The city is officially the most beautiful city in the world, according to a new study that used the golden ratio to measure the attractiveness of cities
Dan Taylor and Janani Venkateswaran
15:15, 06 Aug 2025
The city beat other destinations known for their beauty(Image: joe daniel price via Getty Images)
A picturesque cathedral town just over the English border has been declared the most stunning city in the world, beating beloved Italian destinations Venice and Rome. The study, carried out by Online Mortgage Advisor, utilised Google Street View to assess the architectural beauty of thousands of homes, landmarks and streets across the globe.
Chester, famous for its ancient Roman city walls which date back over 2,000 years, achieved an 83.7% ‘beauty score’ according to the ‘golden ratio’. The research, outlining the importance of the golden ratio in artistic circles, stated: “Artists over the last few centuries have incorporated the golden ratio into their work, believing it to be a gold standard in natural aesthetic perfection.”
While there is no rigid rule, the golden ratio is a balance of proportions in artwork that is aesthetically pleasing to the human eye and can be found in a number of famous paintings like Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
Meaning the results of the research show that people see Chester as beautiful as a fine piece of art.
With Chester’s rich heritage, including Roman legions, Norman conquerors, and Viking invaders, alongside its architectural excellence, the city offers plenty for holidaymakers, reports the Express.
The city boasts the Eastgate Clock, which was built in 1897, and is commonly regarded as the second most photographed timepiece in England after Big Ben.
Likewise, Chester Cathedral stands as a monument to history, housing the most comprehensive collection of monastic structures in the nation.
Chester Town Hall Square is very pretty(Image: Getty)
The masterpiece showcases distinctive Gothic arches, coloured glass windows, Roman barracks and a Georgian square directly beside it.
Praising the local attraction, Tony H said on TripAdvisor: “What struck me was the feeling of history that swept over me as we walked round.
“Having visited quite a few cathedrals in the past, including Notre Dame several years ago, I have never had that feeling before. Everywhere, including the courtyard, just felt steeped in history.”
Stained glass windows at the Chester Cathedral. (Image: Getty)
Frequently called the ‘divine proportion,’ the golden ratio is thought to be found everywhere in art, architecture, and even the natural world. Trust science to settle the ‘can beauty be measured’ argument once and for all.
Other British cities that met the beauty standard include London and Belfast, achieving respective scores of 83% and 82.9%.
Worldwide, Chester was closely followed by Venice, which scored 83.3%; Rome, with 82%; and the Spanish city of Barcelona achieving 81.9% on the scale.