The UK’s 10 best high streets have been crowned

One-stop-shops for indulging in retail therapy, grabbing a coffee and soaking up community vibes, Britain’s high streets are treasured features of our cities and towns. Naturally, ranking UK high streets is hotly contested business – but that hasn’t stopped one new list. 

A new study from American Express and retail experts GlobalData surveyed 2,000 Brits to find out the ‘winning formula’ for high streets, looking into stuff like the mix of retailers, number of independent outlets, variety of leisure options and proximity to leisure options and historical landmarks. It then crowned the country’s best high streets according to which ones most have that ‘winning formula’. 

Scoring top thanks to its selection of retailers and closeness to historical landmarks was Cardiff’s Queen Street. Queen Street scored highly across the board, from its variety of retailers to its transport links and proximity to local landmarks. 

Runners up were Gloucester’s Central Shopping Streets, known for a bustling independent restaurant scene that boasts tapas bars and family-run Italian joints, and Chester’s historic Eastgate Street.

Liverpool’s Church Street and Edinburgh’s Princes Street also made the list. And despite having no shortage of high streets, it might come as a surprise to learn that none of those in London managed to make the cut. Here’s AmEx’s full list of the best UK high streets. 

Britain’s 10 best high streets, according to American Express

1. Queen Street, Cardiff
2. Gloucester’s central shopping streets
3. Eastgate Street, Chester
4. High Street, Winchester
5. High Street, Exeter
6. Princes Street, Edinburgh
7. High Street, Worcester
8. Church Street, Liverpool
9. Buchanan Street, Glasgow
10. Market Street, Manchester

You can read the full ranking on American Express here.

Getting around the UK

The UK has lots of high streets, but here’s another list of the seven best ones by the Times. This country is also home to three of TIME magazine’s ‘world’s greatest places to visit’, and if you’re in the mood to explore, northern England is getting new high-speed train routes.

Did you see? This hotel has just been crowned the best in the UK for 2024.

Plus: This is the UK’s best local restaurant.

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