Chester has been named the world's most beautiful city in a study that analysed the golden ratio of architecture. The research, conducted by Online Mortgage Advisor, used Google Street View data to assess how many buildings in cities worldwide adhere to the mathematical principle of 1:1.618, a proportion often found in nature and considered aesthetically pleasing.
The city, located less than an hour from Manchester by road or rail, achieved a score of 83.7%, narrowly beating Venice, Italy, which scored 83.3%. London followed in third place with 82%. The study examined over 2,400 structures in the UK alone, with Belfast, Liverpool, and Durham rounding out the top five in the country.
Chester boasts a rich history, including a cathedral over a thousand years old, Britain's largest Roman amphitheatre, and the nation's oldest racecourse. Colin Potts, head of international tourism management at the University of Chester's Business School, commented: 'I think that sometimes its beauty is taken for granted here when really it is the main driver as to why people choose to visit, live and invest in the city.'
