How we score · scorecard-v42
The rubric, in full.
This page renders directly from the scoring engine’s own configuration: every signal, threshold and weight it uses, with nothing summarised or copied by hand. If the engine changes, this page changes with it.
Each sub-score is built from weighted components, and each component from one or more evidence signals. A signal’s ramp maps its measured value to points out of 10, interpolating linearly between the anchor points shown. Ramps are anchored to the live distribution of harvested values across the catalogue, and they move only when an identified data or model fault justifies it, never to nudge a favourite up a list. The plain-English version is here →
The weight matrix
The headline Family Fit score blends the six directional sub-scores. The blend depends on who’s going: a pram band cares more about getting there and walking around, a teen band more about things to do. Rows sum to 100%.
| Sub-score | Babies & toddlers | School age | Teens |
|---|
| Getting there | 21% | 11% | 11% |
| Weather | 16% | 14% | 13% |
| Natural features | 13% | 23% | 18% |
| Walking around | 14% | 9% | 6% |
| Amenities nearby | 12% | 9% | 13% |
| Things to do | 9% | 16% | 22% |
The two vibe dials (lively ↔ quiet, purpose-built ↔ lived-in) carry zero weightin the headline: both ends are valid wants, so they’re shown as neutral dials and filters instead of being scored for or against.
How stable are the rankings?
The weights are the one editorial layer in the system, so we publish how much they matter. We jitter every weight by ±20% (500 random trials per band, renormalised, June, 39 destinations) and check how often the published order survives. Last run 2026-07-09 on scorecard-v42:
- Babies & toddlers: the same #1 in 100% of trials; the identical full ordering in 0%.
- School age: the same #1 in 81% of trials; the identical full ordering in 0%.
- Teens: the same #1 in 100% of trials; the identical full ordering in 0%.
Where the full ordering flips, it flips inside genuine near-ties a tenth of a point apart, which is exactly where reasonable weightings may disagree. The evidence carries the rankings; the weights tie-break at the margins.
The six sub-scores
Beauty
Scenery100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Coastal scenery class | 100% | stunning → 9.3striking → 8.8attractive → 8.3pleasing → 7.75ordinary → 7.2plain → 6.4poor → 5.5 |
Beauty lake
Scenery100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Lake scenery class | 100% | stunning → 9.3striking → 8.8attractive → 8.3pleasing → 7.75ordinary → 7.2plain → 6.4poor → 5.5 |
Beauty mountain
Scenery100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Mountain scenery class | 100% | stunning → 9.3striking → 8.8attractive → 8.3pleasing → 7.75ordinary → 7.2plain → 6.4poor → 5.5 |
Beauty city
Townscape100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| townscapeAppealBand | 100% | stunning → 9.3striking → 8.8attractive → 8.3pleasing → 7.75ordinary → 7.2plain → 6.4poor → 5.5 |
Beauty countryside
Scenery100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| countrysideSceneryBand | 100% | stunning → 9.3striking → 8.8attractive → 8.3pleasing → 7.75ordinary → 7.2plain → 6.4poor → 5.5 |
Getting there
Flight40% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Shortest UK direct flight (min) | 100% | 120 → 10300 → 4 |
Transfer35% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Airport transfer (min) | 60% | 15 → 1090 → 4 |
| Transfer firms' Google rating (/5) | 40% | 3.5 → 34.8 → 10 |
Ease25% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Airport complexity (1 easy - 10 sprawling) | 60% | 0 → 1010 → 3 |
| UK airports with direct flights | 40% | 0 → 28 → 10 |
Weather
Temperature30% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Daytime high (month) (°C) | 100% | 14 → 322 → 827 → 1034 → 8 |
Sunshine20% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Sunshine (month) (h) | 100% | 150 → 3360 → 10 |
Dryness20% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Substantial-rain days (≥3h, month) | 100% | 0 → 109 → 3 |
Calm10% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Wind (month) (km/h) | 100% | 8 → 1030 → 3 |
Water10% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Sea temperature (month) (°C) | 50% | 15 → 324 → 10 |
| Lake bathing temperature (month) (°C) | 50% | 15 → 324 → 10 |
Sea state10% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Significant wave height (month) (m) | 100% | 0.4 → 100.8 → 71.8 → 2 |
Weather ski
Snow40% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| monthlySnowDepthCm | 100% | 0 → 1.550 → 8110 → 10 |
Comfort25% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Daytime high (month) (°C) | 100% | -8 → 50 → 9.56 → 1016 → 3 |
Sky20% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Sunshine (month) (h) | 100% | 90 → 3240 → 10 |
Calm15% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Wind (month) (km/h) | 100% | 8 → 1030 → 3 |
Amenities nearby
Dining50% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Restaurants in the boundary | 50% | 0 → 245 → 8300 → 10 |
| Restaurants' Google rating (/5) | 50% | 3 → 34.6 → 10 |
Essentials50% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Supermarkets | 40% | 0 → 23 → 10 |
| Pharmacies | 30% | 0 → 22 → 10 |
| Clinics / medical | 30% | 0 → 32 → 10 |
Natural features
Beach quality45% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Blue Flag certification | 40% | yes → 10no → 5 |
| Beach surface | 60% | sand → 10mostly-sand → 8mixed → 5stony → 2 |
Shore ease20% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Rocky shore entry | 100% | none → 10some → 6significant → 3 |
Scenery35% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Coastal scenery class | 100% | stunning → 10striking → 9attractive → 8pleasing → 6.5ordinary → 5plain → 3.5poor → 2 |
