COLOURFUL SEASIDE TOWN IS ONE OF 'LEAST VISITED' IN UK WITH FEW TRAIN TRAVELLERS

Tens of millions of people pass through the UK’s busiest train stations each year, visiting London Liverpool Street, London Victoria, Birmingham New Street, Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly daily as part of their commute.

But at the other end of the scale, there are several locations that passengers rarely travel to and from.

According to the experts at Trainline, two of the least visited towns in the UK are Aberaeron in Wales and Melrose in Scotland.

The rail and coach travel company told Metro.co.uk that both destinations only had between one and 100 Trainline passengers within the last year (from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024).

We’ve taken a closer look at these overlooked spots to see why they’re being passed over – and it seems we’re all missing out, as they’re a pair of stunning hidden gems. 

What to do in Aberaeron

Aberaeron is located on the Ceredigion Coast and is sometimes referred to as the ‘gem of Cardigan Bay’. 

The town is incredibly picturesque, filled with charming colourful houses, and the centre offers plenty to do, with lots of independent local businesses such as craft shops, restaurants, and bars. 

For those who love the outdoors, you can take a wander around the harbour, or head to Aberaeron South Beach for lovely views and the chance to spot a porpoise or a bottlenose dolphin on a warm day. The location also happens to be on the Wales Coast Path and The Coastal Way, meaning there are plenty of great walks to go on for any keen explorers.

If architecture or interiors are more your vibe, Aberaeron is home to an impressive National Trust property — Llanerchaeron Estate. The 18th-century Georgian villa is set in the wooded Aeron valley, and has a beautiful walled garden, a farm and a lake on site.

Visit Wales recommends those who visit Aberaeron make the most of the trip by enjoying some fresh seafood at Y Seler on a table overlooking the harbour. Items you might find on the menu include mussels, scallops, cod, shrimp and sea bass. And why not wash your meal down with some honey wine from nearby New Quay Honey Farm and Meadery, or grab an ice cream from The Hive?

How much are train tickets to Aberaeron?

The price of a train ticket to Aberaeron varies greatly depending on where you’re travelling from and when you want to depart.

Currently on Trainline, tickets from London Paddington can be purchased from a little as £37 without a Railcard or £24.40 with one, but more expensive journeys cost as much as £99 at peak times without a Railcard. The trip itself takes just under six hours and involves changing trains along the route.

What to do in Melrose

Also on Trainline’s list of least visited destinations is Melrole, which was the birth place of Rugby Sevens and hosted the first ever tournament in 1883. The Melrose Sevens are still held there each Spring, and the town adopts a carnival-like atmosphere during this time.

If sport isn’t your thing, don’t worry as the town has much more to offer, including breathtaking views of the triple peaks of the Eildon Hills. At the foot of the hills you’ll find Melrose in the valley of the River Tweed, as well as the haunting ruins of Melrose Abbey.

History buffs might be curious to know that a casket believed to contain the heart of Robert the Bruce, king of the Scots between July 1274 and June 1329, is buried there. 

And for those with green fingers, you’re able to visit one of the National Trust’s Scottish Gardens here: Priorwood. The rustic walled garden can be found in the precinct of the Abbey, and there’s an orchard where 90 different types of apple are grown.

How much are train tickets to Melrose?

Train tickets to Melrose are even pricier than those to Aberaeron, with some journeys from London King’s Cross to the Scottish town costing more than £200.

The cheapest tickets we could find for this week without a Railcard were £97.70, although with a Railcard this price went down to £64.45. 

This journey takes more than five hours, and isn’t completely by train. Passengers travel from London to Berwick-upon-Tweed, where they then change and get a bus to Melrose.

The price of tickets could be a factor as to why the location doesn’t get as many rail visitors, but the area certainly doesn’t do a bad job attracting people, as it’s said to be one of the top tourist spots on the Scottish borders — and it’s especially popular with rugby fans.

In addition to these towns, Trainline shared a few other UK destinations with the fewest visitors over the last year. The list included Lakenheath in Suffolk, Thornton Abbey in Lincolnshire, and Sandplace in Cornwall.

Interestingly, there are also a number of popular UK towns that people visit each year which don’t even have a train station. Gosport, on the south coast of Hampshire doesn’t have a station, for example, and neither does Witney in Oxfordshire, or Haverhill in Suffolk.

This comes after the UK’s favourite city was recently revealed, and people may be shocked to learn that it’s not London.

Despite the fact the capital has won a slew of awards and titles over the years – and in 2023 was named the best city in the world for the ninth year in a row – it seems Brits aren’t so convinced.

According to a recent YouGov survey, only 63% of people held a positive opinion of the city, which ranks third in the list.

It was actively disliked by 17% of those asked, with a further 20% having no opinion of the city whatsoever.

The favourite, meanwhile, was the city of York (dubbed the UK’s ‘friendliest’ place and described as one of the country’s most ‘welcoming’ cities in 2023) which scored an impressive 74% in the popularity contest. Trailing just behind was Edinburgh, which got a 71% approval rating.

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