Visiting Britain's most mediocre towns

Welcome to Exploring Britain, a new series where I investigate the lesser visited parts of our fair nation. In the first episode I go to Manningtree in Essex with ‪@awaydaysfootball‬ aka Ellis Platten.
Let me know in the comments where you think I should visit next.
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[@awaydaysfootball]

Manningtree for the day then realising I have Tonsilitis on the train home will always live long in my memory

[@RobbieKnox]

Followed by the most miserable game of 5-a-side.

[@awaydaysfootball]

You can really see in my face how ill I was here, hahahaha. Manningtree was the cure.

[@zacstarkey1369]

maps.app.goo.gl/vF5tNxM76RQVdB9u8?g_st=ic

[@csam2023]

@@RobbieKnoxcome Ledbury

[@RysFootyParadise]

@@csam2023nobody needs to suffer Ledbury! Took me 23 years to escape 😅

[@Moxhification]

I'm 5 minutes in and the best part so far is the realization that everything is shut on a Monday and every other shop is an undertakers.

[@RobbieKnox]

That sums it up pretty well.

[@brandonm8901]

Love this concept! I have done this myself a lot in England and France, I love finding out about little pieces of history and culture of a small town, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem

[@RobbieKnox]

Nice really looking into a place isn’t it? I love it.

[@jmmypaddy]

I hope this is going to be a regular feature. I like the idea of exploring towns that are neither good, nor bad, just there.

[@geoffpoole483]

I think Manningtree is the smallest town in Britain. Its biggest asset is its location. Mainline to Norwich-London. Next to the river, Harwich port a few miles away, Constable country on the doorstep. The Tendring peninsula is full of pleasant villages. I think you should do a video on Jaywick.

[@kleinbiennale]

Can’t wait to see more towns with stations on the Greater Anglia line!

[@RobbieKnox]

Stowmarket video dropping soon.

[@kleinbiennale]

@@RobbieKnox you’re in for a treat

[@bigsmokesorder4053]

@@RobbieKnox hahahaha gonna get attacked by stowmartians, a weird bunch coming from a local

[@jls1868]

@@RobbieKnoxgod forbid you have to get on the Marks Tey to Sudbury shuttle train

[@hanpan13]

@@jls1868so niche but so true 🤣🤣

[@JB-ec1mn]

Great place, I moved here a couple years ago, like most places it's better in the summer, with beer festivals regular music and some top eateries. Quite sleepy but easy access to lots of different places, can be out of the big smoke and in constable country within an hour plus the coast and down to earth people.

[@RobbieKnox]

I bet it’s lovely in the summer. Loved the beach. 🏖️

[@ChelseaAsh88]

DAMNNNN, got home from work to find this appear on my subscriptions. I cant believe you were in Manningtree, I live here, if I knew you were down for the day I would have taken the day off work to buy you guys a pint. If you come back this way in the summer, I would love to say hey in person. Great video. ❤

[@RobbieKnox]

Sorry to miss you. Will return for a trip to the beach in the summer.

[@philjohnston9889]

Loved this Robbie! Was like watching a father and son have a little day out :) this content is why you are among the very best creators on KZbin ❤

[@camilla_and_smithers]

Even more wholesome than usual. I didn’t know it was possible!

[@RobbieKnox]

Ha ha. Had you liked it!

[@miamistrawberry]

I grew up in manningtree. It was fab because it was a tiny community. Everyone knew one another and loved each other. Then they they built LOADS of homes. It really lost its charm and is way too small for how many people they want living there! There was never anything to do but we all made it work. My friends and I spent time at the park, beach and fish pond. The amount of useless shops opening is crazy too. It makes it feel like there’s even less to do unless you want to plan a funeral then get some Botox to cheer you up.

[@gingerelvis]

Watching Ellis and Robbie make a sand castle was like watching a father with his son. Robbie is the universal dad. Rent-a-dad quite possibly.

