The buzz of British cities like London, Manchester, Liverpool, or Bristol is irresistible and infectious, but it’s in England’s small towns that you’ll often find the heart and soul of this eccentric country. Discover market towns with crumbling castles, seaside communities brimming with contemporary art, and more as you travel around England’s best small towns.
Ludlow, Shropshire
Ludlow is an 11th-century market town.
Photo by Magdanatka/Shutterstock
Sitting near the Welsh/English border on the edge of the undulating Shropshire Hills in the west of the country, Ludlow is a charming 11th-century market town with creaking timber-framed buildings leaning against handsome Georgian townhouses. Come on a Saturday to shop for unusual flavored cheese by the Weird and Wonderful Cheese Co.and locally cured salami and honey at the farmers’ market, right outside the magnificent ruined medieval Ludlow Castle; hike up the towers for far-reaching views over the surrounding countryside.
Where to stay
- Book Now: The Feathers Hotel, Ludlow
Pay a visit to Ludlow Brewing Co. to try a traditional English ale, and stay overnight at the Feathers, a 17th-century, 42-room hotel with the most ornate timber frontage in town and original architectural elements inside, including intricate plasterwork and dramatic timber-vaulted ceilings.
Whitby, North Yorkshire
Adult tickets to Whitby Abbey are about $12.
Courtesy of English Heritage
There’s no missing the 13th-century Whitby Abbey on a visit to this Yorkshire seaside town. Whether you take a boat trip from Whitby Harbour along the base of the precipitous cliffs, where the abbey perches high above the town, or you wander through the tangle of cobbled streets that connect to the stone staircase that leads up to it, you’ll find yourself drawn to the vast ruin that inspired parts of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. If spooky is your thing, come in late April for the Whitby Goth Weekend, when hundreds of eyeliner-adorned visitors swarm the town in black lace and big, heavy boots.
Where to stay
Book Now: La Rosa Hotel
Keep it quirky and stay in La Rosa Hotel, which is right in the center of town and has esoteric decor and a Victorian tearoom.
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth, in Cornwall, is known for its beaches, history, and oysters.
Photo by PhotoExpozure UK/Shutterstock (L); photo by Peter Titmuss/Shutterstock (R)
Tucked away on Cornwall’s south coast at the mouth of the River Fal, this pretty seaside town has a lively history of piracy, smuggling, and oyster farming. Spend time in the National Maritime Museum to find out exactly how Falmouth came to be such an important place for nautical business. Then sample some of those local oysters, which are still dredged by hand on unmotorized boats. One optimal place to taste those oysters, and other local shellfish, is the shorefront Beach House Falmouth.
After snacking, walk along soft, white-sand beaches on the town’s southern coastline, and visit the Tudor-era Pendennis Castle, which overlooks the entrance to the Carrick Roads estuary on a small peninsula.
Where to stay
- Book Now: St. Michaels Resort
Bed down at St. Michaels Resort, which has bright, breezy rooms with a nod to the nautical in its decor.
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
The village of Woodstock in England
Photo by Stefano Ember/Shutterstock
The attractive Cotswolds town of Woodstock has been home to the seat of the Duke of Marlborough for more than 300 years, and quite the seat it is: Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (and the birthplace of Winston Churchill). The leafy estate, with its opulent baroque architecture and large boating lakes, dominates the landscape around Woodstock.
But the town itself—awash with the golden sandstone this region is famous for—is well worth exploring, too. The fascinating Oxfordshire Museum is home to dinosaur footprints and a millennia-old hoard of locally found coins, while the high street is all independent boutiques and craft coffee shops.
Where to stay
- Book Now: The Feathers Hotel
Stay in one of the creaking suites at the Feathers, a collection of four townhouses stitched together to create a beautiful, old-timey hotel.
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
You can stroll for hours on Wells-next-the-Sea’s sandy beaches.
Photo by Myriad Life Photo/Shutterstock
It’s the simple things that make Wells-next-the-Sea such a delightful vacation destination: A vast golden-sand beach stretches for miles east of the town’s seafront. It’s backed by a pine forest and big dunes, plus a row of multicolor traditional beach huts, many of which are available for day hire. Crabbing from the quay is a popular pastime in the town; kids and adults can compete to catch a 10-legged friend or two. Classic British fish and chips, with locally caught fish, should be eaten from a paper bag for lunch—French’s has the best.
Where to stay
- Book Now: The Victoria
Stay nearby at the Victoria in Holkham, where local venison curry is the dinner menu highlight.
Keswick, Cumbria
Some 5,000 people call Keswick home.
