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

Did this a couple of weeks ago. We had a lovely time but the mermaid inn s restaurant was like going back to 1975 !!
Our room was lovely and the atmosphere etc was wonderful so was the breakfast but the dinner wasn't what if hoped for. Maybe I just chose badly?
We ate in another pub there the next night I think called the standard inn it was fantastic.
The harbour at rye was amazing they were doing guide in a hide so volunteers from the rspb were helping novice bird watchers to use the equipment and see the birds.
A wonderful weekend

Hexham
Corbridge
Barnard Castle

I haven't had a day like this in ages.

Stamford
Richmond (Yorks )
Barnard Castle - nice shopping and Bowes Museum
Skipton
Thirsk
Malton
Northallerton and Yarm for shops and cafes
Inverness
Nantwich
Knutsford
Ilkley
Otley

Lymington , Christchurch both fit the bill

Cardigan
Kirkcudbright
North Berwick

I can't believe Haworth hasn't been mentioned yet!

beautiful yorkshire town with lots of history. The brontë parsonage is brilliant

Rye, Lewes, Alfriston, Arundel, Petworth, Chichester, Sherborne, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Shaftesbury, Bradford-on-Avon, Marlborough, Frome, Bruton, Wells, Totnes, Dartmouth, Salcombe, Ashburton, Southwold, Aldeburgh, Woodbridge, Lavenham, Long Melford, Holt, Burnham Market, Aylsham, Faversham, Deal, Whitstable, Tenterden, Broadstairs, Alton, Lymington, Stockbridge, Hungerford, Newbury, Henley-on-Thames, Woodstock, Wallingford, Stamford, Market Harborough, Uppingham, Oakham, Bakewell, Ashbourne, Matlock, Wirksworth, Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye, Ludlow, Much Wenlock, Shrewsbury, Leek, Lichfield, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Kenilworth, Hebden Bridge, Ilkley, Haworth, Skipton, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough, Ripon, Helmsley, Malton, Richmond, Yarm, Beverley, Alnwick, Hexham, Corbridge, Barnard Castle, Durham, Kirkby Lonsdale, Grange-over-Sands, Ulverston, Cartmel, Keswick, Cockermouth, Hay-on-Wye, Crickhowell, Abergavenny, Monmouth, Narberth, Tenby, St Davids, Aberaeron, Llandeilo, St Andrews, Pittenweem, Crail, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Peebles, Melrose, North Berwick, Kelso, Castle Douglas

Bourton on the water possibly

Wigtown in Dumfries & Galloway apparently its the bookshop capital of Scotland

@BitOutOfPracticean impressive list indeed

I’ve enjoyed a few of those listed so will definitely visit others on your fine list

St Andrews
Linlithgow
Peebles
Dumfries
Dunblane
Oban
Pitlochry
edinburgh
Stirling.

Sorry to post a wall of text like that but honestly, if there’s one thing we still have on the uk, it’s nice little towns for pottering.

Ill give some personal recommends, Holt in Norfolk, Saffron Walden, Maldon

Pickering and Helmsley are very close to each other. Also Malton close by and their food festivals are brilliant.
Just down the road - Thornton le Dale

Well it’s got to be Yorkshire hasn’t it! 😉

Many to choose from, but if you’re making a trip of it, places I would choose are:

Ilkley
Settle
Grassington
Kirkby Lonsdale (ok, not Yorkshire but not far from the above and a lovely place to potter around)

Hebden Bridge, Ledbury, Ludlow, Wimborne Minster, Wells, all interesting, pretty and peaceful places to visit.

Salisbury has some good restaurants as well as shop etc

Hastings . Lots of what you are looking
for .

Petersfield, Hampshire

Royal Leamington Spa is lovely with classic regency architecture and lots of independents.

Wells.

Either the cathedral city in Somerset or the one in Norfolk, Wells next-the-sea.

Ripon. Has everything you have asked for ( and a beautiful racecourse if that is your thing).

Www.visitripon.co.uk

This, and nearby Tenterden is worth a visit. It has a historic steam railway which you can take to Bodiam Castle. Sissinghurst and Great Dixter are also nearby, if gardens are your thing.

Or stay at Jeakes House and eat at the Fish Cafe / The George / Layla Grill

Stamford and Harrogate

Aberfeldy!

Oxford