! I dont think its fair to blame the council either – yes some of the unused buildings dont look great, but that and just because people live on council estates in the area does not mean that they have to not bother working, litter the place, graffiti everywhere, hang around intimidating people and walk around acting like they are some sort of american gangster. Its down to the individual person to choose how they behave but the problem is there are just too many around here who think its OK to act like that and its bringing the whole place down.
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Lived there 3 years, yep it is a horrid place. Never ever felt safe, and everytime i left the town to go somewhere else it was a relief to escape back into cultured civilised society again. Some lovely people but irrelevant compared to the total nutters and grimness of the place. Felt embarassed when i read that West Park and The Civic building is the best it has to offer. Birmingham felt like paradise in comparison, and thats saying something!
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i agree, even the siberia is more attractive than wolvo
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Of all the cities to be in the bottom 5 based on some moron’s comment on an internet forum….the lonely planet guide is obviously wrong and useless.
Wolves has…
1. West Park, East Park, Hickman Park, Northicote Park and a few more
2. Tettenhall Rock and park
3. Moseley Old Hall
4. Boscobel House
5. Numerous Golf courses
6. Chillington House
7. Cinema
8. Night clubs
9. Many eateries inc indian, chinese, mexican
10. Canals for fishing, walking and cycling(as long as its out towards the country) (heading towards Birmingham…brrrr and that includes Sandwell).
10. Theatre
11. University(granted it is ranked bottom)
12. Good schools….the Grammar, Girls High and the Royal plus St Peters and others
13. Shopping centre – although in this respect I prefer Shrewbury while the wife likes Telford)
It is a good base too as there are other attractions located not too far away.
As for the bad…its the same in any city…and to be frank….I have gone right off Birmingham – now that really is a DUMP!!!!!!
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Did anyone ever mention the Golf courses????
Thought not…and the many other parks eateries etc. I did try for a longer comment but the E&S servers must be playing up as I got an http error. :(
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I take it that Connor Davies (59) has not been mugged or burgled yet. I never called council estate dwellers “scum” – your word. Everyone, even middle class people, neeed to change their lavatory pan once in a while. The difference is that middle class people have pride in themselves and make arrangements to have it removed, not leave it in public view for months on end.
All the people where I live, wealthy or on limited means, take the time and trouble to make their neighborhood clean and decent. The reason is that they have standards which the vast majority of the council estate tenants do not. Whether your a king or pauper you should have a minimum standard which will not allow you to leave rubbish on public display.
Middle class people also think of others in their everyday life so as not to inconvenience anyone and don’t do things to excess. I like a drink but not to the extent of getting bladdered and assulting my wife or member of the public. If I can’t afford something I accept it not burgle someone’s house or shoplift. If I can’t afford to tax my car it stays off the road until I can
Its called self control and pride in yourself Connor.
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I agree with 74 Mr Zuki. Another slow day for the journo hacks at the right wing local rag. They only invite people to ‘Have Your Say’ if it results in people whinging on about how bad the Council is. There are alot worse places than Wolverhampton (and alot better). The decent majority of hard working Men and Women that live here are done a grave injustice by Lonely Planet – if you agree then the answer is simple – don’t buy it ! Happy New Year Wulfrunians.
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Having travelled the length and breadth of this
country and parts of Europe, the people who have compiled this survey are talking complete crap.
Wolves not the best, but their are certainly more
5 Cities worse off than Wolves.
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How sad that people feel like this about a city that has a lot to offer. I left Leeds for Wolverhampton and I find within walking distance two theatres, a great music venue presenting national names, a gallery with Warhols and Lichtensteins, a beautiful church, and an independent cinema where I can enjoy a glass of wine while watching great films not just those on general release. I do agree about the chewing gum – I thought it was just my age – it is apalling. We need to reinvigorate the twilight hours of the city to build the café bar culture for people to enjoy what Wolverhampton has to offer. I hope this dismal critique will spur us on to overturn these negative stereotypes – I love Wolverhampton and when I came for my interview here I found the people to be some of the friendliest people I have ever met and after a number of years I still think people here are lovely – yes we do have some sad cases but by and large you will get a friendlier welcome here than in Leeds!
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If you think Wolverhampton is bad,
try the the places in the north-east.
Hull
Sunderland
Middlesborough
They make Wolverhampton look quite clean.
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we had bob the builder switch our christmas lights on. what more do we want?
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Its the people………not the place thats the problem.