[@thiccbishh8724]

If you want more than 3 pubs, get yourself over to Knutsford in Cheshire! Plenty to go at there, Robbie!

[@jamesgladdish9151]

Every video you post makes me feel one way or another. Thank you Robbie love this and I hope it does become a series! ❤

[@macy8609]

Recommended of a place: Cinderford! It’s a small mining town in the Forest of Dean. Not much at first glance but there’s a cinema converted from an old theatre, great walks into the forest and so many interesting people

[@RobbieKnox]

Sounds awesome. Will add it to the list!

[@kingluis06]

Nice that you met the mayor of Manningtree 5 minutes in, probably not the best sign that two of the best things about the town are the trains and buses out 😂

[@RobbieKnox]

That man was lovely. Manningtreers are lovely people.

[@OnTheHeadFootballLive]

love how Robbie blowing his nose didn't need to be edited out 🤣❤

[@ExpiredFilmClub]

If you ever want a guide around Wantage in Oxfordshire, you are cordially invited Robbie

[@Leanne2401]

Love this Robbie! Definitely needs to be a series also poor Ellis looked frozen 😢

[@ClassicGamerX11]

Used to visit here semi regularly and i am not sure why. We tried to go crabbing there with limited success. It's surprising it get's such a regular train service for such a small town. Not a bad place to live i would imagine, but probably expensive.

[@RobbieKnox]

Yeah, the guy we met loved living there!

[@deanozx6]

Amazing! I went to school in manningtree and have many fond memories of it. I grew up in dedham and would recommend you visiting there. In the summer it is a lovely day out for the family. It's best feature is it's close proximity to manningtree.

[@evedupuy6042]

i live in manningtree! a lovely community there's some beautiful walks and places to kayak!

[@evedupuy6042]

also mistley manor does amazing cooking courses definitely recommend

[@jessieingate7046]

there's a cool place in Manningtree called 'Winyl' that sells beer and vinyl. You can buy a bottle to bring home or sit at the little bar and drink whilst listening to vinyl which is pretty cool

[@RobbieKnox]

That does sound good!

[@melissaphillips3088]

I loved the gentleman talking up his town. He was proud of it. Wonderful video guys.

[@ManWalksDogs]

Every time I've passed through Colchester station you hear all the announcements about changing for Manningtree, but I'd never been out that way, so thanks for providing a service to satiate that minor curiosity. Strange that neighbouring Lawford is actually bigger, yet the station holds Manningtree's name and not even with an ampersand to include its host. That Wiki stub mentions that Lawford and Mistley on the other side tried to ride in on Manningtree's coattails and merge into Mega-Manningtree but Manningtree held its own and stood firm. Parish the thought... /parish/ ... (you know: civil parish)

[@rachelamy92]

Cant wait for part 2. I hope to find out what Ellis thought of the soup.

[@ThomasVincent38]

YOU REMIND ME OF A MIX BETWEEN DAVID EARL AND DAVE MYERS. YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND MOJO HAD ME FROM THE FIRST SECOND. VERY ENTERTAINING!

[@POSTIEPLAYS]

Love this, more of this please 🎉

[@LucyAllerton-xm1re]

Lucca Italian, Estuary wine bar, nice local park to walk through or just further up Furze Hill woods, beach is lovely in summer and always buzzing. Walk along the path by co-op is nice too, decent library. Wrong time of week and year to visit is all 😀. We have young children and love it!

[@patrickchampion8179]

Excellent idea for a series - doing essentially this was how I kept myself sane at uni in a city that very much wasn't my cup of tea. Obviously there's loads of places you could do but would recommend Devizes, Kings Lynn, and Berwick upon Tweed as towns which don't stand out but have more to them than meets the eye...

[@SuperKinlo]

Being from Ipswich on the train Manningtree was always the first stop on the way to London and just a few miles down the road, yet I have never had an inclination to visit. Not even ever suggested for a day sesh, love that you spent a day there.

