Chester has been named the UK's most beautiful city because of the 'golden ratio'

If you're after some staycation inspiration then you may want to add Chester to the bucket list - it's just been named the UK's most beautiful city.

A recent study found that the historic hotspot is packed with spectacular buildings that fit the 'golden ratio' - a mathematical method that dates back to Ancient Greece. The golden ratio essentially represents the best proportions to transfer to the brain, which in turn can make places and objects particularly pleasing to look at.

According to the research, Chester scored 83.7% when it came to matching its buildings to the golden ratio, establishing it as the UK's most aesthetically pleasing city.

It's already firmly established as a tourist hotspot, thanks to its charming medieval buildings, brilliant lesser-known foodie scene, and popular attractions such as Chester Zoo.

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London came second in the rankings (Hulton Archive)

Chester wasn't the only city to impress in the study by Online Mortgage Advisor, which analysed over 2,4000 buildings and hundreds of streets to find the prettiest spots.

London came a close second in the rankings with an overall score of 83.0%. Handily, if you want to check out some of the English capital's most iconic buildings there is a free self-guided walking tour you can do which takes about two hours and takes you past the likes of Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and other highlights such as Tower Bridge and the London Eye.

Third place went to Belfast, which scored an impressive 82.9% in the rankings. It's not just the buildings that make this city a must-visit though.

There are some ridiculously beautiful attractions to be found in Belfast and the Causeway Coast - the Giant's Causeway being a particular favourite with holidaymakers.

UK's top 20 most beautiful cities

1. Chester
2. London
3. Belfast
4. Liverpool
5. Durham
6. Bristol
7. Oxford
8. Birmingham
9. Edinburgh
10. Cardiff
11. Exeter
12. Bath
13. Canterbury
14. Worcester
15. Cambridge
16. Leeds
17. York
18. Newcastle
19. Glasgow
20. Manchester

You can find out more about the study on onlinemortgageadvisor.co.uk.

Looking for more ideas for your next staycation? You may want to check out our UK holidays guide which we regularly update with everything from the latest deals we think you'll love to quirky accommodation round-ups and destination tips.

Is there a city you think is more beautiful than the top 20 listed? Let us know in the comments below.