The Most Beautiful Streets Around the World

It’s often the most charming characteristics that sell a home, from historic features such as fireplaces and wood beam ceilings, to beautiful gardens decked with flowers and plants. But what do potential home-buyers look for when it comes to location? What features of streets do people find the most appealing? With so many stunning streets around the world, we sought to find out which ones caught people’s eyes the most. From London to Kyoto - is it the streets adorned with natural wonders, such as cherry blossoms or bright green trees - or is it the quintessentially British cobbled streets that people find the most attractive?

To find out which streets have the most kerb appeal, we ran a study using eye-tracking software to reveal which streets around the world caught people's gaze the most. Participants were presented with images of 50 picturesque streets around the world and AI technology tracked their eye movements, revealing which images they found the most captivating. We then analysed the results to unearth the most eye-catching streets around the world.

The Top 10 Most Eye-Catching Streets In The UK

You might think the bright city lights and modern architecture of locations like London may be the most eye-catching, but it was actually the more idyllic countryside streets of Britain that caught people’s eyes the most. Historic destinations such as Bath, Wells and York all made the top ten, ranking ahead of famous streets in the nation’s capital London.

1. Circus Lane, Edinburgh

When it comes to the most captivating streets in the UK, Scotland reigned supreme, with Edinburgh’s beautiful Circus Lane capturing people's gaze the most with an average fixation time of almost 4 seconds. If you’re after charming streets, then this lane is one of the must-see areas of the city, with tourists making the trip to the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh to take in the splendour.

2. The Circus, Bath

Coming in as the second most attractive street in the UK is the Circus, which is found in the beautiful city of Bath. Viewers spent an average of 3.74 seconds gazing at the stunning street. This historic row of townhouses might be one of the most instantly recognisable streets in England, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of England’s Georgian architecture. Attracting heaps of tourists each year, the street is a must see for those seeking to soak up the historic wonders of the city.

3. Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

The third most captivating street is Gold Hill, found in Dorset. This quintessentially British cobbled street, with its rows of cottages and vast views across the countryside, is said to be one of the most romantic sights in England. The street itself was made famous after appearing in the 1970s advert for Hovis bread, featuring a young boy pushing a bike with a basket full of bread up the hill. The street today still attracts plenty of tourists, with many choosing to park at the top and take in the views.

4. Vicars' Close, Wells

Located in Somerset, this picture perfect street adjoining the Cathedral is lined with two rows of homes that date all the way back to the 14th century. It’s thought to be the only complete medieval street left in England, and its homes are still used by house vicars, organists and virgers to this day. While it may be found next to a rather beautiful cathedral, the street itself is so stunning that it’s hard for visitors to resist stepping outside and taking a look.

5. The Street, Castle Combe

This idyllic street was the fifth most eye-catching street overall in the UK. The quaint little row of houses, found in the English village of Castle Combe, held our participants’s gaze for 2.96 seconds on average. Located just north of Chippenham (close to the Cotswolds area of outstanding beauty), The Street is a hotspot for tourists hoping to soak up some of the beautiful English countryside views.

The Most Eye-Catching Streets In The World

Having looked at the most beautiful streets in the UK, we took a step further and investigated which avenues around the world were the most eye-catching. The top 20 features a mixture of streets from all around the world, all full of natural wonders, historical architecture and charming cottages. Six of the top ten most attractive streets can be found in Europe, with France, Italy, the UK and The Netherlands all featuring. The UK alone has three streets that make the top ten, with Edinburgh, Bath and Shaftesbury being home to some of the most beautiful streets in the world.

1. Philosopher’s Path, Kyoto, Japan

This two kilometre pedestrian path located in Japan was the most eye-catching street overall, holding people’s gaze for an impressive 6.2 seconds on average - and it’s easy to see why. Adorned with cherry blossom trees that bloom pink in the Spring, only to turn vibrant green in the summer, Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path is certainly a wondrous sight.

2. Rue Principale, Rocamadour, France

This stunning street found in Rocamadour, a small cliff top village in the south of France, sees over a million visitors pass through each year. The region is famous for its sanctuaries and as well as visitors, so the village also attracts a large number of pilgrims. The street itself, Rue Principale, gained 363 views in the study, with participants fixating on the street for an average of 4.64 seconds.

3. Via Baldassarre Galuppi, Burano, Italy

This vibrant street found in the Venetian island of Burano is full of colour, so it’s no wonder viewers found it particularly beautiful, having held our participant’s attention for 4.22 seconds on average. Burano itself is known for its brightly coloured homes and intricate lace work industry, giving visitors plenty to admire.

4. Herbert Baker Street, Pretoria, South Africa

This beautiful tree-lined street found in South Africa had a total of 256 views, and had participants fixated for an average of 4.17 seconds. The street comes to life throughout the year, showing off its vibrant blossoms. These stunning shades of purple and white really do make the street stand out, so there’s no surprise that it’s one of the top five most attractive streets overall.

5. Lombard Street, San Francisco, USA

Participants found this classic American street captivating, holding people’s gaze 4.05 seconds on average. Set on a steep hill in San Francisco, this street is instantly recognisable as one of the most iconic on the west coast. Featuring eight hairpin turns, cars have to carefully weave their way down the street. Lombard Street attracts masses of tourists each year, all hoping to get a snap or two of the famous road.

6. Circus Lane, Edinburgh, Scotland

Likely one of the most photographed streets in Edinburgh, Circus Lane is a real beauty. The lane features terraced mews style homes, adorned with floral details such as hanging baskets, wall plants and colourful plant pots. Gaining an impressive 272 views overall, this impressive lane looks picturesque no matter the weather, with the quirky details and colourful front doors providing plenty of charm come rain or shine.

7. The Circus, Bath, England

Coming in as the seventh most attractive street in the world is the Circus, found in the beautiful city of Bath. Dating back to 1768, this historic row of townhouses might be one of the most instantly recognisable streets in England. Designed by John Wood, The Elder, the Circus is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Georgian architecture and you can see why it attracts masses of tourists each year.

8. Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, England

Full of English charm and cute cottages, Gold Hill benefits from vast views across the countryside, as well as one of the most romantic sights in England. The street was once used in a British TV ad for Hovis bread, making it one of the most iconic cobbled streets in the UK. As tourists descend upon the town for its picture perfect views and charming features, many opt to catch a glimpse from the top rather than walk up the rather steep hill.

9. Lijnbaansgracht, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The canals of Amsterdam are one of the country’s most instantly recognisable views and Lijnbaansgracht ranks as the ninth most attractive street in the world. Having held our participant’s gaze for 3.45 seconds, and with over 295 views, this pretty street really caught people’s attention. With millions of visitors visiting Amsterdam each year, there’s no doubt visitors pay this street a guaranteed visit when nearby.

10. Orchard Road, Singapore

This shoppers paradise is the tenth most attractive street in the study, holding people’s gaze for 3.31 seconds on average, with the bright lights especially catching people’s attention. The mix of colourful baroque houses, al fresco bars and luxury hotels provide plenty to keep visitors entertained as they wander along the street.

If you’re thinking about selling your property in favour of a property on a more beautiful street, our friendly team of experts are here to guide you through the process. Compare the best local estate agents for free using our powerful Estate Agent Comparison Tool.

Methodology

A list of 50 streets from around the world was compiled using desk research. A sample of 40 participants were shown a series of images of the streets, and eye-tracking software was used to record the number of times people looked at each image and the duration spent looking at them. The average fixation time was then used to rank each street according to how “attractive” it is.

All data correct as of June 2022.