[@rebeccasmy5714]

Great video Robbie, happened to see the notification for this whilst my london liverpool street bound train was arriving into Manningtree! Come to Felixstowe, I can guarantee we have more funeral directors BUT a better beach and the best food places 🎉

[@bladerunner162]

Loved the idea for this video. Should definitely come Bridport in Dorset. Lovely place

[@jonmurray2350]

I particularly enjoyed the non-death related scenes.

[@RobbieKnox]

God my channel is a mess.

[@GreenoEats]

Ever been to Wareham in Dorset Robbie ? Definitely a little town (6 or 7 thousand inhabitants), but with plenty of history back to battles with vikings, burial places of kings, a great fire, hangings during the Bloody Assizes - it's had it all. And it's got more than 3 pubs...

[@yodudeHQ]

My grandma died the other night, her surname was manning. I liked this video, it made me feel happy to laugh along, thank you for this Robbie

[@melissaphillips3088]

So sorry for your loss🙏🏻🌹

[@adamivell]

Come back in the summer ill give you a proper locals tour of manningtree in a Drift car -peace and love

[@deanjohns8561]

I am currently in the process of purchasing a house in the centre of Manningtree and thought I would google to see if anything came up, this video was the first thing! Thoroughly enjoyed the video, reminded me very much of C4's Travel Man. Hope you do make it back to Manningtree in the summer, it has a charm about it. If you have the time I would highly recommend the circular walk from Manningtree to Dedham and back to Manningtree via Flatford.

[@pm0neypenny]

Love it - Take a look around Luton next 🤣🤣

[@AceTrainerTom]

Come up to the unfortunately named Whitehaven, it's a pain in the arse to get to on public transport but we've got a pretty acceptable harbour, a reasonably interesting museum, and a place called the rum story, which is all about slavery, the rum trade, and the time an American privateer called John Paul Jones tried to invade Whitehaven, but failed because his sailors went to the pub and got too drunk to successfully take control. There's also two Gregg's about a minute apart from each other. It's an....interesting place.

[@Eviepie280399]

Go to my hometown Newark On Trent!! There are at least 10 pubs. One of which is a boat on the river Trent. You will LOVE IT

[@jeddos]

Newark is such a gorgeous place as well

[@mcmarky1985]

Excellent video! Just subscribed. Would recommend a visit to (East) Dereham in Norfolk, it has a rather lovely windmill

[@exploringwithzinc2027]

Great video and a awesome idea ! You should visit Newmarket the home of horse racing ! And lots of history 👌

[@DRUMAdam91]

I’m just at the start of the video but there is an amazing Italian restaurant called Luccas in manningtree!

[@craigusfelos]

THREE PUBS!! ITS THE THREE PUBS GUY! heard you talking about him in The Moon Under Water! 👍 you should check out Maldon its a little seaside town in essex where i grew up. i havent been back in a few years (live abroad cuurently) but its a nice little place!

[@RobbieKnox]

That’s him!

[@rebeccasmy5714]

Maldon’s great, it’s where I grew up to!

[@joemagliocco6153]

Robbie, come and visit Deal, in Kent. Seaside town, loads of pubs (over 10, mostly independent), we’ve got a pier, a beach, a castle, a bandstand, a Saturday market, a class independent high street and a station actually in the town. You’ll love it! Would be good content too :)

[@neilbowers6956]

This is the duo everyone wanted. I think you should continue this series together visiting the most boring towns in the UK,

[@JustLukeMorgan]

I for one want more of these videos!

[@jt8643]

Great video. Get yourself up to a town called Seaham, just south of Sunderland. A really nice little coastal town with a marina and a seafront area with local cafes and shops.

[@stuartellis5836]

Top content as usual Robbie, can I suggest Great Yarmouth and Cromer for future episodes?

