Liverpool’s Waterfront is the greatest place in England, beating the likes of the Peak District, Bath and Letchworth Garden City in a vote by more than 11,000 people.

The High Street in Thame, Oxfordshire, and the village of Saltaire, near Bradford, were in second and third place respectively in the poll organised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

The institute set out to find out what the public thought was the most “attractive and inspiring” work by town planners, but natural locations were also included.

Janet Askew, the RTPI’s president, said: “Liverpool’s leaders and all those involved should be congratulated for showing what planning can do to make the most out of England’s stunning heritage to create vibrant, beautiful places.

“Coming as I do from Merseyside, I know that the Liverpool Waterfront, a source of immense civic pride, has a special place in the heart of Liverpudlians, as the popularity of the competition has shown.”

The 10 finalists Liverpool Waterfront

Thame High Street, Oxfordshire

Saltaire, Yorkshire

Brindleyplace, Birmingham

Bath, Somerset

Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire

Peak District, Derbyshire

Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland

Bristol

King’s Cross regeneration, London

Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, said the Waterfront, a World Heritage site, was an “iconic location recognised around the world”.

“As a city, we don’t stand still, and over the past 10 years Liverpool has been transformed through a number of regeneration projects, some of which have taken place in and around the waterfront,” he said. “Due to the nature and status of the area, these investments are always dealt with sensitively and the developments only go ahead if they add value to the city and the people who live, work and visit here.”