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Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has launched a search for the UK’s first “town of culture”, similar to the city of culture programme, which honoured Bradford last year. After the Guardian’s writers nominated theirs – including Ramsgate in Kent, Falmouth in Cornwall, Abergavenny in Monmouthshire and Portobello in Edinburgh – we asked readers which UK towns they would put forward.
Hastings, East Sussex
Culture in Hastings grows out of the shingle and the wind and the friction between past and present. You can feel it in the fishing fleet hauled up on the beach, still part of daily life, and then a short walk away in bold contemporary spaces showing work that speaks far beyond the town. It shows up in events that belong to the people who live there; Jack in the Green spilling through the streets; Pirate Day turning the whole place into a shared act of play; music competitions that quietly bring international talent into a town that never pretends to be grand.
There is youth culture that is visible and unapologetic, from skate culture to artists and musicians building scenes without waiting for permission. Naming Hastings as UK town of culture would recognise a place where culture is already woven into everyday life and where investment would deepen something authentic, rooted and alive rather than trying to invent it. David Shopland, London
Glastonbury, Somerset
My calendar as Glastonbury town crier is packed with events attended by thousands of people, from the ecstatic revelry of Beltane in May, to the emergence of the red and white dragons twice a year to battle for the season, to the Goddess Conference, pilgrimages from church denominations across the globe and academic lectures on occultism coexisting side by side. There are hundreds of other such parades and gatherings throughout the year, and you can climb the Tor to marvel at the splendid views across the Somerset Levels – it’s one of the most stunning sights in the country.
The high street and side alleys are filled with independent businesses, with hardly a chain brand to be seen (aside from the Co-op, which sells local produce such as cider and ales brewed within the town). From esoteric bookshops, crystal merchants, leatherworkers, blacksmiths, comic bookshops, record stores and clothing, there is something here for everybody. I’ve never lived anywhere with such a robust and resilient community that genuinely looks out for one another. Brad Crowley, 36, Glastonbury
Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
Kirkcudbright at the mouth of the River Dee is known as the artists’ town. There are lots of galleries, including a national-level collection, with a range of high quality exhibitions of paintings, prints and ceramics. EA Hornel, one of the “Glasgow boys” group, was raised in Kirkcudbright, and his home, studio and beautiful garden are open to the public. Many other Glasgow boys and girls visited and worked in the town too.
The harbour and marina, and the streets of pastel painted houses, with glimpses down alleyways of hidden gardens, make any walk a stroll through a painting. The town centre is packed with a range of open air fairs during the summer – steampunk, anyone? – and the fish and chips from the van beside the harbour is delicious. When the tide is right, wander along to the park at the edge of the town and watch the boats sailing off to the sea. And breathe easy. Anne Clark, Menstrie, Clackmannanshire
North Shields, Tyne and Wear
North Shields is a small port built 800 years ago on fishing and shipbuilding, which celebrates its heritage yet embraces new ways. The town has an impressive calendar, including A Stones Throw and CoastFest music festivals. Regular gigs are held at The Engine Room and Three Tanners Bank – spaces that were previously used as smokehouses, maltings buildings and fish processing plants.
The Exchange 1856 is a restored theatre that serves as a creative space and a performance venue. Globe art gallery and art collective Helix Arts are at the heart of the cultural quarter. Salt Market Social hosts gigs, exhibitions and festivals, while OneThreeOne provides workspaces for creatives.
The historical Fish Quay serves as a backdrop for performances, while various heritage trails and community projects connect the town’s history with contemporary creative work. To be officially seen and celebrated as a town of culture would further ensure the import and export of talent through businesses and individuals who see culture and creativity as core values of society. Mark, 62, North Shields
Ipswich, Suffolk
As the oldest continuously inhabited town in England, Ipswich would be the ideal first town of culture in the UK. With its population of around 140,000 and location within easy distance of many other East Anglian towns, the impact would ripple out to other places, not only creating a social and economic benefit for the town itself but also acting as a catalyst to a large area in need of regeneration and motivation.
