Top 10 Most Beautiful Cities In The UK

Top 10 Most Beautiful Cities In The UK Using The “Golden Ratio”. Photo KnowInsiders

A study by Online Mortgage Advisor measured the beauty of over 2,400 buildings in the UK to find out which cities have the most beautiful buildings.

Each building was given a 'beauty score' using the golden ratio (1:1.618) - a mathematical set of proportions often been used as a measure of how aesthetically perfect an object is.

The score represents the average percentage match of a city’s buildings to the golden ratio. The higher the score, the closer a city’s buildings are on average to matching the golden ratio.

Top 10 Most Beautiful Cities In The UK Using The “Golden Ratio”

(rated by Online Mortgage Advisor)

1.Chester

2.London

3.Belfast

4.Liverpool

5.Durham

6.Bristol

7.Oxford

8.Birmingham

9.Edinburg

10.Cardiff

What are the most beautiful cities in the UK?

1.Chester

Photo Cheshire

Chester often attracts the nickname of ‘Europe’s prettiest City’. The city is filled with quaint cobbled streets, towering Tudor houses and fortified Roman architecture. Close to the wild North Wales coast, Chester’s layered history is peeled back layer by layer as you explore one of the oldest cities in the UK.

Follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers and pass beneath medieval towers and gates of this city, which is enclosed in walls built by the Romans in 79 AD, before stopping by the Eastgate Clock. It is the second most photographed clock in the UK, with Big Ben being the most photographed. You’ll also pass by the remnants of the Roman amphitheatre and fragments from the old Roman Baths nestled in the Roman Gardens.

One of Chester’s most elaborate and imposing buildings is Chester Cathedral. Climb to the top of the bell chamber for incredible panoramic views. Or take the steep stairs up to the cathedral galleries. Make sure to pop in to the 13th Century Monks Hall for afternoon tea in unique surroundings.

The old school, no fuss approach to pub grub is what makes The Albion Inn one of the best pubs in Chester. Pair a pint of ale with platefuls of gammon and pease pudding or a hearty portion of lamb’s liver, bacon and onion.

Foodies will have to snag reservations at The Chef’s Table. Voted the best restaurant in the country and proudly boasting a Michelin star (a very high restaurant prestige), the cosy bistro changes its menu daily. And guess what? It is surprisingly wallet-friendly.

2.London

Photo Park Grand London Lancaster Gate

London took second place in the study, with The Royal Exchange taking top spot as the country's highest scoring building, a 99.7% match for the Golden Ratio.

Each year, millions of tourists – on average 16 million, travel to London, making our capital city the most visited place in the world. This is not only because of how much the city has to offer but also because it is a truly beautiful place.

The River Thames

The longest river in England, the River Thames flows right through the heart of the city. Its murky waters may not seem all that appealing in the daylight. But come nightfall, when lit up with little boats and street lights, it’s a beautiful sight. Especially, when you can see the London skyline in the background. Because of how beautiful the River Thames looks at night, a lot of visitors opt to take a Thames river cruise. This allows them to see the city’s skyline in all of its glory while enjoying a relaxing dinner on the River Thames. Anyone who’s floated down the river at night can vouch for just how beautiful it can be.

Little Venice

Famed for its winding canals and array of moored boats, Little Venice in London is a scenic part of the city. Just north of Paddington, Little Venice got its name due to its picturesque canals and array of narrowboats travelling down them. On summer’s days, this scenic area of the city is just as beautiful as Venice in Italy. You can opt to go for a boat ride, learn to drive a canal boat or even have afternoon tea on one. For Londoners and visitors alike, Little Venice is seen as being one of the city’s most beautiful places. It’s so far from the busy streets of central London, lined with building after building. It’s a truly unique location, due to how tranquil it is, compared to the majority of the city.

Buckingham Palace

In terms of architectural beauty, London has a lot to offer. From Big Ben – one of the world’s most iconic clock towers, to Westminster Cathedral, London is home to some amazing architecture. One of the most beautiful of which is, of course, Buckingham Palace. The main home of The Royal Family, it’s no wonder that Buckingham Palace is so beautiful. It’s not just the design and architecture of the palace that makes it such a wonderful sight, but also it’s incredible gardens. Anyone who’s been lucky enough to attend one of the royal garden parties can vouch for just how impressive the gardens are. Of all the pieces of architecture in London, Buckingham Palace is one of the most beautiful.

READ MORE: What Was The First Subway in the World?

3.Belfast

Photo Daily Mirror

The most beautiful out of the buildings measured by the ratio was Belfast’s Central Library, scoring 98.2%.

The library was one of the first major public library buildings in Ireland and first opened in 1888.

A competition for the design of the building was won by architect William Henry Lynn in 1883 and it was built by H & J Martin builders.

The library was designed to reflect the ambitions of the growing city of Belfast, and its architecture is considered to be a fine example of a public building at the height of the Victorian age, built from Dumfries red sandstone on a black granite base.

Other high-scoring buildings include the Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue (92.5%) and the Titanic Belfast which scored 86.5%.