[@XoRubyXo-xp9vd]

You should try banbury! Very mediocre town but a few things to do and where the rhyme ‘ride a cock horse’ comes from! Love this idea ❤

[@IParmanHD]

Came here to say don’t try banbury 🤣

[@adamdillon4893]

Great video Robbie! Would recommend Saffron Walden for the series.

[@pray4snow]

Visit Hinckley - Home of 5 Greggs no less! Oh and the Hansom cab was invented here

[@hannahkerr5097]

I came here to say Hinckley as well!

[@RobbieKnox]

Amazing. Will try and pop in!

[@ryuhayabaker]

Like this concept. Would like you to visit Lymington in Hampshire - the town that was too posh for an Argos. Maybe visit Plymouth as well for a tour with Pieface - Union St looks lovely, maybe Skipton too - try and find Patrick Stewart. 🙂

[@ConnorPratchett]

Very happy to give you a tour of my home town of Dovercourt, Essex if you like! Incredible mediocre and also not too far on the train

[@chxrl5067]

Please go to Bletchley, its grim and only you could find it's highlights. Such a cute series!

[@reecedorrell7578]

Robbie, come to Leigh on sea. I think you'd absolutely love it!

[@DeanGarnham]

Lovely brewery to visit there too!

[@joeshippers7296]

Sudbury Suffolk if you fancy a array of pubs, a dying nightclub and a charity shop on every street some nice walks tho

[@user-fh6cg6zm4q]

My Mrs comes from Manninggrree so seeing this pop up made my day. Try. Woking next. £1.5bn in debt and where aliens landed

[@georgewillis-dn2rn]

You need to come to my village West Wycombe In Buckinghamshire. Based around the Main Street that has 3 pubs, 2 of which are opposite to each other in some kind of stand-off😂 it has a lovely church on the hill and amazing views. Has The Hellfire Caves which are steeped in history of elite sex parties etc.... oh forgot to mention one of the pubs is haunted 😂

[@burtmacklinfbi8949]

Just popped up on my notifications and yes this is exactly what I will be doing for the next 17mins

[@RobbieKnox]

Ha ha. Enjoy!

[@LukedaLegend]

This is scarily similar to my nan's town in East Sussex. Hope you do more!

[@tamina5432]

Would love more videos like this

[@baldyadam4043]

Was once in Italy, trying to get to monzuno. Got a train from Bologna to Vado-Monzuno station. You’d assume Vado and Monzuno were connected or at the very least, close to eachother. No buses after 8pm meant a 3 hour walk. Why would you call the station Vado-Monzuno, there’s no Monzuno about the thing, it’s fucking Vado.

[@blackcountrydiecast4708]

Come and visit somewhere in the Black Country, Stourbridge, Gornal, Cradley, Kingswinford. Really exciting places................Honest!!!

[@timawn]

Surely Alfie is a perfect guest for this series. Bloke has been training in AwayDays videos for ages!

[@MrJordwild]

Excellent video! I highly recommend The Forest of Dean! It’s a beautiful place, but there are parts that are just … *shudders* It would be great to see you

[@LimpBizkitReal]

Hello Robbie. Very Nice video. By the way, you should visit Cockermouth. There is two Greggs. It also has a funny name. however it does flood every 10 years. a building recently collapsed into the river and there is a lot of controversy in the town because the owners cannot afford to pay for it, and neither can the council. there is also quite a few charity shops.

[@ViceCityDJ]

go to Nailsea in Somerset home of the Wurzels, and has plenty of historical sites (former mines, winding towers etc)

[@EpicWagg]

I recommend visiting Diss or Thatcham!

[@quantig]

Great concept for a video! I say you should visit Ely in Cambridgeshire. Smallest city in England!

[@olliefarrelly9861]

Get yourself over to The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham Robbie, Henry VIII's old hunting ground and once formerly the safest place to live in the UK. Lots of pubs too 👍 15 minute drive from Tamworth where you have previously been. Also home to Europe's largest Urban park, its a beauty.

