Beaumaris street hailed as Britain’s most beautiful council estate

Beaumaris, Anglesey — A pastel-coloured row of three-bedroom terraces built as affordable housing after the Second World War is being celebrated by locals and visitors as Britain’s most beautiful council estate. The street, Ffordd Meigan, sits on a hillside with a sweeping backdrop of the Menai Strait and Snowdonia, drawing praise for its design and sense of community.

The estate was designed by the Welsh architect Sidney Colwyn Foulkes, whose approach to affordable housing emphasized energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal. The row of terraces still features many of the original colours and low ceilings intended to reduce heating costs. Over the decades the properties have evolved into a mix of council-owned and privately owned homes, with values climbing to as much as £200,000 in today’s market. Beaumaris, a popular seaside town, attracts tens of thousands of visitors each summer, in part due to its Edwardian castle and the distinctive hillside streets that define the town’s character.

Residents describe the street as both beautiful and safe, with a strong sense of neighbourliness that remains intact despite changing ownership of many houses. Barbara Galvin, 74, said it was “very beautiful,” noting that the mountains provide a different view every day as one looks out from the hillside street. “Sat on the island of Anglesey in Wales, Ffordd Meigan is lined with pastel-coloured terraced housing with a backdrop of Snowdonia,” she said, highlighting how aesthetics and landscape combine.

Karen Johnson, who lives on the street, praised the design and the community spirit. “It’s a very safe place to live where neighbours still talk to each other and children are allowed to play,” she said. Angela Daniels, 64, a health worker and long-time resident, added that the area’s safety and the friendly neighbours contribute to its appeal. “I love living here. It’s quite safe. I’ve never had any trouble. The neighbours are nice, there’s a community spirit. We are very lucky to live here, it deserves the title of Britain’s most beautiful council estate.”

Architect Foulkes was known for his innovative, affordable housing across North Wales, with a biographer noting that his council estates were among the most attractive in Britain. His influence extended beyond Beaumaris, shaping other streets in the town and similar hillside developments in nearby areas. Beaumaris itself is a magnet for visitors, who often pair a stroll along the pastel-hued street with a visit to the castle or the town’s coastal scenery.

David Mathias, 76, who has lived on Ffordd Meigan for three decades, recalled the estate’s early identity. “When the estate was built all the houses were given pastel colours. It was beautiful, especially Ffordd Meigan, which was the first part,” he said. He also referenced a historical note about the local primary school: “The primary school was built in conjunction with the estate and on the assumption there would be a World War Three. It had double doors so it could be used as a field hospital. It was the most beautiful estate, and still is, I believe.”

Elizabeth Kirkham, 46, who moved to Beaumaris from Canada seven years ago, described the neighbourhood as well-kept and proud. “People are proud to live here. Gardens are well-kept. We’ve been here about seven years and we have a nice house. I love the neighbourhood.” Gemma Roberts, 34, who lives there with her family, added that the community remains close-knit. “Everyone knows each other. It’s safe for the kids to play outside. They are well-built houses and it is definitely one of the most beautiful council estates.”

Former resident and retiree Karen Johnson, 60, reflected on the broader social context of the estate’s design. “I thought the estate looked so well designed. People are very friendly and kind, they look out for you. It’s very peaceful. Even in our version of the rush-hour it’s not like south east England.”

The broader Beaumaris area includes another hillside estate in Rhos on Sea with terraces and green spaces that echo Foulkes’s approach, illustrating how the architect’s modernist ideals helped shape a distinctive Welsh form of affordable housing. A local observer noted that while Foulkes may not be as famous as architects like Richard Rogers or Norman Foster, his work on social housing remained pioneering and, for many residents, “far superior to much of it built years later.”

As Beaumaris continues to attract visitors for its landscapes and historic sites, residents say the appeal of Ffordd Meigan lies not only in its colours and views but in the everyday experience of living there. The street’s past as a model of affordable housing and its enduring sense of community have helped sustain a reputation that locals are eager to preserve, even as market values rise and ownership becomes more mixed. In the words of those who call it home, the beauty is inseparable from the social fabric that keeps neighbors looking out for one another and welcoming new residents to a hillside where the mountains meet the sea.