Parliament Street

Parliament Street runs for just 50 metres in Exeter’s old centre, linking High Street to Waterbeer Street. The lane first appeared in the 14th century under the name Small Lane. In 1832 it was renamed Parliament Alley after the city council mocked the Reform Bill passed by Parliament. Around 1850 the name changed again to Parliament Street when locals decided ‘Alley’ sounded too common. The street measures only 0.64 metres at its narrowest point and 1.22 metres at its widest. Though it claims the title of world’s narrowest street, the official record belongs to Spreuerhofstraße in Germany. The street’s history reflects Exeter’s civic pride and humour. In 1836 residents of nearby Waterbeer Street collected £130 to widen the lane. The plan was never carried out, so the passage remains unusually narrow. Visitors today often mistake it for a simple alleyway rather than a named street. The name change after the Reform Bill shows how local politics shaped everyday places. Despite its size, the street has attracted tourists for decades. A walk along Parliament Street offers a glimpse of Exeter’s medieval layout. The lane’s crooked path contrasts with the straight High Street it joins. Red-brick buildings rise steeply on either side, their upper floors almost touching above. The street’s short length makes it easy to pass through in moments. Nearby Waterbeer Street still shows signs of the 19th-century widening fund. The narrow passage remains a quiet corner in a busy city centre.