FACE it. Was it really a shock to discover that Worcester failed to make it into a list of favourite British cities?

In case some of you didn't see the Guardian-Observer poll, readers of those august publications were invited to name a series of favourite travel destinations.

For the third year running, Edinburgh topped the list. Glasgow was second and York was rated third.

Cathedral cities dominated the survey of 17,000 readers' preferences. So why wasn't Worcester somewhere in the 29 places mentioned?

Sure, it's hardly noteworthy to see Stratford - clearly the two newspapers were taking a liberal view of the term ''city'' - Bath and Cambridge in the selection.

But what about Norwich (No 11), Nottingham (23), or Plymouth (29)?

Worcester's conspicuous absence from this list - which has rankled with the Civic Society, by the way - follows hard on the heels of an indifferent write-up in this year's Lonely Planet Guide to Britain.

It would be all-too easy to shrug one's shoulders, questioning the value of a mention in a readers' survey or a youth-orientated travelogue.

However, the harsh truth is that Worcester rates as only a fair-to-middling place in which to while away time.

The city's chief claim to fame is that it has the most attractive cricket ground in the country, although the view towards the river, with the Cathedral beyond, is a little hackneyed for my liking.

Other towns and cities have recognised how competitive the modern tourist market is and have carved out a niche.

Birmingham was once sneered at as home to Spaghetti Junction and the soap Crossroads.

Now the Second City appears cosmopolitan and confident, brimming with architectural projects.

Formerly sleepy places further afield, such as Bournemouth and Brighton, have re-invented themselves in order to attract students and nightclubbers.

Worcester, on the other hand, falls between two stools. It can't compete for tourist cash with the likes of Stratford, nor has it the conviction to create a brand image that drags its identity away from Sir Edward Elgar or the sound of leather on willow.

The Severn isn't nearly as strong an asset as some people like to claim, because being on a floodplain limits development along the riverbanks.

I don't know if there's an answer to the city's conundrum, but I'm convinced its regeneration will always be fettered by an exaggerated deference towards the past, especially if the authorities run scared of the nimbies.

Worcester City Centre Forum and the city council have highlighted the High Street as a prime location in sore need of investment.

On its own, rejuvenating this rather clapped-out spot isn't going to be a major leap forward, but it offers scope for imagination and some up-to-date civic planning. Let's hope the opportunity isn't wasted.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club's New Road ground, with the Cathedral in the background beyond the River Severn, is the city's ''chief claim to fame''