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A satellite town on the edge of London has been branded the worst in Britain, despite houses fetching close to £400,000 and being a stone's throw from the capital.

Watford in Hertfordshire sits just 15 miles from London on the River Colne, boasting expansive green spaces like the verdant Cassiobury Park. On paper, it offers plenty, particularly for those making the daily trek into the city. Yet in a Telegraph pieceentitled 'Britain's 25 biggest towns, ranked from worst to best', Watford languished at the bottom with a measly 0.5/10 rating. The article posed the question of whether Watford served as a "Gateway to London or last exit to the humdrum?"

The Telegraph's harsh assessment partly blamed the town centre's domination by the vast Harlequin Watford shopping complex, once amongst Britain's largest retail hubs. Dating back to 1992, the centre has switched ownership multiple times and shed major tenants including John Lewis and Debenhams.

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Nevertheless, numerous well-known chains continue trading beneath its glass canopy. Originally a market town, glimpses of Watford's heritage remain in landmarks like the Watford Colosseum, now a flourishing music venue, and Cheslyn House & Gardens, offering a peaceful retreat near the town centre. Watford also houses the Warner Bros.

Studio Tour London, drawing Harry Potter enthusiasts globally to view film props, costumes and sets. One particularly charming and surprising feature of Watford is the Grade II listed Cassiobridge Lodge on Gade Avenue. This 19th-century building, described in 1837 as being covered with split sticks, originally served the Cassiobury Estate.

On the opposite side of London, Crawley received an equally dismal rating. The West Sussex town scored the same dreary 0.5/10 as Watford, despite its convenient position between London and Brighton. The Telegraph moaned that "very few of its modern constructions are noteworthy," and slated its "boxy housing".

Much like Watford, a significant portion of the town centre is occupied by the County Mall Shopping Centre. Constructed in 1992, it's hardly a stunning piece of architecture, though it does boast a decent range of shops. Close by, Memorial Park provides a welcome break from the concrete jungle, with its green spaces and playgrounds.

Most people visiting Crawley are simply passing through on their way to London Gatwick Airport, Britain's second-biggest airport, which sees more than 40 million passengers annually and flies to destinations worldwide.

Crawley just pipped another airport town to 23rd place - Luton. The Telegraph reckoned Luton had precious little to shout about: "Vauxhall Motors opened in 1905. It closed last year and now that airport is the best-known thing about the town, along with "the biggest one-day carnival in the UK".

While Luton's town centre may not be a beauty contender, St. George's Square has seen improvements and now hosts open-air events. The heart of the town is home to Luton Point, a large shopping centre with Primark and H&M among its main attractions.In a surprising twist, the seaside town of Blackpool topped the rankings.

Famous for its Golden Mile promenade brimming with vibrant amusements, the iconic Blackpool Tower, and an end-of-pier theatre showcasing comedians from days gone by, it's a quintessential British destination. The Telegraph noted that "the back streets after dark are for the faint-hearted. It's a UK one-off. An obligatory stop once every decade if you want to know your nation and yourself."

Cheltenham also received commendation for its Regency charm, while Ipswich, home to 12 medieval churches, secured third place.

25. Watford - 0.5/10
24. Crawley - 0.5/10
23. Luton - 1/10
22. Oldham - 1.5/10
21. Basildon - 2/10
20. Basingstoke - 2/10
19. Telford - 2.5/10
18. Middlesbrough - 2.5/10
17. Northampton - 3/10
16. Slough - 3.5/10
15. Reading - 4/10
14. Swindon - 4.5/10
13. Warrington - 5/10
12. Huddersfield - 5.5/10
11. Bolton - 6/10
10. Blackburn - 6/10
9. Stockport - 6.5/10
8. Poole - 6.5/10
7. Bournemouth - 7/10
6. Worthing - 7/10
5. Gateshead - 7.5/10
4. Rochdale - 8/10
3. Ipswich - 8.5/10
2. Cheltenham - 9/10
1. Blackpool - 9.5/10

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