Ipswich and the surrounding area is the birthplace of, among other notable figures, Thomas Wolsey and John Constable, and the town has a wealth of cultural landmarks, including its historical waterfront, Christchurch park and mansion, the New Wolsey theatre, Red Rose Chain theatre, Eastern Angles theatre company and DanceEast, to name but a few. Music, art and the spoken word all flourish – though often with insufficient financial and community support. Ipswich Town football club is supporting Ipswich’s bid to become the 2029 city of culture, and Ed Sheeran has been linked to the bid – another local lad. Becoming a town of culture would provide the funding to enable far more people to become involved in community events and have a lasting benefit on the whole area. Jacqueline Robson, Ipswich
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
I am nominating Scarborough: it’s bursting with art galleries, theatres, libraries, museums and cinemas, and hosts a packed calendar of festivals and fairs. Live music is everywhere – from music and spoken word evenings in bars and cafes, and buskers on the streets, right up to the Open Air theatre, which hosts a stellar lineup of international artists.
The streets of the town are filled with independent shops, bars, restaurants and businesses, plus lots of local crafters, creatives and produce in the market hall. There’s street art, public art and murals, historical buildings and traditional events. If you fancy some peace and quiet, visit the endless forests, moorland, cliffs and beaches. Stop and watch out for the dolphins, who are regular visitors along the coast. Scarborough is a bit worn here and there, like many seaside towns, but there’s a deep sense of place, pride and community spirit – a warm heart. Dianne, Scarborough
Devizes, Wiltshire
Devizes has so much going for it. It’s a beautiful townscape, which includes the famous pond, the Crammer (supposedly the location of the Moonraker smuggling legend), and the surrounding green. There are lovely old buildings, an internationally renowned museum, an art deco cinema undergoing restoration, the Wharf theatre and the Devizes arts festival. The music academy teaches, puts on musicals, runs the Big Sound choir (which I sing in) and organises the fabulous Fulltone music festival every year. And there are lots of independent shops and galleries. The Kennet and Avon canal runs through the town, including the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks which were restored by volunteers and reopened by the queen in 1990.
Devizes was the home of 18th-century portrait artist Thomas Lawrence (the Lawrence Art Society, which exhibits in the Georgian town hall, is named after him) and was used as a location in the 1967 film adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd. It’s surrounded by beautiful vistas and landscapes, including Roundway Hill, which features bronze age barrows, an iron age hill fort known as Oliver’s Castle, a Romano-British water shrine, a civil war battlefield and the coach road from London to Bath. The town itself was founded by the Normans in the 11th century, although the castle fell into ruin and was rebuilt in Victorian times. It’s a vibrant place to live, and I think it thoroughly deserves to be the UK town of culture. Pam Thomas, 73, Devizes, Wiltshire
Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Caernarfon is home to a world heritage site in the area with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers. It has become a beacon to the arts in Wales and is regarded as one of the happiest towns in Britain. Caernarfon is home to one of the largest free food festivals in Wales and has a thriving music scene that incorporates everything from folk to rock, choir singing to brilliant songwriters. There is a fantastic arts festival called Gŵyl Arall (Another Festival), which has contributors arriving from far and wide to a long weekend of literature and song every summer.
We have one of the best medieval castles in Europe – even though it is thought of as a symbol of oppression and subjugation locally, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town. With Eryri (Snowdonia) as a spectacular backdrop, our little gem of a town has to be one of the most interesting locations in Cymru. Come see for yourselves. Alun Jones, Caernarfon
Faversham, Kent
Faversham has a vibrant and innovative creative scene. Most activity is community led, with residents getting together to develop amazing opportunities for all of us. These include the internationally renowned Faversham literary festival, and a hop festival that brings in thousands of people every year and which celebrates the town’s brewing heritage. That is not to mention the other smaller events and festivals that take place pretty much week after week.
Faversham has a lively heritage of brewing and gunpowder, and the community is working together to ensure that it is supported and remains relevant. The creek is a focal point of much activity, as are the many creative hubs including Creek Creative studios and the Arden theatre, among others. It’s a wonderful place to live. Mandy Hare, 64, Faversham
