Inside Britain's number one High Street: Locals reveal what they really think of precinct which boasts colourful hanging baskets and a statue of NHS founder...but is blighted by homeless people and boarded-up shops

EXCLUSIVE Inside Britain's number one High Street: Locals reveal what they really think of precinct which boasts colourful hanging baskets and a statue of NHS founder...

but is blighted by homeless people and boarded-up shops By Megan Howe Published: 07:35, 7 August 2024 | Updated: 07:35, 7 August 2024 e-mail View comments Visitors to Cardiff's Queen Street think it's 'beautiful' and deserves to be Britain's number one shopping venue but locals aren't so sure. The pedestrianised precinct stretches from the Cardiff Castle end to Queen Street train station which brings shoppers and office workers into the city centre. The street has a traditional merry go-round, a statue of NHS founder Aneurin Bevan and rows of colourful hanging baskets.

But it also has boarded-up shops, homeless people begging and a bearded man in a wheelchair who shouts at cyclists: 'Get off your bike - this is a non-cycling zone.' Charity worker Saroj Rahl, visiting the Welsh capital from Birmingham with her three sons, said: 'I think it's lovely and fully deserves to be voted number one in Britain. 'There is a huge variety of shops and restaurants , it's clean and well presented.

'We came to Wales to visit Barry Island, Cardiff Castle and Cardiff city centre. The sweetshops here are great, I can't get my boys out of them.' Insurance claims assessor and mum-of-two Shannon Rowley, 30, from Cardiff, reckons Queen Street isn't worthy of its new title.

She said: 'There is a good variety of shops here but Queen St.