Nice towns/villages with little independent shops

[StudentHelp]

Can anyone recommend some little villages/towns to visit that I might enjoy?
I love Pickering, Whitby and Helmsley in North Yorkshire. I really like the Shambles in York and lots of places in Northumberland/Tyne and Wear e.g. Tynemouth, Newcastle Quayside market.

I also really quite liked Harrogate and I am going to Bakewell next week. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for somewhere with lots of little gift shops/galleries/craft markets and maybe somewhere nice to eat too.

Thanks in advance, I know it's quite a specific request

Whitstable
Rye
Sandwich

Stamford.

It's a bit touristy but Bourton on the Water

North Berwick

Malvern, Tewkesbury, Bourton on the Water

Belper in Derbyshire

@StudentHelp oh I'm so glad you live Helmsley! That's where I'm from. It was better before the arrival of the chain shops but it's such a beautiful place. ❤️

*love

FFS

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone!

@chocolatiers
It’s a lovely place! My family goes on holiday to North Yorkshire every year and we usually stay around the Pickering/Thornton le Dale area and always fit a trip to Helmsley in.

Kirkby Lonsdale

Be careful if you go to Whitstable, there are people who will try to steal your bag. As a result I carry a small can of hairspray in my pocket. It will be the team of 2 men, dark, skinny and wearing hoodies who will be in front of you and then suddenly be behind you, one sneaking up to grab and the other ready to catch it. And no, they didn't get it because I am not daft. Sadly I am also not fast enough to batter them. This is in the main shopping street with the nice independent shops. I know it could happen anywhere but coastal towns seem to attract more scum.

@DontCallMeShitley
Thank you, I’ll be careful if we do go there!

Uppermill in Saddleworth.

Tunbridge Wells. Go with an empty credit card is all I'd say.

If you’re going to Stamford then you need to go to Peterborough. It was featured on the Scott Mills travelogue.

No, don't go to Peterborough. It's boring and soul-less.

Winchester and most of the isle of Wight. Arundel.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire has what you're looking for if you're in that area.

@cheesenpickles I’ve been to Winchester bus station and train station (walked between the two on a Sunday) but haven’t seen any more of it so may need to go back!
Also been to Yarmouth and loved it!

@girlandboy I’m about 10 miles from Ashby when at uni but never been. I’ll definitely give it a visit next term!

I was going to suggest Bakewell!

@RainbowMum11
Im glad you think it fits the criteria - I’m going on Wednesday and really looking forward to it! Any specific recommendations for places to eat? It’s part of my 21st birthday celebrations so I’d like to go to somewhere nice, one of us is veggie, the other isn’t.

Monday is market day so sadly you'll miss that. There are loads of places to eat, it really depends on the sort of food you like, but places like the Original Bakewell Pudding Parlour are nice x

Another vote for Stamford and also Oakham and Uppingham in a very small triangular area. Can all be seen in 2 days, but Stamford (and Burghley House) is a must. Stay at The George and eat at The Crown and go to the Tobie Norris and Stamford Wine Bar for drinks.

Down South, Winchester, Chichester and Alresford are good for independent shops and cafes.

@RainbowMum11
That’s a shame but it’s not too far from me at uni so I could always go back. It’s about an hours drive but I’ve booked to go on the train via Matlock (bus from Matlock) as I heard parking can be bad.

Holt,Norfolk