Guide to rough England

To Shakespeare, England was 'this other Eden, this demi-paradise'. But not these days, if the latest edition of a best-selling tourist book is to be believed.

In a series of scathing assessments, The Rough Guide savages towns, cities and seaside resorts with descriptions that will have potential visitors giving them a wide berth.

Southampton and Plymouth, it says, have 'especially hideous examples' of post-war centres.

Because of its large number of retired folk, 'drab and moribund' Herne Bay in Kent is often called Hernia Bay. As for Dover, the white cliffs look grey and the town is best viewed from out at sea.

But the editors of the sixth edition of the Rough Guide to England insist their verdict is upbeat and does justice to both the ancient attractions and the modern vitality of many places.

Yet the criticisms will hurt. Herne Bay, it says, is 'a relic from a bygone age when holiday-makers believed sitting on a wind-blasted patch of shingle and sand was something to look forward to'. Weston- super-Mare, Somerset, is 'rather moth-eaten' and Southend 'has little to raise the spirits'. Dover doesn't 'have what it takes to induce many travellers to linger'. Pollution 'has taken some of the edge of the whiteness' of the cliffs, and 'the best views are to be had from several miles out to sea'.

Portsmouth's tower blocks are 'from the nadir of British architectural endeavour' and Southampton is 'a sprawling conurbation easily bypassed by motorways'.

Wolverhampton 'doesn't win any beauty contests', while Bradford 'doesn't have the architectural heritage or the cultural interest to detain you long'.

Coventry is 'lumbered with more than its fair share of unsightly buildings' and Derby is 'unexciting'.

The guide's author, Phil Lee said: 'Not all English towns are worth a visit.' But many have shaken off bad reputations, he added.

Hull has excellent historic pubs, Liverpool is becoming brighter - thanks to the regeneration of its centre and docks - and Birmingham has long outgrown the squalor and misery of its boom years.

'Many of England's cities and towns have been busy revamping themselves, defeating long-held stereotypes.'

Last night, the places derided by the guide hit back. Dover councillor Paul Watkins said: 'The comments are very hurtful and for no apparent good reason.

'We are trying to regenerate this town and cheap shots like this do not help.

'To attack the cliffs for not being white is frankly a bit ridiculous. It has nothing to do with pollution - they are partly covered with vegetation and just appear grey.'

Bradford councillor Robin Owens said: 'I cannot believe he could have visited Bradford. Anybody who knows the city knows the guide is talking rubbish.'

John Law, Kent county councillor for Herne Bay East, said: 'The comments are utter rubbish.

'The town has lovely gardens, good sand, clean water and one of the highest amounts of sunshine every year in the country.

'I would love to meet whoever wrote this ill-informed stuff and show them round the town they clearly didn't take a close look at when they sat down to compose their review.'