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What amazes me is that we have city status,but no Cathedral! A ridiculous fountain is built in an extremely busy thoroughfare and then it cannot be used most of the time and this the ratepayers paid for, we weren’t even asked if we wanted it, and it certainly does nothing to enhance the town, it is just in the way. It would have been better to renovate the one in St Peters Gardens. The Civic centre was built in front of our beautiful townhall and ancient cobblestones were taken up. There never seems to be a plan to enhance the town it seems to be a case of”What can we do next, and where?”
We do have some lovelybuildings,but the parking is a fortune, and don’t bother with the buses you may get mugged on them, or even when you get off them. Don’t look too smart people might think you are carrying money, and the police are very thin on the ground.
Beware when visiting parks there always seems to be a “Flasher” on the prowl.
We once had a thriving market, but now it is almost third world.
In all Wolverhampton centre has really gone to the dogs. In places it is just a bomb site, so many boarded up shops, broken windows, metal shutters, and heaps of rubble. Chapel Ash is just a disgrace!!!
This city will never be a city of culture, and it is the people that are running this city that have put us where we are on that list.
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Born & Bred in Wolverhampton & Proud of it.
Some of the comments above are a disgrace obviously from people who have a grudge against the City.
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It’s interesting just how many of Wolverhampton’s knockers on this page have emigrated to places where the sun always shines and the waves break upon pristine golden sands. Perhaps this rather colours their perceptions of what they left behind.
However, beware of what you wish for. One of the favourite bolt-holes for disillusioned Brits – Australia – also has one of the highest rates of teenage suicides in the Western world. By comparison, British suicide rates are amongst the lowest!
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The forum on the lonely planet website did not have enough comments about Wolverhampton to justify any position on the top 10 list. This is evidenced by the fact they had no write-up about wolverhampton at all. The ground zero comment was actually a joke. I suggest people should go to the site and leave messages on the relevant forum thread to register there disgust.
The link is http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ghana/travel-tips-and-articles/42/9782
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The place is a hole. I’ve lived here for my whole life (excluding when I’m at uni, which is a nice escape), and while I’d say it’s a bit harsh to say we’re the 5th worst city in the world, considering we’ve only had 10 years of being a city… just a little bit less time than others mentioned in the list.
Ok, we do have decent boasts — An alright music scene (even if it does lack diversity somewhat), an art gallery, good parks and some decent pubs about the place. But most cities have these things. And most cities have us beat with most of them too.
On the down side, the centre of town is, for the most part, scabby and run down, there can be a somewhat hostile atmosphere, poor nightlife and some right roughuns roaming around.
While investment is needed, the mentality of a good amount of Wulfrunians doesn’t help matters. Pride in the Black Country’s obviously a good thing, but there can be a real small-town attitude around here where outsiders aren’t exactly made to feel welcome. Racism is a-plenty and forward thinking is virtually non-existant. We’d do well to make a contribution to changing the place around, instead of sitting around blaming the council (who still are part to blame), or just being sat filled with complacency that “It’s not that bad. It’ll do.”
It won’t do.
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& 93. KM
Why would people have a grudge against the city?! People don’t just form grudges against cities for no reason.
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As someone who moved from Stourbridge to Wolverhampton 5 years ago, I have to disagree that Wolverhampton is so awful.
There are grotty sides to the town, but there are also some very decent individually owned shops, market stalls, cafes, museums, theatres, restaurants, pubs, public libraries and evening class activities, other entertainment opportunities like racing tracks and sporting fixtures dotted around the town. They are there to be found.
Transport links to and from Wolverhampton – stretching right across the UK and airports – are on the whole excellent.
I also find most people friendly and welcoming.
I love walking around West Park, and have happily done so at all times of the day and night, and in the summer it is a very pleasant thing to walk over to Bantock Park and up to Tettenhall and back, where some quality food and drink can also be found!
Does Wolverhampton need regeneration? Yes, of course it does, without a doubt. I think also we need to concentrate on going back to our roots as a traditional Black Country market town, rather than trying to be a “modern” city.
We are never going to be a dynamic city, true, but I think if we pull together and think outside the box, we do perhaps have a fighting chance of once again becoming a dynamic town!
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I was born in Wolves and went to the worst school ever, Highfields. Wolverhampton is like living in the 3rd world. I went travelling to Somalia and was surprised to see they were holding charity events for those unfortunate to live in Wolverhampton. Even they have it better. The only solution is too bulldoze the West Midlands without any warning to its residents. I’m surprised ‘Wolvo’ doesnt have the highest suicide rate in the world. But i’m not surprised as people in Wolves have no ambition so Wolverhampton is like heaven for them. Thank god i now live in Hong Kong!
