Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Bristol Vale Street
AO Edited

Vale Street

England's steepest street has such a drastic incline that locals tie their parked cars to lampposts when it gets icy.

Bristol, England

Added By
Mojo37
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Vale Street.   Jaggery/cc by-sa 2.0
Vale Street.   Jaggery/cc by-sa 2.0
The house at the bottom corner.   Jaggery/cc by-sa 2.0
The Totterdown houses all viewed from a distance.   Rwendland/cc by-sa 3.0
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
view from the top of vale street (december 2023)   jinky / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Banksy no more   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Thunderbolt Steps   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

With a roughly 22-degree gradient incline, this residential road in the Totterdown area of Bristol is said to be England's steepest street. Trekking to the top is a feat for the strong-legged and healthy-hearted.

Vale Street has such a dramatic incline that people park their cars perpendicular to the road to keep them from rolling downhill. Some residents even tie their vehicles to lampposts when the road gets icy to stop them from sliding all the way to the bottom.

But the street’s steepness doesn’t deter people from dropping by. Cyclists view the drastic incline as a challenge. They’ll give themselves a fast start then attempt to pedal as hard as they can to the top.

Loose cars and out-of-control cyclists aren't the only things to go wildly rolling down the hill. Locals also use the street as the stage for an annual Easter egg race. Each year, residents head to the top of the hill, armed with an egg. They then roll the eggs down the hill to see whose entry can make it the farthest.

Related Tags

Urban Planning Roads Tradition Eggs

Know Before You Go

Keep in mind that this is a residential street, so respect people's private property. If you attempt to drive down it, be sure your brakes are in good working condition!

The street is a roughly 20-minute walk from the Bristol Temple Meads train station. Would recommend this for ONLY the fittest, as there are more than 150 steps to climb on the Thunderbolt Steps access. There is a pleasant footpath that runs along the River Avon that will take you from Temple Meads to the steps. Just be aware that this area is used by cyclists, runners, and dog walkers. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Mojo37

Edited By

SEANETTA, Kerry Wolfe, Xavixavir, jinky

  • SEANETTA
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • Xavixavir
  • jinky

Published

August 6, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://metro.co.uk/2017/03/19/britains-steepest-street-is-a-cyclists-worst-nightmare-6519396/
  • https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/what-really-like-living-englands-12693
  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38568893
  • https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/meet-man-who-founded-vale-25797
Vale Street
Vale Street
Bristol, England
United Kingdom
51.441215, -2.571736
Get Directions

Nearby Places

St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

Bristol, England

miles away

John Cabot's Whalebone

Bristol, England

miles away

The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Nearby Places

St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

Bristol, England

miles away

John Cabot's Whalebone

Bristol, England

miles away

The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Street Posts Museum

    An unexpected public exhibit showcases the diversity of Dutch street posts.

  • Brussels, Belgium

    Largest Paving Stone in Belgium

    This huge limestone slab is considered the largest paving stone in Belgium and a relic of the earliest modern paving in Brussels.

  • The Rainbow Crosswalk is paved with a familiar Art Deco pattern in colors chosen from Leonard Horowitz’s palette.

    Miami Beach, Florida

    The Rainbow Crosswalk

    This Ocean Drive crosswalk has been paved in rainbow colors to honor the LGBTQ+ community and the man who brought pastel to Miami Beach.

  • Chequer Street Wooden Paving

    London, England

    Chequer Street Wooden Paving

    This may be the last of London's wooden pavements, which were once a common sight in the city.

  • Gorditas Saleswoman.

    Xicotepec de Juárez, Mexico

    'Vendedoras de Gorditas' ('Gorditas Saleswomen')

    A tribute to a local delicacy and the women who prepare and sell it.

  • Qaqortoq, Greenland. The town’s helipad can be seen on the far left.

    Qaqortoq, Greenland

    Qaqortoq Road

    In a country where driving from one town to another is literally impossible, this small stretch of gravel is a remarkable feat.

  • Vittangi Snaps Pine.

    Kiruna, Sweden

    Vittangi Snaps Pine

    Few remain of these distinctive old trees that once served as natural landmarks for travelers on the road.

  • Via dei Presepi

    Naples, Italy

    Via dei Presepi

    Every day is like Christmas on this street where the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene comes to life.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.