A charming cathedral town in northwestern England has been crowned as the most beautiful city in the world, surpassing popular Italian favourites Venice and Rome.

The research, conducted by Online Mortgage Advisor, used Google Street View to estimate the architectural splendour of thousands of houses, landmarks and streets from around the world.

Chester, known for its historic Roman city walls which are over 2,000 years old, was bestowed an 83.7 percent ‘beauty score’ based on the ‘golden ratio’.

The study, explaining the significance of the golden ratio in the art world, noted: “Artists over the last few centuries have incorporated the golden ratio into their work, believing it to be a gold standard in natural aesthetic perfection.”

With Chester’s thriving history featuring Roman legions, Norman invaders, and Viking raiders, as well as architectural prowess, the town has much to offer for travel enthusiasts.

The town is home to the Eastgate Clock which was erected back in 1897, and is widely considered to be the second most photographed clock in England after Big Ben.

Similarly, the Chester Cathedral is a testament to time itself, with the most complete set of monastic buildings in the country. The marvel features distinct Gothic arches, stained glass windows, Roman barracks and a Georgian square right next to it.

Speaking of the local attraction, Tony H said on TripAdvisor: “What struck me was the feeling of history that swept over me as we walked round. Having visited quite a few cathedrals in the past, including Notre Dame several years ago, I have never had that feeling before. Everywhere, including the courtyard, just felt steeped in history.”

Often referred to as the ‘divine proportion,’ the golden ratio is considered to be ubiquitous across art, architecture, and even nature. Leave it to science to put the ‘can beauty be measured’ debate to rest.

Other British cities that passed the beauty test include London and Belfast, with respective scores of 83 percent and 82.9 percent.

Globally, Chester was followed closely by Venice, with a score of 83.3 percent; Rome, with 82 percent; and the Spanish city of Barcelona coming in with 81.9 percent on the scale.