‘One of the country’s most stunning sights’: your picks for the UK’s cultural city | culture

CCulture Secretary Lisa Nandy has launched a search for the UK’s first ‘City of Culture’, modeled on the City of Culture programme, which honored Bradford last year. After Guardian writers nominated their names – including Ramsgate in Kent, Falmouth in Cornwall, Abergavenny in Monmouthshire and Portobello in Edinburgh – we asked readers which British cities they would put forward.

(Hastings, East Sussex).

Culture in Hastings grows from shingle, wind and the friction between past and present. You can feel it in the fishing fleet transported ashore, still part of everyday life, and then take a short walk away into bold contemporary spaces showcasing works that speak beyond the city. It appears in events concerning the people who live there; Jack in Green spills into the streets; Pirate Day turns the entire place into a communal play; Music competitions that quietly bring world-class talent to a city that never pretends to be great.

There is a visible and unapologetic youth culture, from skateboarding culture to artists and musicians constructing scenes without waiting for permission. Naming Hastings as a UK City of Culture would recognize a place where culture is already woven into everyday life and where investment deepens something authentic, rooted and vibrant rather than trying to invent it. David Shopland, London

Glastonbury, Somerset

My calendar as Glastonbury town crier is full of events attended by thousands of people, from the spirited Beltane celebrations in May, to the twice-yearly appearance of red and white dragons to battle for the season, to the Conference of the Gods, pilgrimages from church denominations around the world and academic lectures on the occult that coexist side by side. There are hundreds of these walks and other gatherings throughout the year, and you can climb the Tor to marvel at the magnificent views across the Somerset Levels – it’s one of the country’s most stunning sights.

The main streets and side alleys are filled with independent businesses, and you hardly see any branding (except for the co-op, which sells local products like cider and beer brewed within the city). From esoteric bookstores, crystal merchants, leatherworkers, blacksmiths, comic bookstores, and record and clothing stores, there’s something here for everyone. I have never lived anywhere with such a strong, resilient community that genuinely cares for each other. Brad Crowley, 36, Glastonbury

Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway

Kirkcudbright, at the mouth of the River Dee, is known as the Artists’ City. There are plenty of galleries, including a national-level collection, with a high-quality range of paintings, prints and ceramics. E. A. Hornell, one of the ‘Glasgow Boys’, grew up 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 city as well.

The port and marina, the streets of pastel-painted houses, with glimpses of hidden garden alleys, make any stroll a stroll through a painting. The city center is filled with an array of outdoor galleries during the summer – anyone? -And the fish and chips from the dockside truck are delicious. When the tide is right, stroll through the park on the edge of town and watch the boats sail out to sea. And breathe easily. Anne Clark, Minster, Clackmannanshire

North Shields, Tyne and Wear

North Shields is a small port built 800 years ago for fishing and shipbuilding, which celebrates its heritage but embraces new ways. The city has an impressive calendar, including the A Stones Throw and CoastFest music festivals. Regular parties are held in The Engine Room and Three Tanners Bank – spaces formerly used as smokehouses, brewing buildings and fish processing plants.

Exchange 1856 is a renovated theater that serves as a creative space and performance venue. The Globe Art Gallery and the Helix Arts art collective are located in the heart of the Cultural District. Salt Market Social hosts parties, exhibitions and festivals, while OneThreeOne provides workspaces for creatives.

The historic fish wharf serves as the backdrop for the displays, while various heritage trails and community projects link the city’s history to contemporary creative work. Officially recognizing and celebrating it as a cultural city would ensure the import and export of talent through companies and individuals who consider culture and creativity as core values ​​of society. Mark, 62, North Shields

Ipswich, Suffolk

As the oldest continuously inhabited city in England, Ipswich would be the quintessential first city of culture in the UK. With a population of around 140,000 and a location within walking distance of many other East Anglia towns, the impact will ripple elsewhere, not only creating a social and economic benefit for the town itself but also acting as a catalyst for a large area in need of regeneration and stimulation.

