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

Sorry not RTFT, but would like to second Hay on Wye and Rye, spent many happy hours in both.

Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Market Harborough, Leicestershire

Leamington Spa and Stratford Upon Avon - but both can be very busy and with lots of tourists.

Woodbridge in Suffolk
Whitstable in Kent

Oh you have to go back to North Berwick, it’s my favourite place. That whole coast has nice independent shops tbf.

I’m glad Totnes got a mention it’s famously proud of its independent high street and has a very forward thinking vibe. Love Dartmouth too.

Thought of a couple more. I really like Alnwick and it's fabulous bookshop. We drove through Jedburgh last year and it looked lovely, but didn't stop so I can't comment on the shopping.

Lytham is lovely, near Blackpool.

Bridlington old town is great too
www.bridlingtonoldtown.com/

Came on to say tynemouth and you beat me to it!

@thatonesmine
I know Alnwick and Jedburgh well too and really like them. You can lose hours in Barter books

Lytham in Lancashire.

Holt
Wells next the sea

Both in Norfolk

Sheringham as well
Cromer

Southwell, Ashbourne, Cley next the sea Brancaster, Blakeney, Southwold, Aldeburgh, Warkworth, Rothbury, Alnwick, Keswick, Ludlow.

And some more: Leyburn, Hawes, Allendale, Settle. Was a bit surprised to see Peterborough on the list!

Seconding Ludlow as mentioned above: lots of independent and foodie shops plus a castle. Then there's Faringdon with its phone box library, Fairtrade status and magnificent folly on the hill. I loved Sedburgh with its shops and book stores and cafe culture. Also Hawes, which I would swear smells wonderfully of cheese, and Settle with the smallest gallery ever and the epic rail journey to Carlisle. And Leamington Spa with the Pump Rooms, food festival and fabulous shopping.

Southwold

My village has a phone box library, but its not really worth a weekend away!

Seconding a few that have already been mentioned: Knutsford, Stamford and Lytham

Rye is lovely. Coastal town with loads of higgedly piggedly antiques shops and independent cafes. Also stunning walks, a castle and loads of medieval inns.
I loved Sandwich too - great history, lovely walks, pubs and cafes. Don't remember the shops much.

Marlow is pretty with lots of nice walks around. Whilst there the Rebellion Brewery is not too far away and well worth a visit too.

Cirencester in the Cotswolds.

Cowbridge in South Wales

Thanks for everyone’s replies! Managed to look into quite a few of these places and they look great

Narbeth in Wales

Richmond - n Yorkshire

The piece hall at Halifax has a little shops
Shaftesbury is lovely
I also love Glastonbury that has some really unusual stuff, plus with the peace gardens and chalice wall, the abbey , the tor and so much more
Thirsk is a nice market town with some unusual little gift shops