[@honeyclark815]

come and visit Staines-Upon-Thames. Nice little riverside town where they filmed Ali G indahouse... riddled with culture (and it has a brewery and pubs).

[@IsaacIsMopped]

Please try Ardleigh, absolutely dead but i want to experience nostalgia.

[@kyleroczniak]

YES excited that this is finally happening! i should guest star if you’re up in manchester…

[@MatthewGJones1]

Love it! Come to Measham, on the border of 4 counties and is very mediocre

[@tedmccaffery1988]

Go to Budleigh Salterton. A seaside town in Devon. About a 20 minute drive from Exeter so could go on tour

[@AdamJRobertson]

Just got on the train before reasonable daylight hours ended 👍

[@RobbieKnox]

Would hate to be caught out in unreasonable hours.

[@Oat69Milk]

dorset is real good! jurassic coast so cool but dorchester however... funeral directors, opticians and pubs

[@JonBurrows90]

Try Robin hoods bay near Whitby, lovely little quaint seaside village but without all the commercialism of Bridlington and Scarborough.

[@andrewportwood6340]

Please please make more of these. Fantastic viewing and perspective!! Can you convince @Stuntpegg to join you again?

[@mattdarrington1803]

Biggleswade - because i live near by and the name still makes me giggle !

[@tomlee812]

Loved this one. So British. I've not been to Manningtree but I could 'Die Happy' if I did (but then again....which funeral directors would I choose..................?).

[@creek5688]

Robbie come back to Harwich it may be shite but its close to manningtree and fits in well with the series concept, has a ton of of history to. Edit: Samuel Pepys was born and lived in Harwich, coincidence 🧐

[@jwestchelsea]

Definitely Witham!

[@blitzenJunior]

go run another marathon!!!! I liked that edinburgh marathon video so much

[@RobbieKnox]

I’m doing one a week tomorrow!

[@theunoriginalartist8731]

You should visit Stafford, it's just a random town in the Midlands that no one visits

[@cartoonjeff]

I'd like you to go to Heage. It's where my grandfather was born ,and I've been planning on going.. but I'm unlikely to make it to the UK anytime soon so I need someone to live vicariously through on youtube 😅😅😅

[@leoholmes4839]

Please go to cullompton - love this concept

[@coops1964golf]

great video.....come to Boston if you can

[@RileyJNR]

West Kirby on the Wirral. A walk to Hilbre Island when it warms up.

[@Milton6257]

Please come to King's Lynn Robbie, certainly won't disappoint!

[@TOMMII0108]

We need Robbie Knox and Rob Kellas of TPDTV in Bridlington or Scarborough!

[@Tbutt19911]

Neath and/or Bridgend in South Wales you’ll want to visit

[@riaredmond5119]

As someone who grew up near manningtree this is very funny to me 😂

[@RobbieKnox]

Did we miss any of the sights?

[@riaredmond5119]

@@RobbieKnox nope! You covered the four funeral directors! 😂

[@jsp__]

Robbie: Hey mate fancy shooting a fun youtube video? Me: Yeah sure! Robbie: Okay let's meet on Monday morning 8am in Manningtree 🤦

[@RobbieKnox]

Deliberately kept it secret till he arrived at Norwich station.

[@gabrielsinclair]

Robbie you should come to Porthleven in cornwall!!

[@spoikee]

I live in a small village just outside of Manningtree which has infinitely less to do, a pub and a shop 😂. But Manningtree is nice for what it is, a small town. It’s a shame that Maiz was closed when you came it does really nice Mexican inspired food, also up the road from there is The Red Lion which has an awesome Pizza place attached to it

[@realdjoffski7201]

Man In Tree is an interesting subject! ❤

[@bobsmonkey5887]

Love this you should go to Olney near Milton Keynes lovely Market town