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In your face, Edinburgh Royal Mile! York has Britain’s prettiest street

You wouldn't think it was the 21st century… Shambles in York. Photograph: YorkMix

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Environment, Shopping

The people have spoken. Asked which is Britain’s prettiest street, they said, “You’ll find it in York squire”.

No, they were not thinking of Kettlestring Lane, even though the sunsets over MKM Building Supplies can be to die for.

You will not be surprised to learn that it is Shambles that takes the top spot.

The time was ripe

Even the Minster can’t help but take a sneaky peek down Shambles. Photograph © Allan Harris on Flickr
It was National Express, the bus people, who asked 1,000 people to name the most charming street they had strolled down.

Shambles, York’s medieval street of butchers’ shops, came top in the poll.

As the pollsters described it:

The famous 14th century market road, which played host to a thriving meat market up until the nineteenth century, is characterised by overhanging timber-framed buildings that line the road, some of which date back over 700 years.

According to this vote, York’s humble cobbled thoroughfare knocks your Edinburgh Royal Miles and your Bath Circuses into a cocked hat (they came second and third respectively).

The survey was conducted to uncover the nation’s most charming streets in a bid to encourage people to take in somewhere new over the Easter weekend

National Express spokesperson Chris Hardy said: “We quizzed the nation, scouring the A to Z of Britain’s roads, rows, avenues and lanes to uncover the top 15 UK streets you need to see.

“A long Bank Holiday weekend is right up everybody’s street so we thought the time was ripe to reveal the UK’s prettiest to inspire people to take somewhere new in their stride this Easter.”

The top 15 prettiest streets

1. Shambles, York
2. The Royal Mile, Edinburgh
3. The Circus, Bath
4. Waterside, Stratford upon Avon
5. Steep Hill, Lincoln
6. Gold Hill, Cambridge
7. Elm Hill, Norwich
8. Eastgate Street, Chester
9. Market Place, Devizes
10. Main Street, Whitstable
11. The Square, Winchester
12. Thomas Street, Newcastle
13. Cecily Hill, Notting Hill
14. Catherine Hill, Frome
15. The Homend, Ledbury

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