Burnley, Lancashire, earns a spot on the list of England’s most quintessential towns, assessed by community, heritage, and traditions.
The firm said people think of iconic things like Stonehenge, Big Ben, and fish and chips. The English countryside is also important; it has green hills, pubs, and walking routes. Market towns are at the heart of this beauty, having community, heritage, and traditions.
The firm used public data to find the best towns. They felt some things were very vital and wanted to find the most “quintessential” towns.
“Quintessential” means the perfect example of a thing. The firm looked at certain things in each place, including its age and the market’s Google rating. They counted independent businesses, museums, and historic buildings, then gave each town a “quintessential” score.
You might think of East Lancashire towns like Clitheroe, Rawtenstall, or Bacup. However, none of these towns made the list.
Burnley actually made the list, ranking 51st out of 64 towns. Burnley began in the 13th century and has many indie businesses and listed buildings. There’s also Towneley Park and Hall near the Pennines. Outdoor explorers can go to Pendle Hill.
Bridport in Dorset was the highest-rated town. Stockport came in second place, then Devizes, Beverley, and Bromley followed behind.
Other North West towns appeared on the list. Those included Bolton, Bury, and Altrincham, as well as Macclesfield, Keswick, Ulverston, Nantwich, and Wigan.