Why we disagree that Abingdon is one of the worst places to live in England

Described as 'Oxford's aggressive, ugly little brother that may stab you', Abingdon has been awarded a place in the rankings of the worst places to live in England.

The survey, conducted by iLiveHere UK, asks participants to vote for which place in England is deemed the worst place to live in their eyes. We are very disheartened to discover that not one, but two Oxfordshire towns have made the cut.

Both Didcot and Abingdon feature on the list, with Didcot rising from 44th place last year to 11th this year whilst Abingdon comes in the middle at 23rd.

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Having been lovingly given the nickname "Scabingdon", we thought we should set the record straight and make a case for Abingdon and celebrate what the town has to offer.

Ten reasons why Abingdon isn't the worst place to live

1. There is a rich history. Abingdon Abbey was founded in Saxon times, around 676.
2. Abingdon has a picturesque setting since it is surrounded by countryside and contains the historic Thames Path, perfect for summer walks. The river provides a lovely location to boat or canoe in the summer.
3. Great day and night transport services. Despite the train station being decommissioned, the bus services in Abingdon run late into the night, offering continuous connections to Oxford which is only 20 minutes away.
4. Prestigious schools. Abingdon Boys School was founded in 1100 and has educated a range of well-established people including comedian David Mitchell, Radiohead band members and UK Ambassador Kim Darroch.
5. Abingdon is home to some unique traditions, such as the Abingdon Bun throwing event whereby hot-cross buns are thrown off the top of the Town Hall. The Michaelmas Fair is the UK's longest and narrower fair which provides entertainment to those in Abingdon.
6. Local produce and markets in the town square. Each week several farmers markets supply Abingdon with fresh local produce.
7. Local brewery and live music can be found at Abingdon's Loose Canon Brewing Company. You can take tours of the brewery, as well as just enjoy the space where food is served and live music is played most nights.
8. Fairacres Retail Park is thought to be the first retail park in the UK.
9. Abingdon business and science parks have offices and jobs for many international businesses including Penlon Ltd and Miele.
10. Random acts of crochet kindness have littered Abingdon recently, with hand-made crochet post-box toppers appearing seemingly out of nowhere with adorable seasonal scenes which bring smiles to people's faces and brighten their day.

The conclusion drawn from the survey to "never come here" seems a bit harsh given what Abingdon has to offer.

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