Any newbies to Bristol will quickly discover you need calves of steel to survive the South West’s incredibly hilly landscape. Students at the University of Bristol, particularly, love to complain about their regular hikes up the notoriously steep Park Street. But it’s locals in South Bristol that have it the worst with England’s steepest street.
Where is England’s steepest street?
It had long been rumoured to be true, but in 2019, Vale Street in Totterdown was officially crowned England’s steepest street by the Ordnance Survey. It’s only 0.2km long, but with an elevation gain of 17m and an average gradient slope of 22 degrees (at some points, the maximum gradient is 25.6 degrees), the residents of Vale Street face an arduous climb to simply pop to the shops.
Still, a very Bristolian community spirit has evolved around the lung-busting slope—with an egg-rolling contest drawing large crowds every Easter Sunday to throw hard-boiled eggs down the notorious hill. Meanwhile, keen cyclists, runners and even skaters often use it to test their fitness.
But it’s not all fun and games on Vale Street. So drastic is the incline that residents have to park their cars sideways across the road so they don’t roll away. And, when ice settles on the street, some even resort to tying their vehicles to lampposts. It’s not unheard of to see an overconfident lorry driver stuck on Vale Street either…
What else is Vale Street famous for?
Vale Street made the news again in 2020, when a new Banksy popped up at the bottom, titled ‘Aachoo!!’. The street art depicted a woman sneezing so hard that her dentures fly out. It didn’t stick around for long, unfortunately, and was shortly sold and removed. Where is it now? No one knows!
Why live here?
It might not be for everyone, but Vale Street is in an amazing location. It’s situated just a stone’s throw from the breathtaking Arnos Vale Cemetery, while some of our favourite eateries are nearby too—like BANK, The Sundial Kitchen, and Acappella Pizzeria. Plus, who wouldn’t want to say they live on the steepest street in England?