A picturesque Georgian market town on the banks of the River Thames has been named the best high street in the UK outside London by estate agents Knight Frank. According to the property sellers, the Buckinghamshire town of Marlow, sandwiched between the iconic towns of Henley and Windsor, was named the best of the best by the property sellers late last year.

Having crunched the numbers of where home buyers were flocking to, it was Marlow that beat all the competition. Its high street was described as “both charming and lively,” attracting home-hunters with its independent stores and high-fashion boutiques. The street, and the connecting Spittal Street, is where visitors can find curated boutiques like Sansom Reed, Sahara, and Daisy Boutique, alongside established names like Mint Velvet, Crew Clothing and TOAST. The Marlow Bookshop is a must-visit for those looking to enjoy a classic independent bookstore.

For those looking for a quick pit stop, Marlow is also an excellent choice, as drivers can get 1 hour of free parking on the High Street and Institute Road, monitored by sensors. It’s no surprise, given the popularity of the market town, that its car parks – Marlow Central and Liston Road – fill up very quickly, especially on weekends.

If you time your visit to May, the Pub in the Park festival (May 14–17, 2026) takes over Higginson Park with live music and pop-up Michelin-quality food.

For any foodies foodies, famous chef Tom Kerridge has a pub in Marlow called The Hand of Flowers, which is the only public house in the UK with two Michelin stars. There’s also Compleat Angler and well-loved originals like The Ivy.

Matt Davies, partner at Knight Frank, said: “We tend to see a slightly younger buyer base in Marlow, driven in large part by its outstanding educational institutions, including grammar schools such as Sir William Borlase’s.

“This often draws buyers towards the west side of town, to be within easy reach of these highly sought-after schools.”

After Marlow followed the historic and beautiful Clifton Village in Bristol. Overall, Wimbledon Village took the top spot as best high street in Britain by Knight Frank, which was impressed by its indie boutiques and bakeries, fitness studios and community vibes. Hampstead and St John’s Wood, also in London, followed.