Tea rooms and cricket make city No1 in North

4:23pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

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CUPS of tea, cricket, pubs and fish and chips - these are just some of the things which make York the most "British" place in the North.

A new study has revealed the city has among the most pubs, tea rooms and other "British" attractions per head of its population in the UK.

York is the ninth most British place in the country, according to local information website locallife.co.uk.

The Yorkshire city has more attractions and businesses deemed to be "truly British" per capita than almost anywhere else - with one tea room, cricket club, pub, fish and chip shop, holiday camp, stately home, pet shop, distillery, curry house and theatre for every 628 residents.

But Wokingham in Berkshire is the worst place to go if you're looking for "a brew and a queue". The town finished bottom of the Britishness league table, in 324th position, with each pub, cricket club or other British attraction serving 5,429 people.

Tony Martin, chairman of locallife.co.uk, said: "With plans afoot for a national day and schoolchildren to swear an oath of allegiance, it is debatable the people of York need a reminder about their Britishness.

"But the residents of Wokingham may find the wave of national pride more difficult to swallow. The town is so lacking in British businesses, it's practically French."

He said: "Although Britain has embraced cultures from around the world, the figures show there are some British traditions that are as strong as ever."

Skegness - home to holiday resort Butlins - came top in the rankings, with one British business or institution for every 162 people.

York is also joined near the top of the Britishness league by Westminster in fourth place, home to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. Slough - encompassing Windsor Castle - finished in eighth position with one "British" attraction for every 615 people, while Ayr - the birthplace of poet Robert Burns - came in 12th.