English market towns are an important part of the country, and its history.
Traditionally the centre of a region’s life – where farmers would go to sell their produce and locals go to shop – they still form a key role in rural life even now.
Larger than local villages, smaller than a city, English market towns support a thriving community whilst still being rooted in the local area.
In recent years they have become popular places for the English to live due to their ‘best of all worlds” feel. They are therefore often lovingly preserved – any attempt to develop these towns are often fiercely fought off – which makes them great to visit too.
Here we present 16 great examples:
The Best English Market Towns
1. Sherborne, Dorset
Situated in Dorset – Thomas Hardy country – on the River Yeo, this pretty market town is also home to Sherborne Abbey (pictured).
It’s distinctive buildings are built using a local ochre colored stone called ‘ham stone’.
The town’s a great base for visiting the West Country being near the border with Somerset.
2. Framlingham, Suffolk
A pretty town in the middle of Suffolk in East Anglia.
It contains Framlingham Castle, home of the Howard family who were partciular influencial during the tudor era (the Duke of Norfolk, a powerful player in Henry VIII’s court was as Howard as was, of course, Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth wife).
This would a be a good base to explore the southern part of East Anglia including Great Yarmouth and the pretty villages around the town.
3. Ashbourne, Peak District, Derbyshire
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Known as the gateway to the Peak District – a rugged area south of Sheffield mentioned in Pride of Prejudice – it’s a good place to base yourself if you want to explore this gorgeous area.
Ashbourne is also famous for its Shrovetide football match. Two teams from the north and south of the town (the Up’ards and Down’ards) play a two day long match.
Each team is huge and the goals are 3 miles apart and so few goals are scored. Scorers retire from the game and are carried to a local pub to celebrate.
4. Lewes, East Sussex
Lewes is situated on the South Coast of England, near the popular seaside town of Brighton.
It’s also home to the Lewes Bonfire – one of the largest 5 November celebrations of the thwarting of the 1605 Gunpowder plot and one of many strange English rituals.
5. Ludlow, Shropshire
Situated in the ‘Welsh Marshes’area of England – the border between England and Wales – Ludlow and its surrounds have a bloody history.
The area is a great place to explore castles , including the magnificent Ludlow Castle.
Ludlow is now famous for being a foody haven – at one time it had 3 Michellin stared restaurants – and is the home to one of the UK’s largest food and drink festivals.
Particularly recommended is the ‘Sausage Trail’, tasting sausages made at the many local butchers.
6. Moreton in Marsh
One of two Cotswold towns we’ve included in the l