born in Margate in 1990 , left as a teenager to join the royal marines . my motivation for completing training was the fear of returning back to margate if i had failed . margate was dangerous at night , falling apart , and most high street shops closed down . nothing to do as kid apart from avoiding gangs . also a lot of poverty ... 14 years later im leaving the marines next month , and will be moving abroad to start a new life
There is definitely no north south divide when it comes to seaside towns in England. Another great but sad top/bottom five Matt. I do hope that the English seaside town get revitalised, but they are fighting the cheap holidays abroad. With global warming on its way, perhaps the seaside town is the thing of the future. They say things go in circles. Touches wood. Thanks for sharing, Matt.
Gillingham was a shocker. The rubbish makes any area look neglected and rundown. I found several of the places very depressing and they totally need regeneration and investment. A recent visit to Broadstairs and Whitstable made me appreciate that part of the Kent coast. Thank you for this tour of Kent. Margate was my favourite. A work in progress.
Absolutely, there are some nice places in Kent and Broadstairs and Whitstable are two of them! I do like Canterbury, Deal and Folkestone as well. I think the nicest places in Kent though are the villages in the countryside 😁
Hello from your friends in Naples, Florida. Very interesting, indeed! Too bad to see some of them so run down. Great tour. Thank you for sharing with us, have a great week 👍💯
Dude that was an interesting watch 😂 very unfiltered and different from the usual lists where people show the best 🤣 but even then, those still look not so bad. gave me an idea for my own channel hahaha might steal this concept someday.
Thanks for sharing Matt. It can be sad to see how these have gone downhill over time. We have seaside towns and attractions that got destroyed or abandoned but now there's a lot of revitalization efforts to repair them.
Great video. I am happy to see that Sheppey wasn't on your list. I was expecting to see it come up. However, I live on Sheppey and by looking at your videos. All the other towns are in a terrible state of neglect, due to lack of support from the local councils. If the people's of the towns ran the councils ALL these towns would turn around within a month!
Hi Debbie, thank you! I'm actually from the island, a born and bred swampie, so couldn't put Sheerness on there for fear of being lynched 😆 besides, I think perhaps with the exception of Margate, the others are genuinely in a worse state.
Unfortunately I have to agree with you, especially the top 2! Having once lived in Gillingham, I used to call the Medway towns the compost heap of the Garden of England, alas the Garden is no longer rosy. There isn't enough employment in the area, money is no longer invested in the town and too many people shop on line, Amazon has a lot to answer for, or maybe business rates, rentals of shops are to high. High streets are nearly all the same nowadays, whether your in the North or South, sad but true.
Cheers Ian, sounds like not much has changed since you were last in Medway 😆 high streets are rubbish in most towns now aren't they, not appealing to visit anymore
The Councils should be ashamed of themselves. It doesn’t take much to clean buildings & collect the garbage. I lived in Gillingham between 1961-1972. Attended Byron Road Primary & Upbury Manor high school. Was a member of The Methodist Church, a Brownie & Girl Guide at the same church. My memories of Gillingham are completely different to how it looks now. How depressing for the old Council Rate Payers to be made to live in such a hovel 😢. The high Street was thriving then with a great atmosphere. So so Sad 😭 😢😢🐨🐨🦘
I think you did the right thing by emigrating! I agree the councils should be ashamed, and the residents have to take some accountability as well. They're the ones who have to live there after all!
Thanks to you, I got to see various palces! Thank you for sharing your chosen 5 Worst Towns in KENT with an explanation! Hello! Greetings again from 100tour KOREA! Stay in touch, my dear friend! See you! Have a great weekend!
I only knew Gillingham from football, never been anywhere near it. It's super weird when you know these teams for decades, but you don't have an image of what the place looks like. Now I do... A haunting one 😅 Very entertaining video, mate!
Yeah some towns in the UK really do suck, and usually the worst ones have a football team, because football is a working class sport they get a lot of support (and players) from locals. Cheers!
Hi Matt! We haven't visited any of these towns - now we know why! It was sad to see that parts of Margate were very neglected and run down. I imagine it was quite posh, way back in the day. Eww, the seaweed stench must be very offputting. Gravesend looked like it was living up to its name. The graffiti in the Heritage Centre was cool. I didn't know that Pocahontas ended up at Gravesend. The Sikh temple was impressive. I was surprised that Dover looked so shabby in places. It looked better in summer. Oh dear, the town of Chatham looked rather depressing. Everything was kicking off with all the speeding police cars. Poor old Gillingham didn't have much to recommend it. One thing that all these places had in common was that there was litter everywhere. Such a shame. It was great that you also highlighted some good things about each place, although you struggled with Gillingham. Interesting vlog 👍😊
Don't think i will be hurrying down to Kent to visit these town...Everyone thinks the south east as being posh....every town up north seems to be doing so much better
The centre of town is pretty terrible but go to residential areas mile out of the centre and it’s a different story. I guess they’re all driving to the big shopping centres.
