But sometimes even I cast a critical eye on the city and don't like what I see.

While driving into Lancaster via Caton Road or King Street over recent months, I've been struck at how shabby two of the main gateways to our city have become.

This led me to wonder how first-time visitors must react.

If you saw some of the grubby and derelict buildings dotted along the city centre's one way system, would you really think of returning again for a closer look? I think not.

I always remember one senior tourism officer telling me 'You never get a second chance to make a first impression' – and he's right.

There's no doubt Lancaster has one of the most stunning skylines of any small English city, thanks to the Ashton Memorial, Lancaster Castle and – on a clear day – the striking backdrop of the Lakeland hills.

But enter from the south and you're greeted by the unimaginative student accommodation blocks of Alexandra Park; from Caton Road there's row upon row of old and new industrial buildings, several of them empty culminating in the old bus depot and former K Shoes factory site which lays waste awaiting development; while along King Street, the former art deco cinema, once a symbol of a stylish city, now waits forlornly for demolition.

At last week's English Historic Towns Forum in Morecambe, the great and the good gathered to discuss the prosperity and conservation of cities such as Lancaster.

"Often, it is the public realm that lets a place down when you go to an historic city," said Lancaster City Council's head of planning, Andrew Dobson. And he's not wrong.

Today I bring you my personal choice of the good, bad and ugly in Lancaster and would welcome your views.