Natural features ski
Snow reliability35% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| skiSeasonSnowDepthCm | 100% | 20 → 360 → 7140 → 10 |
Ski area35% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Gondola / lift stations (within 5 km) | 100% | 0 → 28 → 10 |
Scenery30% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Mountain scenery class | 100% | stunning → 10striking → 9attractive → 8pleasing → 6.5ordinary → 5plain → 3.5poor → 2 |
Natural features city
Greenspace40% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| greenspaceCoveragePct | 100% | 2 → 210 → 622 → 10 |
Townscape30% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| townscapeAppealBand | 100% | stunning → 10striking → 9attractive → 8pleasing → 6.5ordinary → 5plain → 3.5poor → 2 |
Seafront30% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Blue Flag certification | 60% | yes → 10no → 5 |
| Seafront promenade | 40% | yes → 10no → 4 |
Natural features countryside
Scenery55% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| countrysideSceneryBand | 100% | stunning → 10striking → 9attractive → 8pleasing → 6.5ordinary → 5plain → 3.5poor → 2 |
Outdoor access45% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Waymarked hiking routes (within 5 km) | 60% | 0 → 215 → 10 |
| Viewpoints (within 5 km) | 40% | 0 → 38 → 10 |
Walking around
Seafront30% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Seafront promenade | 100% | yes → 10no → 4 |
Pedestrian28% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Pedestrian zone | 40% | yes → 10no → 4 |
| Road density (km/km²) | 60% | 15 → 1038 → 3 |
Pram15% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Pram/stroller mentions in the corpus (per 100 passages) | 50% | 0 → 420 → 10 |
| Pavement quality class | 50% | wide → 10adequate → 7narrow → 4broken → 2 |
Terrain27% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Elevation range across the town (m) | 100% | 12 → 1055 → 6.5105 → 3 |
Things to do - babies & toddlers
Venues60% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Toddler-suitable venues (within 5 km, distance-decayed) | 80% | 0 → 218 → 660 → 9250 → 10 |
| toddlerDaytripVenueCount | 20% | 0 → 250 → 6200 → 9600 → 10 |
Corpus40% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Toddler activity mentions in the corpus (per 100 passages) | 100% | 0 → 325 → 10 |
Things to do - school age
Venues60% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| School-age venues (within 5 km, distance-decayed) | 65% | 0 → 218 → 660 → 9250 → 10 |
| kidDaytripVenueCount | 35% | 0 → 250 → 6200 → 9600 → 10 |
Corpus40% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| School-age activity mentions in the corpus (per 100 passages) | 100% | 0 → 330 → 10 |
Things to do - teens
Venues60% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Teen-suitable venues (within 5 km, distance-decayed) | 55% | 0 → 218 → 660 → 9250 → 10 |
| teenDaytripVenueCount | 45% | 0 → 250 → 6200 → 9600 → 10 |
Corpus40% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Teen activity mentions in the corpus (per 100 passages) | 100% | 0 → 325 → 10 |
Healthcare
Medical access100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| nearestHospitalKm | 100% | 2 → 1015 → 8.730 → 7.350 → 680 → 4.5 |
Getting around city
Step free65% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| transitStepFreeShare | 100% | 0 → 20.5 → 60.85 → 90.97 → 10 |
Network35% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| transitStationCount | 100% | 0 → 18 → 625 → 960 → 10 |
The vibe dials
Measured from the same evidence, shown as dials, never blended into the headline.
Vibe dial: charming ↔ plain / tired
Charm100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Town-charm band (two-classifier review-sentiment grade) | 100% | charming → 9.3characterful → 8.8pleasant → 8.3agreeable → 7.75plain → 7.2faded → 6.4tired → 5.5 |
Vibe dial: lively ↔ quiet
Energy100% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Resort-energy band (two-classifier peak-season review grade) | 100% | buzzing → 1.5lively → 3.5balanced → 5.5quiet → 7.5sleepy → 9.3 |
Type variants: lake and mountain destinations
Natural features means different things at a lake or in the mountains, so those destination types score the same 0–10 slot from their own inputs - a lakeshore is priced as a lakeshore, not as a failed beach. No destination of either type is live yet: the thresholds below are the engine’s starting anchors and will be re-checked against harvested data when the first lake or mountain destination onboards, before any score is published.
Natural features - lake destinations
Bathing quality45% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Blue Flag certification | 40% | yes → 10no → 5 |
| Lakeshore surface | 60% | sand → 10grass → 8mixed → 7pebble → 6 |
Water entry20% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Water entry ease | 100% | easy → 10moderate → 6tricky → 3 |
Scenery35% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Lake scenery class | 100% | stunning → 10striking → 9attractive → 8pleasing → 6.5ordinary → 5plain → 3.5poor → 2 |
Natural features - mountain destinations
Scenery55% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Mountain scenery class | 100% | stunning → 10striking → 9attractive → 8pleasing → 6.5ordinary → 5plain → 3.5poor → 2 |
Outdoor access45% of this sub-score
| Signal | Weight | Ramp (signal value → points out of 10) |
|---|
| Waymarked hiking routes (within 5 km) | 35% | 0 → 215 → 10 |
| Gondola / lift stations (within 5 km) | 40% | 0 → 28 → 10 |
| Viewpoints (within 5 km) | 25% | 0 → 38 → 10 |
Confidence handling, evidence sources and the scoring firewall are described on the main methodology page. Questions or a threshold you’d challenge? Get in touch - the rubric improves when people argue with it.
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