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

Oh great - Matlock also has some nice independent shops and the park is lovely.

I was going to suggest Bakewell but I see you’re already going, you’ll love it. Frome in Somerset is nice, especially if you go on the first Sunday of the month when they have a big street market of independent designers and makers.

@DontCallMeShitley OMG I am glad you posted this. We are going to Kent in a couple of weeks and plan to visit Whitstable. I shall be alert now and have my bag crossways across my shoulder

Shrewsbury - wyle cop is a fantastic street of independent shops

Norwich? I would say there are more interesting shops there than there are in Ipswich.

Hebden Bridge

Holmfirth, West Yorks
Castle Cary, Somerset
Bewdley, Worcestershire
Moreton on the Marsh, Warwickshire (I think)
YY to Saltaire
Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire (can be very, very touristy)
Burford, Oxfordshire
York - small city rather than town or village

Cockermouth is gorgeous. Got very badly flooded in 2009 but that led to new pavements etc and it all seems very clean. Almost no chains except for Boots and Greggs and the odd bank on the Main Street. All the rest are independents. It really is a lovely little spot.

Penrith too in Cumbria, it needs investment but it could be great.

Malton is lovely too. And Bedale (both in North Yorkshire)

Happy travels! I now want to go for a drive out somewhere nice.

Shrewsbury is nice.

Ely

@5foot5 if you are in a busy street you will probably be OK, it is quite crowded on a nice day, people looking in the shops, walking to the beach etc.

We were on the way back to the car, no-one about except these lads who were in front of us. They must have gone into an alley and waited for us to pass because they vanished and then one appeared right behind me. I am very sensitive to things and aware of my surroundings and for some reason I turned around as he was almost on me, and he buggered off as I pulled my bag closer.

I always have a bag with a long strap and handles, the strap is on my shoulder, bag is always tucked close to my side and I usually hold the handles too with my hand on top of the bag. He would have had a fight to get it but he was still going to have a try.

Have been stalked before, but in a busier street, after hearing a scream from a woman having her bag stolen, saw him lurking behind me and nipped into a shop. And once a man trying to get into my bag while I queued in Boots.

Just don't let go of your bag. Or wear it so it is behind you, like the tourist I stopped to tell her bag was open. She had it over her shoulder, but behind her. In crowded Knightsbridge.

Hebden Bridge. Some good walking too.

You would absolutely love Saltaire.

The first time we went there, in the mid 90s, it was to see the special exhibition of the entire set of Hockneys Dog Paintings - this indirectly led to us acquiring a dachshund pup and then having DD.

.

OP if you're near Ashby, have you thought of Melbourne in South Derbyshire?

Errol
I went to see that exhibition too with my new boyfriend at the time
New boyfriend now ex boyfriend by many years.

We revisited Saltaire this year - the exhibition was (maybe still is) a set of drawings Hockney did using an iPad. This resulted in DH being inspired to have a go at sketching - something he's always wanted to try but not had the time or invested in materials. He's not bad at it!

Goodness knows what'll happen if we make a third trip.

Wirksworth and Cromford, Derbyshire (maybe check them out when you go to Bakewell).

Hexham, Northumberland

Buxton, Derbyshire

Corbridge in Northumberland

Kirkby Lonsdale
Arnside
Penrith
Settle

Another one for Stamford

Whistable was my first thought.

Ledbury
Great Malvern
Hay on Wye
Ludlow

Clifton village Bristol

ilkley and otley in west Yorkshire.