Gold Hill

Gold Hill is England’s most famous cobbled street, a steep picturesque lane in Shaftesbury immortalized by Ridley Scott’s iconic 1973 Hovis bread commercial featuring a boy pushing his bicycle uphill. The view looking down from the top, with its ancient cottages and buttressed abbey walls beside the cobblestones, has been described as ‘one of the most romantic sights in England.’ At the summit stands 14th-century St Peter’s Church, while the street follows the precinct walls of Shaftesbury Abbey, founded by King Alfred the Great. This quintessentially English scene attracts photographers worldwide and remains Britain’s favourite advertisement. Free to visit, Gold Hill offers stunning views across the Blackmore Vale and a journey into timeless England.