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
