Ludgershall, Wiltshire

Ludgershall's name means a spear set to trap and impale wild animals, which is a lot of swagger from a town whose biggest event since has been the Army turning up. King John kept apartments ready here and counted it one of his favourites, and the castle he was so fond of is now a set of grassy lumps where people walk the dog on a Sunday. Most residents arrived because they were posted rather than because they picked it off a map. A fair number stay on after the posting ends, which is a better review than the castle ever managed.