English Cities - are they actually any good?

Having just returned from two wonderful weeks in Sydney, which is a beautiful city, I was thinking: why do our cities not seem to be anywhere near as nice as other countries' cities?

It would be interesting to hear if you agree or not, and what you think is better or worse about foreign cities.

Interesting Nick,as Sydney does not appeal at all to me, but then neither does my nearest town. Sydney has been cleaned up a bit in recent years but I feel still falls behind Melbourne slightly.

Brisbane has been declared the cleanest city in Australia according to research conducted by the Beverage Industry Environment Council, which monitors national littering every year. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman was delighted with the cleanest city tag and praised the attitude of Brisbane residents.

I have researched a bit and find that nearly every city in Aus. rates itself as the best and cleanest. Can't all be right !!!

By cities I was mainly referring to the conurbations such as Manchester and Birmingham. They seem to have an image as rather run-down and characterless places - is this true in your opinion?

Wolf, I found Sydney beautiful, particularly the harbour area of course.

Hi, Nick.

I was born in Birmingham and I couldn't wait to leave the place. I still have family living there and whenever I visit I have to battle through the traffic. I know a lot of money has been spent on refurbishing the city centre, but I still wouldn't move back there - not even if you paid me.

Hey, because I've broken my arm I just dictated that reply to a software program called Via Voice. I had to correct a couple of errors, but the accuracy is amazing!

Aren't computers wonderful?

Website is here, Sue.

http://www.nuance.com/viavoice/pro/

You have to read it a story to train it to respond to your voice!

Honestly, this technology blows me awat.