Basildon, United Kingdom

Capital City

Basildon is a soulless, bureaucratic sprawl of 185,900 people, constructed in the 1940s to accommodate London overspill. The heavy clay soil makes for poor farmland, while bureaucracy is a persistent headache - the local council recently tried to cancel elections. On the plus side, the town is well-connected by rail, with a 36-58 minute commute to London. For those seeking an affordable, commuter-friendly dormitory town, Basildon may fit the bill, but it offers little in the way of character or community.