Chester Crowned Prettiest Small City in Europe

Chester’s Unique Design Pedigree

As seasoned locals, Chester’s victory should come as no surprise to us. Our compact city layout beautifully blends over 2,000 years of architectural history into one visual feast. The study itself references iconic Chester sights like the Rows galleries, three-tiered 18th-century buildings housing shops and cafes, along with the Eastgate Clock which has stood for over 300 years.

But Chester also seamlessly marries eras like Medieval, Victoriana and ultra-modern as we’ve developed. The golden ratio is evident everywhere from our 1,000-year-old cathedral with intricately designed cloisters, to the elegant Georgian and Victorian facades along Parkgate Road, all the way to the award-winning contemporary architecture of 2019’s Northgate Development.

Much like a classic outfit enduring across decades due to perfect proportions transcending temporary trends, Chester boasts a timeless design. Whether Roman columns, black and white beamed Tudor houses or the cylindrical 1970s Forum Centre – almost every structure bears hallmarks of balance and beauty.

Tourism Success Built on Classics

What seals this mathematical study based purely on calculated symmetry is how its findings mirror real-world visitor numbers. Pre-COVID Chester would welcome some 4 million annual tourists, similar to far bigger cities like Venice. Many flock to traverse the same Roman walls, cobbled lanes and River Dee waterfront that inspired Victorian painter John Constable. Over 175,000 come solely for Chester Races.

And the crowds keep coming. 2022 saw our already booming hospitality scene gain both Travelodge and Premier Inn openings, with additional major hotel chains set to launch new Chester venues in 2023. Carefully preserving our architectural calling card while allowing considered modern expansion remains vital to the tourism strategy for Chester’s continued prosperity.

The draw isn’t flashy installations or volume of buildings – as hometown hero Simon Nixon recently commented, Chester’s magic lies in quality over quantity. We may be compact, but punch well above our weight class for renowned beauty. This mathematical study has now proven that appeal scientifically.