What are some nice towns to visit in the U.K?

[BlueberryGreenTea]

I’m looking for some nice towns or areas of cities that meet some of my criteria?

I’m looking for nice towns to potter about in. The type of towns that have independent shops, nice cafes, delis, bookshops and preferably a museum or two. Charity shops that sell books would be very welcome too.

Two places that I’ve visited relatively recently like this are St Andrews and Stockbridge in Edinburgh but any ideas would be very welcome.

TIA

Arundel, Canterbury, York, Bath, Salisbury, Winchester, Hay on Wye, Rye

I came on to say Woodbridge in Suffolk too.
Christchurch in Dorset.
Petersfield in Hampshire, also WInchester.
Morpeth in Northumberland.
Arundel in West Sussex.
And most definitely, Holt in Norfolk.

We’ve just spent the day in Bridport. I went mostly for the huge indoor and outdoor vintage market (last Sunday of the month) the weather was glorious but a lot of the town was closed. I could tell it’s a great unspoilt little place- we’ll be back.

Hexham and Corbridge.

Berwick is sort of fascinating in a Land that Time Forgot sort of way, and a lovely spot, but not very bougie.

Arundel, small but beautiful could combine it with something else in the area.

Knaresborough.

Bath, Bridport, Dorchester, Sherborne

Bath, Salisbury, maybe Winchester, Sherborne, maybe even Taunton.

We visited a couple of weeks back, I was blown away with it. History and cute independent shops and cafes in between a bustling town centres with all the usual stores.

Hexham and Corbridge in Northumberland

Bath, Rye, Cambridge. Lovely.

If you go to Rye eat at the Fig - yum!

Saffron Walden is nice. Market town with lots of independent shops, delis and cafes and some nicer chain shops like Susie Watson. A couple of museums, lovely gardens and a market twice a week. If you are in the area there are some really pretty villages worth looking at too like Thaxted, Great Bardfield and Finchingfield.

Agree. It’s fabulous!

Malmesbury and Westonbirt Arboretum (you would do it on the same day)

Durham.
York
Saltburn
Runswick Bay
Robin Hoods Bay
Whitby

all lovely places to potter about

I live in Bath - so places I actually enjoy going to ( or have been)

Bath
cheltenham
salisbury
Stroud
Frome
winchester
Rye
Canterbury ( lived there for 8 years)
Oxford - lived there
norwich
chester
Wimborne
cambridge
Ely
Hitchin
wells
Marlow
Henley
shrewsbury
Guildford
godalming

Was going to say this. Other that the books there are some nice cafes and charity shops, and it’s very cute

Oxford is lovely

Dorchester has it all

Also Southwold in Suffolk, and Holt in Norfolk although I have only been in season.

ah I missed York off my list

St Andrews, Dunkeld, Pitlochry.

Buxton, but only a small museum I think. Restored Crescent And hotel wonderful. I used to avoid the carnival Saturday in July as there is drunken mayhem

Great castle as well.