Looking for colourful places in the U.K. is not an easy task. While there are so many beautiful places I wouldn’t say they were all colourful. I, Sarah, adore colour, part of me is longing to live in colourful Palm Springs but alas I don’t so I have to go searching further afield.
This list of colourful places covers places all over the U.K. not just England and a few I have visited some are still on my “Come on Eddie, we must visit here” list.
I could make it easy for myself and go to a flower field of which there are a few but posing with the Instagram girls doesn’t quite cut it for me. And yes I have taken the odd walk around Notting Hill (one of the colourful places in London) I long for a little more adventure than that.
So what does the U.K. have to offer in the way of colour if we take out those colourful houses in Notting Hill? The answer is quite a lot actually, you might be surprised.
What is the Most colourful town in England/ U.K.?
Now when it comes to the most colourful place in the U.K. most agree that it is Portree on the Isle Of Skye. Here a line of beautiful coloured houses line the port set against a backdrop of stunning scenery, It certainly makes for a dramatic backdrop
While I don’t disagree I might argue in an entirely different direction. If you are looking for the colourful places in the U.K. then head to Portmeirion in Wales which wins hands down but I don’t think it is considered a town. So perhaps Tobermory on the Isle of Mull which was used for the Bamamory TV series might take the crown.
But none of these places are in England. So if we are just looking at England I would choose Lavenham in Suffolk which is more colourful but make it Tudor.
So for me, the answer to What is the Most colourful town in England is threefold. The most colourful place in the U.K. is Portmerion, the most colourful town in the U.K. is Portree or Tobermory and the most colourful town in England is Lavenham.
What is the Most colourful street in the U.K.?
Again this is not an easy question to answer as it depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for colourful houses the streets around Notting Hill are a must-visit. In particular Portobello Road and Lancaster Gate. Dukes Lane in Bristol is also a contender as is Victoria Street in Edinburgh.
Also, any of these towns mentioned here have colourful streets with colourful houses.
However, for me, the most colourful street in the U.K. is Aberfeldy Street in Poplar, London. It’s a regeneration project to encourage people to shop locally. The shops are painted in beautiful, colourful murals inspired by the Bangladeshi Kantha tradition of recycling used textiles. It’s honestly fantastic and in my opinion, puts the others to shame. It’s colour with a purpose to improve people’s lives and I’m here for it.
This street is one of the most colourful places in London.
What area of London has colourful homes?
My sense is if you are asking this question you are most likely looking for the popular Instagram hangouts. You will want to be in the Notting Hill area where literally there are colourful houses around every corner. Lancaster Gate and Portobello Road are the most popular. There is a great blog post on them here.
I’ve walked them all and while they are lovely they don’t excite me as much as other areas of London like Shoreditch or Aberfeldy Street which are much more about art.
You also might want to take a look at Neals Yard as that is a colour explosion.
So the short answer to What area of London has colourful homes It’s Notting Hill.
12 Quirky and Colourful Places In the U.K. You Must Visit
Portmeirion, Wales The most colourful place in the UK.
As already mentioned when it comes to the U.K. in my mind nowhere beats Portmeirion. This p[lace is quirky colourful and like nothing else you have ever seen. It is one of my favourite places in the UK for sure.
Eddie and I spent our honeymoon here and we have also taken our daughters there. It’s a hard place to describe. It’s a colourful Italian explosion in Wales. Eclectic, crazy, and colourful Portmeirion is bound to brighten up any day.
Created by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion Village was designed to show how a naturally beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it. Williams-Ellis acquired the site in 1925 and worked to complete his grand vision over the next 50 years, completing the Village as we know it today in 1976. Clough hoped that his creation would inspire others.
Probably most famously, Portmeirion was the backdrop for the 1960’s cult classic series, The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. It’s a link that is evident everywhere you turn and a history this place is proud of.
You can stay on the site but it does air on the expensive side. I have stayed there and in an Air BnB in the colourful town of Borth-y-Gest which is within easy driving distance and has cute colorful houses aplenty.
If you only visit one colour place make it this one. Oh, and there is a charge to get onto the site so keep that in mind.
Cobh, Ireland
So I know Cobh is in the Republic of Ireland and is not in the United Kingdom but I really wanted to include it and if I say the British Isles no one really understands that so forgive me and know I know it is not part of the U.K.
This colourful town is where the Titanic set sail on its ill-fated voyage and as well as having loads of colourful houses is also steeped in history.
The harbour is surrounded by row upon row of coloured houses and twinned with a church spire it looks adorable. So if you like to mix your colour with some history then Cobh may be the place for you.
As colourful places go this one offers a little bit of everything.
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
When it comes to colourful places in the Uk I’ve already said I feel like for me this one tops the list. It’s the location for the children’s TV series Balamory and is one of the most one of the prettiest ports in Scotland.
There is also much more to see than just marveling at the colourful houses. A fishing port of the late 18th century, the surrounding area is steeped in mysterious history, including a sunken ship nobody has yet found.
This place is also teeming with wildlife and you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the rare and unusual Golden and White-tailed Eagles.
It’s not the easiest place to get to though and it is only reached by boat there is a ferry from Oban but if you are up that way it is well worth a visit.
Portree, Isle of Skye
When it comes to colourful places in the Uk most believe Portree tops the list and I can see why. It is one of the most beautiful places in the U.K.