Belfast City Hall was also listed scoring 73.7% and the Waterfront Hall also scored 66.5%.

4.Liverpool

Photo Lonely Planet

City of The Beatles, culture and sport, Liverpool has something for every group. Everyone will love the vibrant waterfront. Centred around the Royal Albert Dock, it's full of hotels, shops, restaurants and museums and is home to exciting events. The wider Liverpool city region is also full of great group days out.

The industrial revolution was a defining era for Liverpool, as the city became an international hub for trade, offering crossings to and from the Atlantic Ocean and Ireland, with 40% of the world’s cargo passing through the city’s docks in the 19th century, which resulted in employment, growth and international status.

5.Durham

Photo PlanetWare

Durham was described as a 'perfect little city' by writer Bill Bryson on the site, with the perfect spot for taking pictures found along the banks of the Wear.

With towering views of the Cathedral and castle, to the Elvet Bridge and Framwellgate Bridge, there are plenty of photographic opportunities.

There's no doubt about it, the Cathedral looks stunning from all angles.

Dominating the skyline, it has no doubt been photographed from every viewpoint in the city.

And, just to make it even better for those who like to take a snap, a ban on photographs being taken of its interior has been lifted.

Visitors are now encouraged to get snap happy, capturing everything from the medieval architecture, to the intricate stained glass windows and St Cuthbert’s Tomb, which lies at the heart of Durham Cathedral.

6.Bristol

Photo Global GrassHoppers

Bristol frequently gets voted as one of the UK’s most liveable cities, too. But for the 7,516,570,000-odd humans who don’t have the honour of living there, here are five reasons why Bristol should be your next UK city break.

In 2008, Bristol was named Britain’s first “Cycling City”, and its reputation as one of Europe's most bike-friendly destinations continues to grow. As well as having a cycling lane on just about every street – including some Dutch-style segregated lanes – the city is home of the cycling charity Sustrans and is the hub of Britain’s national cycling network.

So if you’re ever going to lose your tandem bicycling virginity, it should probably be here.

7.Oxford

Photo crazy tourists

Speaking of university cities, Oxford is one that deserves a place on my list of the best cities in the UK. The colleges feature gorgeous architecture from centuries past and the city has a lot of beautiful historic pubs, museums, and markets to explore.

The 'Golden Ratio', also known as 'The Divine Proportion', is a mathematical principal dating back to Ancient Greece.

Oxford is just 57 mi (92 Km) from London and only 1h by train, which makes it an optional day-trip when you visit England’s capital.

The golden stone city attracts visitors from everywhere because of its stunning colleges. Everyone wants to see the places where 3 kings, 27 British Prime Ministers, over 30 international leaders, and 50 Nobel Prize winners have studied or taught, not to mention where many of the scenes for the Harry Potter films were filmed!

8.Birmingham

Photo Ross Jukes

Birmingham is a city in England’s West Midlands region and is only 160 km away from London. Its proximity to London makes Birmingham one of the best locations for people commuting to London. A train trip from Birmingham to London is completed in a bit more than one hour. The average commuting time in the UK is 58.4 minutes, thus a train journey from Birmingham to London is not considered long. Commuting hours in the UK are usually long, and yes, some people would travel at least two hours a day to get to work. On top of good train connections, the city is served by several motorways as well. For flying in and out of Birmingham, you can use the city airport. The Birmingham airport is easy to reach and operates domestic and international flights to some of the most popular destinations.

9.Edinburg

Photo Vietnam Visa

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and it is located in central eastern Scotland, near the Firth of Forth, close to the North Sea. Thanks to its spectacular rocks, rustic buildings and a huge collection of medieval and classic architecture, including numerous stone decorations, it is often considered one of the most lively cities in Europe. Scottish people called it Auld Reekie, Edina, Athens of the North and Britain’s Other Eye.

Edinburgh is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, it is a city with a fantastic position. The view falls on all sides – green hills, the hint of the blue sea, the silhouettes of the buildings and the red cliffs. It is a city that calls you to explore it by foot – narrow streets, passageways, stairs and hidden church yards on every step will pull you away from the main streets.

10.Cardiff

Photo Cardiff University

Although it’s hardly renowned as a gourmet paradise, Cardiff’s culinary landscape has improved markedly in recent times. Pick of the city centre restaurants is The Potted Pig, which occupies the vaults of an old bank, and where – yep, you guessed it – pork reigns supreme. It’s worth making the short trip out to well-heeled Pontcanna, where both The Smoke House and Fish at 85 are currently doing great things – at the latter, pick your fish from the counter and the chef will prepare it just as you like it.

Although it’s hardly renowned as a gourmet paradise, Cardiff’s culinary landscape has improved markedly in recent times. Pick of the city centre restaurants is The Potted Pig, which occupies the vaults of an old bank, and where – yep, you guessed it – pork reigns supreme. It’s worth making the short trip out to well-heeled Pontcanna, where both The Smoke House and Fish at 85 are currently doing great things – at the latter, pick your fish from the counter and the chef will prepare it just as you like it.

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