Best of luck to all those trying to escape
Joey
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Spent many years driving around this country for a living and if you want squallour then try everywhere the m62 and 63 motorways surround. Try Manchester, Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale and scouser land Liverpool! The cheek to say wolverhampton is in the top 5. These people are obviously blind.
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The fountain is a waste of money, the cost of running it, the cost of maintaining it. It can’t run during winter because of the grit getting into the works – another hairbrained idea of some idiot sitting in a warm office in the Town Hall – grrrr.
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W’ton far surpasses West Brom, Stourbridge, Walsall etc…but these are towns. As W’ton is a city (minus cathederal) it has to bare comparison with its ilk. Therefore it is pretty bad. Blame the council, they seem to spend the majority of their budget on traffic ‘calming’ measures; wooden posts around west park?
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lmfao, lonley planet what a joke. Iv’e been lucky enough to have spent 20+ years in the aviation industry, travelling the planet, seen the good, bad and downright ugly. Now live in Australia, fantactic place.
Point is Wolverhampton is no different to most towns in the UK, complete dump, however there are far worse places to live.
Seems to me that plenty of small minded untravelled people are jumping on the bandwagon and either slagging the place off or defending it.
Fact, most large towns/cities in the UK are a dump, however they are nothing compared to cities in the USA, Iraq, the whole of Africa, ect ect.
Forget lonley planet go and see it for your self.
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Is it fair to generalise? I suspect every town & city in the UK has good and ‘dump’ areas and whatever goes between. We still have areas where you can leave the milkman’s money under the bottle. The occasional rogue might steal the milk but leave the money. Wolverhampton has council houses that rub right up against almost-mansions (that would be Castlecroft). It’s an odd place to be but I was born here & have never been mugged. Propositioned & begged off, yes – outside the Goose for cigs and/or a quid. I quite like their cheek and given a suitable reply they’ll leave you alone. I’ve endured worse cadgers in Edinburgh who won’t go away.
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Has the writer actually ever travelled anywhere?
Wolves isn´t a place for tourists as there really is nothing of note for them. I think we can all accept that. But really. 5th in the whole wide world???
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In the real word, there won’t be any British City in the actual worst top 10,000 cities around the world, not even Sandwell.
Things that acutally make a city bad…sanitation, housing, infrastructure, pollution, crime, poverty, war, famine, corruption, oppression, racism, healthcare…just aren’t issues in Wolverhampton or in most of Britain.
The worst Wolverhampton has to offer are a few run down housing estates, a few too many unemployable chavs, and a few dull looking areas.
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There are some spot-on posts here so, if I may, let’s start with the obvious: Bath truly is up itself; Birmingham is not really a happy place; Solihull and Harrogate are sought out quite exclusively by those in the professions and so do not qualify as comparatives; Manchester and district is home to the greatest proportion of this country’s wealth outside of the M25 (and its regeneration was kick-started by chance by the IRA).
As for Lonely Planet’s prose, if it’s all totted up it’s comfortably light years away from being related to fact – which is probably why it is losing money…
I also thought that Richard Rhodes’ response was unbelievably poor. No wonder Wolverhampton’s image suffers with idiots like him in charge.
We can not compete with Newcastle, unfortunately, since that city is clearly not as divided as ours and, on the architectural front, their Victorian forefathers clearly pumped a larger percentage of their Industrial Revolution pot of gold into some fantastic buildings of scale and aspect.
Undesirables? There really are too many souls who simply do not behave themselves, let me put it that way.
The local council is indeed one of the world’s worst – though not nearly as bad as Islington Borough and not quite as inept as Bristol or Lambeth. Hardly a badge of honour, is it? The councillors (they hold the power strings, not the chief exec)need to stop the pretence that the multi-million pound budget is unsustainable and instead meet their obligations in an intelligent manner. It is inevitable, however, that when talent leaves the town (Mervyn Allister King, for one), a total shambles of local government application and attainment is the disappointing result and too many good and decent citizens (200k!) of this Staffordshire city (forget ‘West Midlands ‘ rubbish) are having to live with it.
It’s got to be very tempting to read out these posts to the Council Chamber that resembles Thanatos at its next sitting. It might lead to more passion on its part. I hope so.
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I think Wolverhampton is fusing with all other towns and cities in this region..to become one big dirty hole. The closest thing I can equate this to is the film ‘Bladerunner’.
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Looks like the Daily Mail have got hold of the story. Fight back on http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ghana/travel-tips-and-articles/42/9782
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No way is Wolves the worst, I used to live their but have moved abroad to cyprus and some of their cities are a disgrace in comparison!
