Newcomers to Bristol often complain about the hilly landscape of the South West. Students at the University of Bristol are particularly thrust into it with regular climbs up the notoriously steep Park Street. But locals to the area are born with calves of steel and are used to hiking up hills every day. Especially those down near Vale Street.
Back in 2019, Vale Street in Totterdown was crowned England’s steepest street by the Ordnance Survey. It’s not a particularly long road, the climb is only 0.2km long. But with an elevation gain of 17m and an average gradient slope of 22 degrees, the residents of Vale Street are likely some of the fittest in Bristol. (At points the maximum gradient is 25.6 degrees.)
A nice community spirit has evolved around the lung-busting slope, however. On Easter Sundays, an egg-rolling contest sees a large crowd gather to throw hard-boiled eggs down the hill. While the notorious steepness of the street has been an open invitation to keen cyclists, runners and even skaters to test their fitness. Vale Street was in the news again in 2021, when a new Banksy popped up at the bottom, titled ‘Aachoo’. (Sadly now removed.)
But it’s not all fun and games. So drastic is the incline that residents have to park their cars sideways across the road so they don’t roll away. When the cold comes and ice settles on the street, some even resort to tying their vehicles to lampposts. Cars aside, just imagine trying to walk up with bags of shopping in the winter.
Why would anyone choose to live here? We hear you ask. Well, it is in an amazing location. The gorgeous Arnos Vale Cemetery is only a short walk away, while some of our favourite restaurants, Eat Your Greens and BANK, are also nearby. So we see the appeal. Plus, who wouldn’t want to say they live on the steepest street in England? It’s just another part of what makes Bristol so unique.