I live near Maidstone (close to Chatham) I would advise giving these places a hard pass. They're even more dismal in real life than this video shows. If you must try Kent then try Faversham.
You would normally think seaside towns have stunning views and are clean. It's actually quite sad to see conditions people are living still. My question is what is the state doing about these towns. Great share friend, just don't decide to camp there it doesn't look safe. Safe travels always.💖💖 14:23
Fascinating... and a bit depressing. Can't help wondering if this is how the country is now, because my own hometown is just like these places. A great film Matt... but I'm going to take a break by watching your Peak District travels now.
Quality video, I lived in Gillingham and went to school in Chatham. Probably why I spent the last 12 years travelling. In Mexico Puerto Escondido is worth a look. There’s a cool hostel called Vivo Escondido, owned by an English bloke called Tom. Have a safe journey I see your flying soon. Good luck
Seaside towns have become run down because they were cheap off season and people with no jobs drifted there to live on the dole. Kent and Essex are close enough to London to catch this.
Well constructed, Matt. The Sussex video and this Kent one show some southern towns are just as grim as those in the north and west, covered by the likes of Wandering Turnip and Wendall. It's depressing to think the UK is unlikely to ever have the funds to regenerate these towns. If I were you, I'd move to Málaga. 😁
Thanks Roberto! Yeah, there's a lot of these 'worst town' type videos around at the moment, and with good reason! Málaga and Europe is almost off the cards now thanks to Brexit
Note to self: NEVER visit Gillingham!! Jeez-o Matt, I thought some of Scotland's towns were bad ...but Gillingham 😲Happy to see Margate has improved since my last visit. Sadly the litter, dog shit, dilapidated buildings and under-investment in your five towns are a national problem which shows no sign of improving as Britain's decline continues 😒 You'll be glad to get away in March and I wouldn't blame you for staying abroad if you find your Shangri-La. All the best mate, Ian and Meg 🙋♂🐶
Cheers Ian, we'll see what happens! Indeed, I think one could do a 'top five worst towns' in most counties and it would look similar! I think where you're situated in Western Scotland looks pretty Shangri-La-esque mate!
A bit ironic how bleak these towns look, when Kent is known for being the "Garden of England" - the number of closed shops are striking, things seem to be getting worse. On the note of attractions in Chatham, there used to be Charles Dickens museum which I visited on a primary school trip, suffice to say I'm not surprised it's not open anymore. The Pocahontas statue has really thrown me - absolutely had no idea she even visited Kent, let alone being buried there! Gillingham really could do with a bit of a makeover...
Hi Matt Well, I am not liberty to say/comment since I have never lived or visited the UK. You have the courage to have your own opinion and express it regarding topics. I would think you had pondered and might have the second thoughts about your judgement before you published it. There are many towns on the planet like on your list. The ignominy of being listed? Thank you for being an advocate and bringing the awareness of the city's issues, I may say. Hopefully your film made an auspicious beginning. Well done...I guess this vid is you mentioned before..
Spot on, as ever. Although there is some strong competition in North Kent. Just a suggestion - how about a Kent top five (towns, views, walks, pubs, whatever ?)
I grew up in north London in the 70s and 80s and a lot of the areas were really dirty and run down but from the 90s onwards they have been completely transformed as the poor moved out and the wealthy moved in. Those suburbs are very attractive areas to live now. I always wondered were all the low income people went and I guess it was to these hideous satellite towns dotted around outside of London. Out of sight, out of mind.
I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Gentrify London, move the poorest people out to the home counties. As 'Greater' London expands they'll probably start moving people out to sparsely populated Norfolk, Lincolnshire etc
Agreed, It makes me laugh when people say London is bad now. It's far better now than the dump it was in the 70's & 80's. As you pointed out most of the residents moved out to the suburbs which have equally turned on their heads and have almost become the inner London of the 70"s & ,80"s
Geat video Matt, i think your apreciation about cities is rigth but maybe some people is not agree at all. With some views i was thinking in Berlin East on 80s years or soviet union and Cuba😂😂😂 but don't be so hard i have seen some nice things too. Greetings from Argentina 😀🙋🏽♂️
Were going to Margate this Easter for a long weekend for a Jolly boys outing going to all the only fools and horses locations but we are staying in Ramsgate 😀
There are some very nice places around Gillingham. The problem with Gillingham is the lack of investment. Now Rochester which is part of Medway is obviously the tourist attraction with castle and cathedral. Chatham as mentioned has Fort Amherst and the historic Dockyard, but Gillingham has nothing compared to those two. luckily I live between Gillingham and Rainham in a estate called Twydall, most of it is tree lined roads and grass verges. Ok it does have a problem around the shopping area. But I wouldn't live anywhere else.
