Towns for an arty mooch?

[Slothey]

If you were 5 women in your 40s, planning a long weekend in January, where would you go?

We want to wander around interesting shops, drink coffee and possibly see some art.

Southern England, and decent train links a bonus.

Whitstable and Frome have been successful in the past.

Lewes

Forgot to add Hastings is easy to get to from Lewes for good vintage shopping.

Folkestone.
Margate.

Shame it wasn’t the last few weekends - there’s been the East Kent Artists’ Open House event across Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Faversham, Deal, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. It’s been brilliant so far!

Totnes is quirky. Full of independent shops. Arty but quite alternative. The Cider Press centre at nearby Dartington is nice. You’re also close to the South Devon coast. Alternatively Lewis is a lovely town and closer to London.

Chichester, whitstable or Eastbourne for the Towner Gallery

Or Bournemouth for the Russell Coates museum

Stratford upon Avon. You've got all the Shakespeare related things, plenty of places to eat, the theatre, trips on the river and one of my favourite galleries not too far away at Compton Verney (30 minutes by bus/20 minutes driving)
https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/

No train links but Southwold on the east coast would be my choice.

Cirencester
St Ives, Cornwall
Falmouth
Bridport
Lymington
Bath
Bruton

Hay on Wye. Frome. Rye. Bruton. Margate

Bath. Much nicer than Bristol. Immerse yourself in the Jane Austen and Bridgerton exoerience. Explore the lanes and have afternoon tea, followed by cocktails…

Deal
Folkestone

Folkestone or Brighton or maybe Margate for the art scene?

Penzance, for the Exchange, Penlee House Art Gallery, Newlyn Art Gallery, with maybe something on at the Acorn in the evening. You could take a day trip to St Ives for the Tate and the Hepworth Sculpture Garden. Tremenheere Sculpture Garden just outside PZ is also well worth it.

I recently went to Llandeilo expecting exactly this and was a bit underwhelmed. Half a day's worth maybe, but not more. There is a NT place on the edge of town which filled some time, though it's mainly outside with long walk between Hall and Castle

I’m off to Cambridge for this soon.

Definitely Brighton. Fab for a girls weekend. Great shops and a very arty vibe. Good restaurants too. Easy to visit Lewes as well.

Salisbury, direct train from London Waterloo. If one of you has a car you can then go to Sherborne which has stunning architecture and a fascinating minster church. January would be a great time to visit Stonehenge as very atmospheric on blustery days when far fewer people visit. And Old Sarum is worth a walk around if you like Anglo-Saxon history (but take warm clothing as the windchill is arctic!)
Sailbury has lots of little art studios and the museum has an art exhibit.

I would recommend Lewes too, Charleston, Ditchling and Brighton are handy, lots of independent shops, the Castle and Anne of Cleves House and The Downs as a backdrop. Nice grub available as well.

If you fancy a blast of sea air, Eastbourne might work, the Towner is definitely worth a visit and watching the murmurations off the pier in January is pretty special.

Canterbury, see the cathedral, take a trip the Turner in Margate

Leigh on sea in Essex is nice.