Britain’s high streets have long been the beating heart of towns and cities – not just places to shop, but also social hubs to meet with friends and family. As the retail world continues to evolve, with a greater shift towards online consumerism, many high streets across the UK are falling victim to store closures, leaving once beloved lanes looking almost apocalytipc, plagued by boarded-up windows and “To Let” signs. But not all of them.
Drawing on research from leading estate agents, including Knight Frank and Savills, alongside choices made by other major news outlets such as The Telegraph and Time Out, a clear picture is emerging of what separates the UK’s very best from the rest. Studies have assessed everything from the strength of independent retailers and diversity of amenities to vacancy rates, footfall and overall desirability among homebuyers.
Below, the Express takes a closer look at 14 of the UK’s best high streets – celebrating the locations that are bucking national trends, attracting visitors and new residents alike, and proving that the high street still has a vital role to play in modern British life.
Bridport
Location: Dorset, South West England
Often described as “the Notting Hill of the South”, Bridport is frequently named among the UK’s best high streets. In fact, in 2025, it was officially ranked as the number one market town in the UK by Independent Cottages, finishing ahead of contenders like Stockport and Faversham.
The town’s layout forms a “T” shape (East, West and South Streets), which were historically designed to be wide enough to allow rope-makers to dry their products. Today, that space creates one of the most spacious and walkable high streets in the country.
Bridport has a remarkably low vacancy rate compared to the UK average. It is dominated by local butchers, bakers, and unique specialists like Clocktower Records, which was recently named one of the best music shops in the country. It is also transformed every Wednesday and Saturday for its market – a massive event spanning three streets, selling everything from artisan sourdough and fresh Dorset seafood to antiques.
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Shrewsbury
Location: Shropshire, West Midlands
If Bridport is the bohemian king of the South, Wyle Cop in Shrewsbury is its medieval, uphill rival in the West Midlands. Shrewsbury has officially been named as home to Britain’s Best High Street for two consecutive years (2025 and 2026) by The Telegraph, and Wyle Cop is the main reason why.
Wyle Cop (derived from “Wild Hill”) is a steep, curving street that serves as the grand entrance to Shrewsbury’s town centre. It is reputed to have the longest run of uninterrupted independent shops in the UK. The street contains 39 listed buildings, featuring a dramatic mix of medieval timber-framed buildings, Georgian brickwork, and Victorian ornate styles.
One of its most beloved shops is Tanners Wines, a legendary, family-run wine merchant housed in a sprawling, labyrinthine complex of old buildings.
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Marlow
Location: Buckinghamshire, South East England
Buckinghamshire’s Marlow was, in late 2025, officially named as having the best high street in Britain outside of London in a major report released by estate agency Knight Frank.
Knight Frank’s analysis, led by its data science team, shifted away from just “pretty buildings” to look at retail resilience, measuring a street’s ability to thrive through economic shifts, its community health, and its “enduring desirability”.
The report identified Marlow as the gold standard, thanks to it having a unique “younger buyer base”, drawing families with its high-performing schools, its mix of high-end brands like The Ivy and local boutiques and having one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country.
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Winchester
Location: Hampshire, South East England
Garrington, one of the UK’s leading buying agencies, has consistently ranked Winchester as one of the best places to live in the UK.
Evaluating over 1,400 locations based on natural beauty, quality of life and heritage, Garrington highlighted its high street as a “popular shopping destination that balances independent and national retail shops,” giving it a cosmopolitan feel that many other historic cities lack.
Meanwhile, the Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) and the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce have launched the 2025 Business Excellence Awards, praising the “resilience and brightness” of the city’s high street businesses.
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Chester
Location: Cheshire, North West England
Chester is another powerhouse in UK high street rankings, officially recognised as a top retail destination thanks to its unique architectural layout and commercial resilience.
In The Telegraph’s 2025 rankings, Chester was ranked second in Britain, behind only York. The outlet noted its “half-timbered main streets” make it a hotbed for independent traders.
Chester was ranked eighth among the country’s best shopping destinations by Newmark’s Consultancy & Analytics’ Vitality Rankings. It was also named the top destination in the North of England, outperforming major retail hubs like Manchester and Leeds.
During the 2025 Customer Service Awards, Chester BID noted that the city’s high street had maintained a 10-year streak of “outstanding customer service,” which they credited with keeping footfall above the national average.
(Image: Getty)