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Hey! We’re in the World’s top five of something!!!
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Very well said Wolverhampton is a dirty filthy place prob one of the worst citys in uk.Shops boarded up decent shops no where to be seen .People scruffy and unemployed hanging around ,I pass through it on my way to Birmingham as i certainly only venture into it if i have to as its a dead beat city,
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If you dow like it, then naff off!
Lovely Wolverhampton!
Better than that dog hole Sandwell and that’s the truth!
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What, so its not number 1 ?
I have travels allot around the uk and the world and so far Wolverhampton is the worst most depressing hell hole I have ever been too.
I think most of the people who think its a great place have probably never left the city.
The people there are just mean, uneducated dole grabbing layabouts. Its a complete multicultural hell hole, with gangster wana be yobs.
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Problem’s from the top down. No investment. Council’s debt ridden so you’ll find a lot more things closing than things appearing to pull in visitors. But what have we got to show for it in the past few years? A massive tower block which looks like a tower from Lord of the Rings, and a stupidly overpriced fountain.
I was born in and still live near Wolverhampton. But i’d advise anyone to steer clear of the place and carry on through to Birmingham, or Walsall even.
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But really, it’s hardly a city is it. Brighton was robbed.
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Like so many of the rubbish towns in the UK, Wolverhampton is a collection of mediocre shops and mediocre people. Most people are on the Dole or worse, Criminals. How can you expect this to change when the best we can look forward to is Cheeky Monkey’s on a Friday night, which is like an alchohol fueled bad dream about your school disco during the 1980′s.
If the people with power keep putting money into stupid features such as a new fountain how can you expect it to change?
If anyone says there is plenty to do in Wolverhampton, then you seriously need to open your eyes to the rest of the world. Hopefully there is an earthquake that destroys Wolves (including all the chavs and teenager with nothing to do but get up the duff with some other chavs spawn) up and we can start again.
For now lets all go and sit in the park, in the rain, next to a mr-whippy-style dog poo. -well you need something to do between signing on and getting mugged.
Tarah-a-bit wasters.
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I live here…it’s lovely.
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I wonder if Wolverhampton City Council can sue Lonely Planet for deformation of character?
Its all over the internet, & now people are going to think there must be an element of truth in it or it wouldn’t be listed.
The facts are Lonely Planet based their research on an attempted joke which they didn’t understand.
Its a very weak word play on the word STATE…meaning ‘US State’ in the US, & meaning ‘condition’ in the UK.
The joke gets mistold anyway, and the ‘accent’ part gets overlooked to the point Lonely Planet think its actually a serious comment on the ‘state’ of Wolverhampton!
The joke is:
George Bush is at Ground Zero talking to someone from “Insert City Name Here”.
Where are you from?
I’m from “Insert City Name Here”
Oh, I’ve not heard of “Insert City Name Here”, what STATE is it in?
…”ITS LOIKE THIS AY IT ”
Translation…”Its like this, isn’t it”
The real joke is Wolvo IS a bit of a ****hole, but I love it anyway.
Simon :)
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I couldnt find Hull in the list… that whole is the worst in Britain. But yeh, Wolverhampton sucks
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I live near Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, which is just about one hour away from Detroit where I have spent time. Detroit is a hell hole to say the least, but to have Wolverhampton in the same worst city list is outragious. I have visited Wolvo many times because I am an avid Wolves supporter and have a brick in my name in the Billy Wright stand. From my experiences and visits to Wolverhampton I can honestly say it is far superior than hundreds of other cities I have visited. I can only say that these so called professional people from the travel bible are not capable of organising a party in a brewery! And how can they judge a city without even visiting the place? Keep the faith Wolvo and ignore this crap rating. Dave Silcock, Canada
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Wolverhampton is ACE! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen there loads. I love West Park, Tettenhal and Heath Town.
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For me as an scandinavian Wolverhampton is OK. It has like England a lot of culture that is unique in Europa. There are nice people there to. BUT: There are one thing people from Norway easily can watch, that is all the rubbish in the streets, roads, raylwaystations. It is no dustbin no places! Why can,t they put up some?
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I agree that Wolverhampton needs a great deal of regeneration as the town has become very run down. I have noticed mentions of Bilston in some of the comments – why do people think of it a just another part of Wolverhampton when it is a town in its own right. Bilston has problems of its own and has in fact been neglected by Wolverhampton Council until fairly recently and it will be a long time before Bilston is an attractive town again.
To Connor Davies – you seem to think of Bilston as an “area of Wolverhampton” rather than a town. This is like calling Stourbridge “Dudley”!
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