Vibrant UK high street in small city full of independent shops | UK | News
A small city in England has the best high streets in the country, according to new research. While there is panic about the health of high streets across the country, some streets are still thriving with independent shops, cafes and tourist attractions, making them a popular destination in their towns and cities. The country’s best high street for independent shopping was recently named in a study by American Express and Global Data.
For this study, they considered factors such as the number of independent shops, the appearance of the street and its general liveliness. The survey also measured Gen Z’s spending habits and compared this to high streets across the country. Based on all this data, the survey listed the top ten best high streets in the UK, and a street in the south of England came out on top. This year’s top high streets for independent shopping are Trafalgar Street, Sydney Street and Kensington Gardens in Brighton.
Specifically, the North Laine strip running through these three streets is full of independent shops. You can easily spend a few hours browsing everything on offer here, from independent shops to food shops and homeware stores.
By the way, there are many street vendors selling all kinds of products on this street, which contributes to the general liveliness and life of this place. Brighton is a relatively small city, dwarfed by nearby London in terms of size and population.
However, with its country’s top-rated beach, entertainment-filled iconic pier and thriving food scene, it remains one of the most popular visitor destinations for Brits looking for summer accommodation and day trips.
North Laine is one of Brighton’s highest-rated attractions on TripAdvisor, with people describing it as “eclectic” and “well worth a visit”. One review reads: “Walk along lively streets filled with antique shops, clothing stores, eateries, and many more shops selling interesting goods. It’s crowded on Saturday, but it has a nice atmosphere.”
Another says: “A colorful area, full of life. There are many small shops selling all kinds of products, often handmade or small series. Antiques, vintage items and much more. Buildings full of graffiti, cafes, small bars and indescribable crowds. An area with a good atmosphere.”
As well as North Laine, there’s also the small but busy area of The Lanes, where you’ll find more independent shops and retailers. Brigthon also hosts regular markets where you can find unique trinkets and antiques.
According to the research, the top ten high streets for independent shopping in the UK are:
- Brighton (Trafalgar Street, Sydney Street, Kensington Gardens)
- Sheffield (top of Devonshire Street, Division Street and Cambridge Street)
- Manchester (Oldham Street)
- London (Coal Dripyard and Stable Street)
- Birmingham (Gibb Street and Floodgate Street)
- London (Broadway Market)
- Edinburgh (Deanhaugh Street, Raeburn Place)
- Liverpool (Brave Street)
- Bristol (Gloucester Road)
- Leeds (Central Road, New Market Street and part of Call Lane)
Brighton tops the list as a new entry for 2025. The top spot in the 2024 rankings was St Mary’s Street in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