A row of beautiful coloured houses line the port; is anyone recognising a pattern here? Portree also looks like a location in Iceland, with its mountains and cliffs rising behind it.
The largest town and the capital of Skye, it is a popular tourist destination. It’s a mixture of colourful and cute houses set against a rather majestic-looking prehistoric landscape. If you are looking for photographic locations you may be able to get two for the price of one here.
There is a road bridge leading to Skype so it is slightly more accessible than Tobermory but still a long way. From where we live the drive would be 10 hours and from London just over 11. This is a place you really want to have to visit but it is definitely on my list.
Lavenham, Suffolk
Colourful, but make it Tudor. A stunning combination of candy-colour painted houses, interwoven with wooden beams. It’s like Instagram meets medieval and I’m all for it. Lavenham is considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval villages in England.
With over 300 buildings listed as being of architectural and historic interest, this place really piles on the history. And it’s also located in the beautiful Suffolk countryside, so you can mix Instagram, and history and walk in some of the most stunning scenery, all in one.
When It comes to the most colourful places in England this one for me wins hands down.
Bristol, Somerset
When it comes to colourful places I feel that Bristol is one of those places that is colourful in so many ways. A city known for its art, hipsters, and colour, it’s a hub for the younger generation.
This city is also the birthplace of Banksy and the place where his street art took the world by storm in the 1980s. It doesn’t get much hipper than Bristol.
If you like your colour with a side of hip and trendy then this might be the place for you. The colourful houses, of which there are plenty, give way to vibrant street art.
The Cliftonwood area is where you will find most of the colourful houses.
Bristol is a place full of creativity and leaves an impression on all who visit.
Aberaeron, Wales
Another colourful town sitting on a harbour, again in Wales. Colourful seaside houses, fish and chips and a harbour where you can watch the comings and goings sounds like bliss doesn’t it?
The colourful houses are said to adorn the town like jewels. This is a place to sit and while away an hour or two.
When it comes to colourful places there is something about this one that is just so charming.
Staithes, Yorkshire
One thing you are going to learn about me, Sarah, is that my heart belongs to Yorkshire. My Dad’s family all come from Leeds a lot of my heritage stems from this area and there is something about this area that feels like home to me. So I had to include a colourful place from this area.
Staithes is a seaside village in the Scarborough Borough of North Yorkshire, England. I walked through this village once and still think about it often. When it comes to pretty villages Staithes really has to come up top. With its higgledy-piggledy cottages, some coloured, and winding streets, you get lost in time in Staithes and could almost imagine you were in another era.
It has a charm that is hard to find elsewhere and is a place many fall in love with, visiting again and again.
It’s a little gem that is really worth a visit. It’s also really close to Whitby, which is one of my favourite places in the UK.
Coverack, Cornwall
I couldn’t talk about colourful fishing villages without mentioning Cornwall. Coverack may not be the most colourful, but it is the one I have visited and known the most about. While a lot of the houses are white some are colourful but for me, the colour here comes from the flowers, plants, and boats.
There is something about Cornwall that makes the most colourful amazing plants grow and when it’s sunny, the light really is something else. If you are looking for colourful places in the U.K., Cornwall has many.
I really fell in love with this place and its quirky streets, harbour, and amazing ice cream!
Well worth a visit to banish away the blues.
Whitstable – Kent
I visited Whitstable once, only briefly, to visit the famous Wheelers Oyster Bar. It’s a super pretty (and busy) place. It’s also lively and colourful and decked with pastel beach huts.
It is quaint and quintessentially English and a very posh seaside town; no arcades or kiss-me-quick hats insight. This is the middle-class seaside.
It’s vibrant, full of life, and very civilized. When I went with my daughter we couldn’t get the obligated picture in front of the famous coloured Oyster Bar due to roadworks but it was still worth a visit.
Deal, Kent
While we are in Kent I also want to mention Deal, a place I adore, with colourful houses on the seafront, some art deco gems, and flowers everywhere, Deal is well worth a visit.
It’s a pretty underrated town and I have never seen it that busy. It’s charming and has lots of appeal, 8I found it very relaxing.
We also stayed in the most amazing colourful hotel The Rose which I can highly recommend.
If you are looking for colourful places that are quite chill then Deal is the one for you.
Brighton, Sussex
I couldn’t mention colourful places in the UK without mentioning Brighton. It’s a place I have visited many times and although I love it it isn’t a place that has stolen my heart. However, it is within easy reach of London and has everything a good English seaside town should have.
As well as its colourful beach huts, a pier that lights up at night, and the Pavilion, an explosion of colour when lit up at night, Brighton is one of those places that just has a colourful vibe about it. It’s no coincidence that companies like the colourful Luck and Yak made this their home.
A vibrant place full of life, Brighton is quirky, cultural, and arty.
Finding colourful places in the U.K. is, I have to say, a bit of a fascination for me. It can be so grey here and colour doesn’t also work well with the light here, however when you find a place where it does work it feels like a gem.
We are not a nation known for colour a walk outside any door will see people dressed in a variety of black, grey, brown, and beige and it can be pretty dismal. But here are those places that break through despite themselves, those places that put two fingers up the stiff upper lip and really go for it. These are the places I love, the places that don’t necessarily spring to mind when you think of the UK but nevertheless speak to the creativity and eccentric nature of this country as a whole.
Every trip to the U.K. in my opinion should include a visit to one of these colourful places, if not just to see something others don’t and see a side of this country most don’t even know exists.