Yep I hadn't been to Gillingham town centre for a while (straight to Priestfield and back for me) and was sad to make it number 1 worst town but I didn't have much choice. Most people in Medway would say that Sheerness is worse, however being a swampie myself, I couldn't put it in the list for fear of being lynched 😆
Yeah Margate has a good amount of decent street art. Seaweed stinks everywhere, unpleasant stuff! You are definitely catching it at the right time of day to make it look deserted! 👍 Soviet Council Building in Gravesend! Again really decent street artists down there. They love there multi storey car parks down there don’t they? Is there much call for them? I wouldn’t have thought so. At least the kids know how to have fun! Lovely looking temple and clock tower. After seeing Dover you would just head home, what a shocking intro to the UK. Dovers town centre is really depressing. Crazy how long shops have stood empty in Chatham. Love how the bushes are decorated with empty cans, is that art nouveau? Great police footage! Ah poor Gillingham, did you know going in the order or did you decide after visiting them all? You’ve convinced me, it’s more grim down South! A cracking instalment. 👍
Yeah it does definitely look busier in summer of course, I would've rather done this video then but unfortunately not an option now 🤣 I can't understand why they're building so many multi storeys while simultaneously driving business away from the high street but there you go. Art Nouveau indeed, putting the art into Stella 'Art'ois (damn I should've said that in the video 🤣) I didn't know the order, I was thinking it'd be Gravesend, Chatham or Gillingham but Gillingham really was the pits and I had nothing positive I could say about it unfortunately!
I left Gillingham in 1988. I visited a few times in the 1990s but haven’t been back in 25 years. It’s astounding how much worse it looks now. I guess things started getting worse after the dockyard was closed down. How many thousands put out of work in an instant! It was actually a good place to grow up as a child in the seventies but no way am I ever moving back there.
The graffiti really was pretty decent in Gravesend. Wait a minute- Pocahontas is seriously buried in England? I had no idea. I actually had to rewind that part three times to make sure I heard you correctly. We have a Chatham about an hour away from me. It’s actually a nice place. My aunt from England lived there for many years. I guess these top worst videos are doing pretty well. It’s nice to see that the US isn’t alone with its towns and cities going downhill. 👍
Thanks Craig! Yeah Pocahontas married an Englishman, came to England, even met royalty before she caught a disease and died before returning to America. The statue in the video is a replica of one in Jamestown. Yeah, people like to see degradation and deprivation. I won't be making any more videos like this - didn't particularly enjoy doing it - but I will be making videos of some sketchy areas in the States (Tenderloin (San Francisco), Hollywood etc)
I was brought up in Medway and I`ve always had the debate of which is the worst town - Chatham or Gillingham? I`m glad you said Gillingham 😂 To be fair though. I`ve drank around the pubs there for years and even if they are a lil rough around the edges, I`ve always found the people friendly enough. I`ve made some good friends from round that way
Absolutely mate, Medway is rough but the people are the salt of the earth! Hopefully the millions that are supposedly being ploughed into Chatham revitalise it a bit because there's massive potential there!
When I first came to the UK, I arrived in Dover, by ferry, many years ago! Back then , Dover was nice! Also disappointing to see how derelict Margate has become! I had no idea!
Dover away from the town centre, on the cliffs and the castle, is quite nice, maybe those are the areas you saw? 😂 Margate is sad but believe it or not it's better than it was around 15-20 years ago!
omg margate looks so depressing :/ sad to see the towns decline like that. Never been to Gravesend but god! Britain can do depressing towns so well i think lol So grey and bleak in winter especially, not been to Dover either i dont think. The cliffs are the best bit lol the graffiti in chatam with the guy and the cone lol definitely unique with the open air barber. Not heard of Gillingham but loving the series, its crazy to see so many towns like this, wish this country would stop building new flats people cant afford and fix the places we already have
Hi. The reason you will see lots of police cars around Medway is that is where Swale and Medway's police resources are based like custody so there will be lots there then be sent out to other places.
Even the worst towns have clocktowers. Sad we don't have too many of these stateside. As bleak as this was, I like your narration. It's more comedic, if anything.
Yikes. Each place was strangely unique. I would be a bit disturbed by the speeding police cars everywhere. The grafitti in that first place was oddly picturesque at times. Such a shame to see these places in such states. 😢 Hopefully they can be revitalized.
