Lowestoft High Street is the oldest part of the town. Its earliest buildings date from the 15th century, but its 18th-century merchants' houses are perhaps its main attraction. Built along the edge of a cliff, they were once famous for their hanging gardens. Today, as well as the fine architecture, the High Street offers a range of specialist shops, cafes and restaurants and a network of tiny alleyways, or Scores, that lead down to the once busy North Beach.