Preston appears in Sh*tty Breaks an ode to rarely visited UK cities

Ben Aitken poses with Wallace and Gromit at Preston Markets

What do Chelmsford, Bradford, Dunfermline, Newry and Preston have in common?

They are all some of the least visited cities in the UK.

Travel writer Ben Aitken shunned the heritage of Edinburgh, the bustle of Birmingham and the swagger of Manchester to spend time getting away from the main tourist cities and experiencing a slice of life where other non-locals don’t often tread.

With a title ‘Sh*tty Breaks’ that no doubt filled the VisitPreston social media accounts with dread then Ben finds the true side of Preston.

Despite visiting in November, when it is freezing of course, he discovers a warm, welcoming and heritage-filled city.

He finds himself in disbelief at the charm of Preston despite it having an approval rank in a recent YouGov poll of towns and cities only above Bradford, Sunderland, Wolverhampton and Wakefield in places people feel disapprovingly about.

Ben in his adventures is blown away by the Bus Station with the Brutalist icon describing it as ‘a totem, standing for more than just itself’ as he recalls the battle to save the building and give it listed status. He is still baffled as to why it’s so big.

Ben at the Bus Station. Stick that on a postcard.

Staying just off Winckley Square, which Ben definitely falls in love with, he dines out at Aven calling it a ‘string to the city’s bow’.

It’s not all fine dining, as Ben ventures to Club 3000 Bingo in New Hall Lane and becomes overwhelmed by coupons. There’s a trip up the A6 to discover curling at the Flower Bowl and enjoys plenty of pints around the likes of Plug and Taps and the city’s growing craft ale scene.

He has an Instagrammable experience at Rise, after which he promises to ‘staple his thumb’ for using that phrase to describe a café and brunch.

Getting on his bike then Ben heads out on the Guild Wheel and marvels at how quickly you can leave the city behind and explore some fantastic countryside on a cracking ride.

Ben on his bike about to set off for the Guild Wheel

Throughout the visit then Ben is struck by the city’s history and heritage that runs through so many buildings and places in the city. He points out the likes of the Sainsbury’s Local in Fishergate in an old bank, the Miller Arcade’s many units and the Waterstones in the former Booths store and offices as absolutely stunning buildings which have found a new use.

Preston is badged as an ‘unsung city’ by Ben and he says he hopes his adventures help inspire other travellers to give Preston a look. But he points out there’s very little encouraging you to do so, writing about his visits to the railway station to change trains and the lack of encouragement to stay when there “Trouble was – and trouble remains – no one was telling me to do so. No one was inviting me to stop.

“No one was so much as hinting at the idea. I could have done with someone grabbing me by the lapels and saying “You haven’t been to Preston? Are you butter pies between the ears, man? Take my e-scooter at once!”

Other cities visited in the book and in Preston’s companies as being rarely visited are Sunderland, Chelmsford, Wolverhampton, Wrexham, Limerick, Newry, Milton Keynes, Bradford, Newport, Gibraltar and Dunfermline.

Ben’s due back in the city on Wednesday 28 May for a book signing at Waterstones from 6.30pm to 7.45pm.

Aitken’s previous works include The Gran Tour, A Chip Shop in Poznan and Dear Bill Bryson. Sh*tty Breaks is available to order from Waterstones.

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