England’s ‘least popular’ county also home to UK’s ‘worst’ town | UK | News

One of the UK’s  “least popular” counties is in England – and to make matters worse, it is also home to one of the worst rated towns. Bedfordshire is a county in the East of England, bordered by Hertfordshire to the southeast, Cambridgeshire to the northeast, Northamptonshire to the north, and Buckinghamshire to the west.

Luton, in Bedfordshire, has previously topped lists for the worst place to live. With a population of at the 2021 census of 225,262, The town has previously been criticised for its “ugly” appearance, but locals have defended their home, pointing out its many positives.

Data analytics company YouGov asked people to rank the 47 counties on whether they liked them. And on that ranking, Bedfordshire is the “least popular”. 

The county boasts a diverse cultural heritage and is also known for its historic market towns, picturesque countryside, and charming villages. 

It has a mix of architectural styles, including medieval churches, Georgian townhouses, and Victorian buildings.

The county is home to the University of Bedfordshire, which has campuses in Bedford, Luton, and Milton Keynes and it offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It also has more than 60 Ofsted-rated outstanding schools under its belt. 

Despite the negative titles it and the town of Luton has been given, Bedfordshire has been blessed with areas of natural beauty. This includes the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the south-western part of the county. 

The River Great Ouse flows through Bedfordshire, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and leisure activities. And its location in England is not to be sniffed at.

Bedfordshire benefits from its proximity to London and its excellent transport links. The M1 motorway runs through the county, providing easy access to London and the north. 

Bedfordshire is also served by rail connections, including the Thameslink and East Midlands Trains services. It is also home to Luton Airport, which is often named London Luton by tour operators. 

The airport runs long and short haul flights, which is excellent news for anyone living in Luton or nearby – as a mere lift to the airport could save money on airport parking. 

The most popular counties list is tipped, maybe unsurprisingly by staycation hotspots Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. 

Dorset 

Devon 

Cornwall 

North Yorkshire 

Somerset 

Cumbria 

Isle of Wight 

Norfolk 

Northumberland 

Derbyshire 

Hampshire 

West Yorkshire 

Shropshire 

Oxfordshire

Wiltshire 

Cheshire 

Gloucestershire 

East Riding of Yorkshire 

Warwickshire 

Suffolk 

West Sussex 

County Durham 

Lancashire 

Kent 

Herefordshire 

Worcestershire 

South Yorkshire 

Cambridgeshire

East Sussex 

Tyne and Wear 

Lincolnshire 

Bristol 

Staffordshire 

Surrey 

Rutland 

Nottinghamshire 

Hertfordshire 

Greater London 

Buckinghamshire 

Berkshire 

Merseyside 

Greater Manchester 

Essex 

West Midlands 

Leicestershire 

Northamptonshire 

Bedfordshire