Britain is full of gorgeous avenues, handsome alleyways and lovely lanes. Beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder, but there are some streets that are so good-looking they stand out among some of the most beautiful in the world.
Travel mag Condé Nast Traveller has just released its roundup of the 71 most attractive postcodes on the planet. Amid the likes of Paris’s romantic Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Kyoto’s cherry-blossom filled Tetsugaku No Michi, the UK appears a very respectable seven times.
York’s Shambles got a nod for its ‘charming timber-framed buildings [that] bend and, at times, hang over the cobblestoned street below’. We’d have to agree. The medieval street was recently named by Time Out as one of the most beautiful places in the UK.
The next British street on the list was Bregagh Road in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. It’s also known as the Dark Hedges and TV buffs will instantly recognise its eery tunnel of twisting tree branches from Game of Thrones.
Similarly offering a journey back in time is Long Street in the Cotswolds, which CNT added to its list for its adorable chocolate box houses that are a few hundred years old and its backdrop of green rolling hills.
A short drive away, you’ll find Royal Crescent in Bath, which also featured on the ranking. This famous curve of elegant townhouses is so gorgeous that it has starred in Bridgerton, The Duchess, and the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. You can even stay in an apartment on the Royal Crescent.
Circus Lane in Edinburgh appeared next. Described by CNT writers as ‘brimming with charm’, this street is hidden in the Stockbridge area of the Scottish capital and follows a curve of terraced houses decked out with climbing plants, colourful flower pots and hanging baskets.
Less hidden is the final British avenue on the list: London’s colourful Portobello Road. You can read all about the Notting Hill market street here, and you can read up on the global list here.
While aesthetics are great for your Instagram game, they aren’t everything – a street can be drop dead gorgeous but have nothing to offer in terms of food, drink or culture. For all that, look no further than Time Out’s comprehensive guide to the coolest streets across the globe.
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