Scottish town known for its iconic fabric patterns named among UK's most underrated gems
The town ranks ninth in the UK for its rich culture, eight indie shops, 62 music events, and strong landmark ratings despite fewer top-rated restaurants
Scotland is home to some of the most overlooked towns in the UK, with Paisley leading the pack as the most underrated location outside of England, according to new research.
The research by Betway looked at over 50 towns across the UK, analysing factors like independent shops, cultural landmarks, top-rated restaurants, music events, TikTok popularity and even average summer temperatures.
Paisley, just 15 minutes from Glasgow, took the top Scottish spot and ranked ninth overall in the UK. It stood out for its mix of history and culture, with eight independent shops, 62 music events, and 63,600 TikTok posts.
While only 39 percent of its restaurants are rated four stars or more, it boasts 71 percent of landmarks with top ratings and an average summer temperature of 14C.
'Paisley, which also ranks as the ninth most underrated town overall, comes in first as the most underrated outside of England,' said Betway.
'With plenty of cultural sites to explore, from the 850-year-old Abbey to many mills, it's the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of Glasgow.'
Dumfries came in second among Scottish towns, praised for its blend of natural beauty and historic architecture.
It scored highly for restaurant quality, with 65 percent rated four stars or above, and hosts 34 music events. The town also racked up 29,500 TikTok posts and has a slightly warmer summer average of 14.7C.
'Despite its modest size, Dumfries packs a cultural punch,' Betway said, adding it offers 'plenty to keep visitors entertained well into the evening.'
Ayr ranked third, offering a balance of leisure and heritage, including landmarks such as Robert Burns' birthplace.
It has 73 percent of landmarks rated highly, a solid 60 percent of restaurants with top reviews, and 32,800 TikTok posts, though only 10 music events. Summer temperatures average 14.3C.
St Andrews, in fourth place, drew attention for its strong food scene, 78 percent of its restaurants score four stars or more.
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It's known globally as the town where Prince William met Kate Middleton, and remains a major tourist draw despite just four music events. The university town recorded 31,000 TikTok posts and a 14C summer average.
'St Andrews… continues to draw visitors from around the world eager to catch a glimpse of royal history,' Betway added.
Outside of Scotland, Ruthin in Wales rounded out the UK top five, with scenic views over the Vale of Clwyd but just 970 TikTok posts.
Rank
Town
No. of indie shops
% of cultural landmarks over 4*
% of restaurants over 4*
No. of music events
No. of TikTok posts
Avg. summer temperatures (℃)
1
Paisley
8
71%
39%
62
63,600
14.0
2
Dumfries
5
64%
65%
34
29,500
14.7
3
Ayr
5
73%
60%
10
32,800
14.3
4
St. Andrews
5
62%
78%
4
31,000
14.0
5
Ruthin
2
89%
77%
4
970
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15.0
Meanwhile, Hastings in East Sussex topped the overall UK list. Known for the 1066 battle, it's fast becoming a cultural hotspot with 115 upcoming music events, the highest in the ranking, 62,300 TikTok posts and a balmy average summer temperature of 16.3C.
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