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For much of the past generation, cultural attention in Britain has focused on our cities.
From Liverpool to Coventry and most recently Bradford, the UK City of Culture programme has shone a spotlight on urban centres seeking renewal through arts, heritage and community celebration.
Yet Britain has always been a nation of towns.
Market towns, mining towns, agricultural centres and industrial communities have long formed the backbone of the country’s identity. They possess their own traditions, histories and civic pride, often as rich as those of any major city.
It is therefore rather refreshing that the government has now turned its attention in their direction with the creation of the UK Town of Culture competition.
And, true to form, several towns in Leicestershire have wasted no time in stepping forward.
A new national title for Britain’s towns
The UK Town of Culture initiative is intended to complement the existing City of Culture programme.
While the latter focuses on larger urban areas, the new competition recognises that cultural life flourishes just as vibrantly in smaller communities. Towns across the country are being invited to submit bids to become the first-ever holder of the title in 2028.
The incentives are not insignificant.
The winning town will receive £3 million in funding, with two runners-up awarded £250,000 each to support cultural programmes and initiatives.
More importantly, however, the title offers something less tangible but equally valuable: recognition.
It allows towns to tell their own stories.
Leicestershire towns step forward
In Leicestershire, the response has been immediate.
The towns of Coalville and Ashby-de-la-Zouch had already signalled their intention to enter the competition.
They are now expected to be joined by Hinckley and Melton Mowbray, creating a distinctly local cluster of contenders.
Each of these towns possesses its own character.
Coalville carries the legacy of Leicestershire’s coal mining heritage.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch combines historic charm with a lively market-town atmosphere.
Hinckley is a place that has repeatedly reinvented itself through industry and commerce.
Melton Mowbray, of course, remains internationally associated with its agricultural traditions and celebrated food heritage.
Together they represent the rich diversity of the county.
Melton’s heritage and food culture
Among the potential bidders, Melton Mowbray offers a particularly compelling cultural narrative.
Few towns of its size possess such a well-defined identity. Agriculture, rural traditions and food production form the backbone of the area’s history, giving Melton a reputation that extends far beyond Leicestershire.
Council leader Pip Allnatt has suggested that the town may already be “ahead of the game” in preparing its bid.
Rather sensibly, she has emphasised that the project should not be seen merely as a council initiative but as something shaped by the wider community.
That approach strikes me as entirely correct.
Cultural identity cannot simply be manufactured by committees. It must grow organically from the people who live there — their traditions, their stories and their sense of belonging.
Hinckley’s confident ambition
Meanwhile, in Hinckley, council leader Stuart Bray has described the town as one that “punches above its weight.”
It is a phrase that many townspeople would likely recognise.
Hinckley has long been a place where industriousness and civic spirit combine. Historically known for its hosiery and textile industries, the town has repeatedly adapted to changing economic circumstances while maintaining a strong sense of identity.
Those qualities may serve it well in a cultural competition.
After all, culture is not merely about theatres, galleries and festivals. It is also about the shared history of a place — the industries that shaped it, the communities that sustained it and the traditions that endure.
A competition designed for all sizes of town
One thoughtful aspect of the UK Town of Culture initiative is the way it recognises the varied scale of Britain’s towns.
The three finalists will be chosen from different population categories:
one small town with fewer than 20,000 residents
one medium town with a population between 20,000 and 75,000
one large town with more than 75,000 inhabitants
This structure ensures that smaller communities are not overshadowed by larger rivals.
Indeed, it reflects an important truth: cultural identity is not measured in population numbers.
Some of the most distinctive towns in Britain are relatively small, yet possess histories and traditions that far exceed their modest size.
Sir Phil Redmond’s role
The judging panel for the competition will be chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, best known as the creator of the television dramas Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks.
Redmond has described the initiative in characteristically straightforward terms.
“Town of Culture is all about celebration,” he explained, encouraging communities to demonstrate what makes their town distinctive.
That sentiment captures the essence of the competition rather well.
At its best, cultural recognition is not about grandiosity or spectacle but about celebrating the particular qualities that make each place unique.
Culture beyond the city
The introduction of the UK Town of Culture title reflects a broader shift in how cultural life is understood in Britain.
For many years, the conversation centred almost exclusively on major urban institutions — opera houses, large museums and city-wide festivals.
Yet culture exists just as vividly in smaller settings.
It lives in market days and agricultural shows.
In local theatre groups and brass bands.
In historic buildings, culinary traditions and community celebrations.
Towns possess cultural identities that are often deeply rooted and surprisingly resilient.
Recognising those identities is long overdue.
The real prize: civic pride
The financial awards associated with the competition will undoubtedly help fund festivals, exhibitions and creative projects.
But the true prize may well be civic pride.
When a town begins to examine its own history and traditions in preparation for a cultural bid, something rather interesting happens.
Residents rediscover the stories of their streets, industries and institutions. Local organisations collaborate in new ways. Conversations begin about what the town represents and how its heritage can be shared with others.
In short, people start looking at their home with fresh eyes.
That process alone can be immensely valuable.
A deadline approaching
Towns interested in entering the competition must submit expressions of interest by 31 March.
Whether Leicestershire ultimately produces the winning town remains to be seen. Cultural competitions are rarely predictable, and communities across the country are likely to present compelling cases of their own.
Yet regardless of the outcome, the enthusiasm shown by towns such as Hinckley, Melton, Coalville and Ashby-de-la-Zouch already speaks volumes.
It suggests that the spirit of local pride — that quiet but enduring attachment to place — remains very much alive.
The enduring value of towns
Britain’s towns have endured centuries of economic and social change.
Industries have risen and fallen. Markets have evolved. Populations have grown and shifted. Yet many towns continue to maintain a strong sense of character that larger cities sometimes struggle to preserve.
Perhaps that is because towns operate on a more human scale.
People recognise familiar faces in shops and cafés. Local landmarks carry stories that span generations. Traditions are passed down not through institutions but through everyday life.
If the UK Town of Culture programme encourages the country to rediscover the richness of these communities, it will have achieved something worthwhile indeed.
After all, while cities may dominate headlines, it is often the towns that quietly hold the nation’s heritage together.
And that is something well worth celebrating.
By James Blair
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