Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom

Capital City

With a population of just 260,200, Kingston upon Hull is a tightly-bounded port city that has seen better days. The once-prosperous fishing and maritime hub has been hit hard, ranking among the most deprived areas in the UK with a lower than average life expectancy. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city is the only one in the country with its own independent telephone network. Meanwhile, the low-lying geography makes Hull prone to flooding, with 8,600 homes and 1,300 businesses affected in the 2007 floods. This gritty, post-industrial city is best suited for those seeking an affordable cost of living and a slice of Yorkshire's maritime history, rather than a picturesque tourist destination.