A London satellite town has been named the worst in the UK despite average house prices of nearly £400,000 and its close proximity to the capital.

Watford in Hertfordshire is just 15 miles from London and sits on the River Colne, with large outdoor spaces such as the leafy Cassiobury Park. In many ways, it has a huge amount to offer, especially for those who commute into the city.

However, in a Telegraph article titled 'Britain's 25 biggest towns, ranked from worst to best', Watford came in dead last with a score of just 0.5/10. The article pointedly asked if Watford was a "Gateway to London or last exit to the humdrum?"

Part of the Telegraph's justification for the poor score was that its town centre was overtaken by the sprawling Harlequin Watford, once among the UK's largest retail destinations. Built in 1992, it has changed hands over the years and lost its major anchor stores such as John Lewis and Debenhams. However, it still has a number of popular chains under its glass roof.

A former market town, you can still see some of the charm of old Watford in historic places such as Watford Colosseum, now a thriving music venue, and Cheslyn House & Gardens, a calm oasis close to the town centre. Watford is also home of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, bringing Harry Potter fans from around the world to see props, costumes, and sets from the movies.

A particularly charming and unexpected feature of Watford is the Grade II listed Cassiobridge Lodge on Gade Avenue. Described in 1837 as being covered with split sticks, this 19th-century building originally served the Cassiobury Estate.

On the other side of London, but coming in for a similarly dismal score, was Crawley. The West Sussex town achieved the same bleak 0.5/10 score as Watford, despite its cushy location between London and Brighton. The Telegraph complained that "very few of its modern constructions are noteworthy," and criticised its "boxy housing".

Like Watford, a large part of the town centre is taken up by the County Mall Shopping Centre. Built in 1992, it's not the most beautiful of architectural projects, but it does offer a wide variety of stores. Nearby, there's a respite from concrete spaces in Memorial Park, offering green spaces and playgrounds.

The majority of visitors to Crawley pass through on the way to London Gatwick Airport, the second-largest in the UK, which handles over 40 million passengers a year and offers destinations around the globe.

Crawley was narrowly beaten to 23rd place by another airport town, Luton. The Telegraph said that Luton simply didn't have much going for it: "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".

The town centre won't win awards for beauty, although St. George's Square has been improved in recent years and hosts open-air events. At the heart of the town is Luton Point, a large mall where Primark and H&M are among the main draws.

At the other end of the rankings was a surprise winner: the seaside town of Blackpool. Known for its Golden Mile promenade full of overstimulating amusements, the Blackpool Tower, and an end-of-pier theatre featuring comedians of yesteryear, it's a classic British destination. The Telegraph amid 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 was also praised for its Regency charm, while Ipswich, which boasts 12 medieval churches, came in 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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