A super look at the good, the bad the plain ugly on 5 towns in Kent. Those sea fronts have seen better days but I guess most people go abroad these days and the old entertainment is literally left to crumble. Some of the town centres look quite good but Gillingham doesn't look the best. Then again that goes for most towns in England these days, sadly. Even a lot of the graffiti is bad mixed in with some good stuff. I've actually never been to any of these towns and you're not really making me want to visit. Then again I'm not a city and town person 🙂
Very interesting. As someone who grew up in Gravesend nearly 50 years ago and returned their frequently to see family I know what you mean. My only caveat would be you focussed on the town. Move a mile outside the town and you are going into more affluent areas. These people probably never go into the town. They go to Bluewater and similar places for leisure. Haves and haves not.
I actually find decaying towns by the sea pretty fascinating...especially in cold and rainy countries...do seaweeds there smell bad? I pick seaweeds here and eat them...maybe the Mediterranean ones smell different😊
I lived in Strood for a year and apart from Rochester all the Medway towns are grim and depressing. When did the English lose any civic pride they had?
The thing is, though, the town centres and residential streets close by are in a poor state. But I went to Gillingham by car last week, bypassing the centre by arriving from the M2, and residential streets a mile out from the town centre were clean and well kept. I think people there are shopping at the huge Tesco by the end of the motorway link road.
Yeah a lot of town centres are getting more and more neglected for that very reason - people are buying all their stuff off Amazon, shopping in out of town supermarkets, and have no need to go into town anymore!
Ah, flats is a slight improvement, I guess! I agree, it's not somewhere that makes you want to spend any longer there than you have to, and since I recorded this video they've stopped the Tilbury Ferry, meaning one less form of escape too
This is hilarious!! My god what an absolute 💩 hole Margate is 😂 I’ve never been to any of these places and defo not missing much, happy to stick to my pretty Hertfordshire.
I still have family who live the near the stadium, and they're the only reason I still go back there. Big demographic changes happening in Chatham and Gillingham, thus contributing further to the decline.
When you travel to South America, please go to Barranquilla, Santa Marta and avoid the touristy Cartagena and Medellin. Cali is another great city in Colombia which is on the ring of fire. South East of Mexico is a must, amazing,, friendly people and the food is outstanding. Weather is what you are looking for. Another great positive is that you can speak Spanish. I wish you well on your travels and look forward to when you leave this shit hole.
Cartagena I have to drop in on because one of my favourite childhood movies was set there 😆 but I'll certainly visit the other places on your list! Cheers!
Thought England was a country with greenery everywhere. Not a tree in sight in Margate centre and beachfront. A rundown, neglected dump from what I can see. Seems most British towns are a carbon copy of this ugly place. Glad to be shown this, wouldn't waste my vank savings to buy a ticket to visit England. Thanks for showing the real UK.
England has a lot of greenery and beautiful places. If you go anywhere on a bleak winter's day and take photos of the worst parts in succession it's going to give a certain impression. These towns probably don't look great in the best of times, but certainly not indicative of the U.K as a whole.
I think narrated videos can be good, your humour is on point although it might be more editing but worth the effort. It reminds we why I prefer holidays abroad although rubbish is prevalent in many places due to the many lazy b******s around the world 🌍🍄
Yeah, the worst place I've seen for rubbish is Naples, a right mess in some places 😂 glad you enjoyed it, I don't think I'll be making another one like this though 😂🍄
having being born in medway and living each of those areas at one time or another i completley agree with everything u have stated in ur video .. thank god i left
@@no_soy_rubio as a former resident of Dartford , 30 years man and boy , as a Fast Show sketch character would say, now Tunbridge Wells, i can say it doesnt offer much if you haven't got much. Gravesend i am familar with ,used to go with mum and sister , sometimes grandad in the summer holidays for a day out, go to cinema, walk down Queen Street eating chips from the shop at the top and finish by the river. I haven't been for years so no idea what its like today
@@vincentcrowley5196 'hardest game in the world, that' 😅 thanks for unlocking that childhood memory there! It seems there's a lot less to do in Gravesend these days, since I recorded this they've taken away the Tilbury Ferry as well. I did enjoy my walk along the Thames there (on another video), apart from the part where you have to walk right around the River Darent for about 5 miles!
When you bring in boat loads of invaders into any uk town you just know the out come, all the places you mention 30 years ago were nice and full of indigenous people, you try to give the impression that all these places have always been dumps.
I thought about putting Trashford in there (I lived there for a short time) but it doesn't get talked about as much as the other places. I'd rather live in Margate though
