Skipton High Street has been shortlisted for the title in the Urbanism Awards 2009 alongside the capital's Kensington High Street and Portobello Road.

The thriving street will be judged against the home of Portobello Road Market, which is renowned for its second-hand clothes and antiques, and one of London's most upmarket shopping streets, which was home to the iconic store Biba in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Richmond, North Yorkshire, has also been shortlisted for the Great Town of the Year award, with Chichester in West Sussex and Stirling in Scotland.

The Academy of Urbanism, which promotes inspired urban design, runs the annual awards to offer architects, developers and local authorities a chance to honour design that contributes towards a sense of civic pride and quality of life.

John Thompson, chairman of the Academy, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating the success of these wonderful cities, towns, neighbourhoods, streets and places by selecting them as finalists for the Urbanism Awards 2009. We want to learn what makes these places fantastic to live and work in and to visit and use this information to help us create the great places of the future."

Guests, including former Cabinet Minister Lord Hattersley, attended a nominations dinner at the Cutlers' Hall in Sheffield for
the awards, which include European City of the Year and Great Neighbourhood of the Year.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in St George's Hall, Liverpool, on November 26.