Vale Street: England's steepest residential street
Vale Street is a short residential street of terraced houses in Totterdown, on the hillside above Bristol Temple Meads. In 2019 it was reported as England's steepest residential street, and it's best known for an Easter egg-rolling race down the hill and, briefly, a Banksy.
Quick answer
- Title: Ordnance Survey named Vale Street England's steepest street in 2019. [1] [2]
- Gradient: an average of about 21.8%, according to Ordnance Survey figures reported by Bristol24/7. [3] Some reports describe it as 22 degrees, which would be far steeper; the percentage is the figure to use.
- Britain and the world: Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales, is often cited as steeper, and Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, holds the Guinness world record. [4]
- Egg rolling: residents race hard-boiled eggs down the street every Easter Sunday. [5] [6]
- Banksy: his "Aachoo!!" mural appeared on a house on Vale Street in December 2020. It was lifted off by crane in March 2021, so you can't see it there any more. [7] [8]
How steep is Vale Street?
Ordnance Survey's figures, reported by Bristol24/7 in February 2026, give Vale Street an average gradient of 21.8%. [3] That means the road climbs about 22 metres for every 100 metres you travel along it. Dangerous Roads gives a maximum gradient of 25.6%. [9]
Percent or degrees? Several reports, including ITV's 2019 coverage, describe the street as about 22 degrees. [1] A 22% gradient is roughly 12 degrees; a 22-degree slope would be a gradient of about 40%, steeper than the world's steepest street. The percentage figure is the consistent one.
Is Vale Street the steepest street in Britain?
No: the claim is for England. In Wales, Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech was listed by Guinness World Records as the world's steepest street until 2020, when the title went back to Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, after a change in how it was measured. [4]
| Street | Where | Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Vale Street | Totterdown, Bristol | England's steepest residential street (Ordnance Survey, 2019) [1] |
| Ffordd Pen Llech | Harlech, Wales | World's steepest street (Guinness) until 2020 [4] |
| Baldwin Street | Dunedin, New Zealand | World's steepest street (Guinness) since 2020 [4] |
When is the Vale Street egg rolling?
On Easter Sunday, people gather at the top of Vale Street and roll hard-boiled eggs down to the bottom. [5]
- How long it's run: ITV described the gathering in 2024 as more than 30 years old; Bristol24/7 put it at 25 years, with only the pandemic stopping it. [5] [6]
- Next date: Easter Sunday 2027 is 28 March. Check local listings nearer the time for the start time.
Is the Banksy still on Vale Street?
No. Banksy's "Aachoo!!", a stencil of an elderly woman sneezing so hard her false teeth fly out, appeared on the side of a house on Vale Street and was confirmed by the artist on 10 December 2020. [7] [10]
- A crowd-puller: on the morning it appeared, visitors posed as if blown back by the sneeze. [10]
- Covered up: the stencil was quickly covered with Perspex, and later boarded over. [7] [8]
- Removed: on 12 March 2021 a crane lifted the section of wall off the house, and it was taken away to be sold at auction. [8] [11]
What is it like to live on Vale Street?
- Parking: residents park their cars sideways, across the slope, so they don't roll away. [12]
- On screen: in February 2026 a Cadbury advert was filmed on the street, with a temporary Cadbury shopfront built for the shoot. [3]
How do you get to Vale Street?
Vale Street is in Totterdown, a short walk uphill from Bristol Temple Meads station. Visit Bristol's walking route from the station passes through Totterdown's colourful streets. [13] It's a residential street, so keep noise down and don't block driveways or doors.
Nearby: things to do in Totterdown and the history of the area.
Sources
- Street in Bristol named the steepest in England, ITV News, 18 April 2019: itv.com
- Vale Street crowned England's steepest street by Ordnance Survey, Secret Bristol: secretbristol.com
- Filming for Cadbury advert on Bristol's steepest residential street, Bristol24/7, 11 February 2026: bristol247.com
- What is it like living on Britain's 'steepest street'?, Yahoo News: yahoo.com
- Egg rolling contest down England's steepest residential street in Bristol, ITV News, 1 April 2024: itv.com
- Egg rolling returns to Bristol's steepest street, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- Banksy confirmed to be behind artwork on side of Totterdown house, Bristol24/7, December 2020: bristol247.com
- Banksy's Aachoo!! removed by crane from wall of Totterdown house, Bristol24/7, March 2021: bristol247.com
- Vale Street, Dangerous Roads: dangerousroads.org
- Banksy confirms 'Aachoo!!' mural in Bristol, CNN, December 2020: cnn.com
- Banksy's Bristol artwork Aachoo set to be auctioned, NME, March 2021: nme.com
- The steepest street in England, where cars are parked sideways, JOE: joe.co.uk
- Walks from Bristol train stations, Visit Bristol: visitbristol.co.uk