High Street (or
the High Street, also
High Road) is a
metonym for the concept (and frequently the
street name) of the primary
business street of
towns or
cities, especially in the
United Kingdom and
Commonwealth of Nations. To distinguish it from "centres" of nearby places it is frequently preceded unofficially by the name of its settlement. In a town it implies the focal point for business, especially
shops and street stalls (if any) in
town and city centres. As a generic shorthand presupposed upon
linear settlements it may be used to denote more precise concepts such as the urban retail sector, town centre sectors of employment, all small shops and services outlets and even wider concepts taking in social concepts. The smallest High Street in Britain is located in a small market town in
Devon called
Holsworthy. The street itself is no more than 100 yards long and there are only three shops located on Holsworthy's High Street.