Ipswich and the surrounding area are the birthplace of Thomas Wolsey and John Constable, among other notable figures, and the city has a wealth of cultural attractions, including the historic waterfront, Christchurch Palace and Park, New Wolsey Theatre, Red Rose Chain Theatre, Eastern Angels Theater Company and Dance East, to name but a few. Music, art, and spoken word thrive – despite often inadequate financial and community support. Ipswich Town Football Club is backing Ipswich’s bid to become City of Culture for 2029, and Ed Sheeran – another local lad – has been linked with the bid. Becoming a City of Culture would provide funding to enable many more people to participate in community events and bring lasting benefit to the entire region. Jacqueline Robson, Ipswich

(Scarborough, North Yorkshire).

I recommend Scarborough: it’s full of art galleries, theatres, libraries, museums and cinemas, and hosts a busy calendar of festivals and exhibitions. Live music is everywhere – from music and spoken word evenings in bars and cafés, to street musicians, to the open air theatre, which hosts an excellent line-up of international artists.

The city streets are filled with independent shops, bars, restaurants and businesses, as well as plenty of local artisans, creatives and produce in the market hall. There is street art, public art, murals, historic buildings and traditional events. If you want some peace and quiet, visit the endless forests, swamps, cliffs and beaches. Stop and watch for dolphins, which are regular visitors along the coast. Scarborough is a little dated here and there, like many coastal towns, but there is a deep sense of place, pride and community spirit – a warm heart. Diane, Scarborough

Davies, Wiltshire

Devizes has a lot to do. It’s a beautiful landscape of the city, which includes the famous pond, the Crammer (supposedly the site of the smuggling legend Moonraker), and the green surroundings. There are beautiful old buildings, a world-famous museum, an art deco cinema under restoration, the Wharf Theater and the Devizes Arts Festival. The Academy of Music teaches and performs musicals, runs the Big Sound Choir (in which I sing) and organizes the fantastic Fulltone Music Festival every year. There are plenty of independent shops and galleries. The Kennet and Avon Canal pass through the town, including the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks which was restored by volunteers and reopened by the Queen in 1990.

Devizes was home to the 18th-century portrait artist Thomas Lawrence (the Lawrence Art Society, whose work is displayed 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 Disturbance. It’s surrounded by beautiful scenery and scenery, including Roundway Hill, which features Bronze Age barrows, an Iron Age hill fort known as Oliver’s Castle, a Roman-British water shrine, a Civil War battlefield, and the London to Bath coach route. The town itself was founded by the Normans in the 11th century, although the castle fell into ruin and was rebuilt in the Victorian era. It’s a vibrant place to live, and I think it fully deserves to be a UK City of Culture. Pam Thomas, 73, Devizes, Wiltshire

Carnarvon, Gwynedd

Caernarfon is home to a World Heritage Site in the region with the highest proportion of Welsh speakers. It has become a beacon for the arts in Wales and is considered one of the happiest towns in Britain. Home to one of the largest free food festivals in Wales, Caernarfon has a thriving music scene featuring everything from folk to rock, from choral singing to great songwriters. There’s a wonderful arts festival called Gŵyl Arall (Another Festival), to which contributors from far and wide arrive for a long weekend of literature and song every summer.

We have one of the best medieval castles in Europe – although it is considered a symbol of repression and subjugation locally, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. With Airrie (Snowdonia) as a stunning backdrop, our little gem has to be one of the most interesting locations in Cymru. Come and see for yourselves. Alun Jones, Caernarfon

Faversham, Kent

Faversham has a vibrant and innovative creative scene. Most activities are community led, with residents coming together to develop amazing opportunities for all of us. These include the world-famous Faversham Literary Festival, and the Hip Festival, which is attended by thousands of people each year and celebrates the town’s brewing heritage. Not to mention the other small events and festivals that take place almost week after week.

Faversham has a vibrant heritage of brewing and gunpowder, and the community is working together to ensure it is supported and continues to be important. The Creek is a focal point for a lot of activity, as are several creative hubs including Creek Creative Studios and the Arden Theatre, among other venues. It’s a great place to live. Mandy Hare, 64, Faversham