Is Bristol the UK’s most colouful city? Uhh, yeah, you’d hope so. Our home city is already famous for its colourful houses, graffiti-laden streets, and hot air-balloon-filled skies. Various hues are popping up all over—and we’ve got the data to back it up.
Creative studio Berlew has looked at hundreds of cityscape photographs to identify the UK’s most colourful destinations. Using “computer vision technology” and “colour extraction software”, the aim was to capture an authentic representation of what tourists and residents experience on the ground.
To do so, they analysed five high-resolution images from each destination (125 cities worldwide), all taken from public sources, that focus on typical cityscapes and urban environments. The five most dominant colours were identified from each image, with higher scores assigned to cities with a wider spectrum of bold, vivid colours.
What makes Bristol so colouful?
While Bristol was unable to crack the world’s 20 most colourful cities, it is the most colouful destination in the UK. With the biggest variety of hues across its skyline, some of the most prominent colours include lime greens, oranges, hot pinks and royal blues. But you shouldn’t need a computer to spot its vibrant murals and rainbow-hued houses.
In second place is the Welsh folly village ofPortmeirion, which was heavily inspired by the Italian Riviera, and is awash with coastal blues, terracotta reds, sea greens and peach tones. In third place, Brighton is bright thanks to its candy-striped beach huts, painted piers and tropical-toned lanes.
“Travellers today are searching for unforgettable cityscapes that leave a lasting impression,” said Lewis Wilks, creative director at Berlew. “Colour doesn’t just catch the eye; it shapes how we feel about a place. Whether it’s the expressive energy of Bristol or the dreamlike tones of Portmeirion, these places don’t just look beautiful, they offer atmosphere, emotion, and memory.”
The top 10 most colourful towns and cities in the UK:
- Bristol
- Portmeirion
- Brighton
- Southend-on-Sea
- Whitby
- Notting Hill (London)
- Portree (Isle of Skye)
- Dartmouth
- Penzance
- Bath
To learn more about the most colouful cities in the world, head here.