Photo by Victor Maschek/Shutterstock
The Lake District is famous for its towering fells, but its little towns should also garner some attention—especially the small but spirited Keswick, which sits on the shores of Derwentwater and is home to the world’s only pencil museum. The history of the writing apparatus may not seem enthralling now, but give it a chance and you’ll find fascinating military and spy connections, a world-record–breaking pencil, and some intriguing royal memorabilia—plus an opportunity to dry out from those all-too-common rainy Lake District days.
Where to stay
- Book Now: Inn on the Square
Stay at the colorful, 34-bedroom Inn on the Square, where enormous beds are overseen by photographs of rare-breed Herdwick sheep, and the in-house steak restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients.
Buxton, Derbyshire
After a soak in Buxton’s thermal hot springs, take in some culture at the opera house or St. John’s Church.
Photo by Stephen Bridger/Shutterstock
The Romans were the first to popularize baths in Buxton, a town that could easily be mistaken for Bath thanks to its fabulous Georgian and Victorian architecture. Early visitors came here for the city’s natural thermal springs, which—like many other mineral waters—were believed to have healing properties. Today, those springs are accessible at the hotel Buxton Crescent.
Spend your days exploring the natural wonders on the town’s doorstep, including hiking in the Peak District and delving into the vast limestone Poole’s Cavern. You also can enjoy a performance at the elegant Buxton Opera House. Don’t miss a chance to “take the waters” as the Romans would have done more than 2,000 years ago.
Where to stay
- Book Now: Buxton Crescent
Stay at the magnificent Buxton Crescent Hotel, an elegant 18th-century building constructed as a perfect crescent in the center of town.
Lewes, East Sussex
A view down the High Street in the town of Lewes, Sussex, UK in summertime
Photo by Nicola Pulham/Shutterstock
This market town sits at the eastern end of the South Downs National Park, which means arresting bucolic landscapes are never far away. There’s the ruined Lewes Castle to explore as well as various food, flea, and craft markets throughout each month; you have to try the vegan dumplings by Vegan Peace Food or the game pies by Sussex Wild Food Co. You can also wander the creaking hallways of Anne of Cleves House, the home of Henry VIII’s fourth wife.
Where to stay
- Book Now: The White Hart
The characterful White Hart, located at the top of High Street, has 23 wonky-floored bedrooms that pair fresh, contemporary decor with historic elements, such as oak beams and Tudor-era fireplaces.
Margate, Kent
Margate is a creative enclave on the Kent coast.
Photo by Neil Lang/Shutterstock
A once down-at-the-heels seaside town, Margate’s fortunes have turned over the past decade. The reopening of its retro amusement park Dreamland in 2015, followed by the Turner Prize award ceremony at the seafront Turner Contemporary gallery in 2019, saw it making headlines for all the right reasons. Since then, Londoners seeking a little more space—and sea—have flocked to join this lively, creative community on the Kent coast. Come for the art and amusements and stay for the restaurants. Big hitters include the harborside Sargasso, housed in an old boat shed, and the seafood-serving neighborhood bistro Angela’s.
Where to stay
- Book Now: No. 42 Margate by Guesthouse
You can’t improve upon the location of this sophisticated restored Victorian townhouse, which sits directly opposite Margate’s golden strip of beach. Book a minimalist-style room with a balcony to make the most of any unexpectedly balmy British weather.
Bruton, Somerset
Located 10 minutes from Bruston, Osip is a Michelin-starred restaurant with room housed in a 17th-century coaching inn.
Photo by Dave Watts
Don’t be deceived by Bruton’s diminutive size. Despite being little more than a street of honey-hued terrace houses and independent boutiques, this Somerset town (population: 3,000) is a cultural heavyweight. Much of that is thanks to Hauser & Wirth, the Swiss art dealers that set up shop just outside Bruton in 2014. Start at the gallery, where you can take in contemporary exhibitions, a Piet Oudolf–designed grass garden, and a farm shop stocked with local honey and fresh pork pies.
Don’t think the town is resting on its (arty) laurels, though: The dining chops are equally impressive. Head into town to hit bakery and restaurant At the Chapel for award-winning wood-fired pizzas, or stop by the Old Pharmacy for small plates and natural wines. Five miles west, Wraxall Vineyard is a 50-year-old winery with a smart new wine bar. Alternatively, a three-mile hike from town will land you at the Three Horseshoes in teeny-tiny Batcombe. The kitchen at the flagstone-floored, nose-to-tail gastropub is run by Margot Henderson, the chef behind London’s lauded Rochelle Canteen, and Nye Smith. —Lucy Kehoe
Where to stay
- Book Now: Osip
Stay at Osip, a handsome 17th-century coaching inn 10 minutes’ from Bruton. Four elegant bedrooms overlook a patchwork of fields, and the Michelin-starred restaurant downstairs serves minimalist set meals. Dishes roll with the seasons; in summer, sip refreshing cups of tomato water, and in winter, warm up with fermented potato flatbreads and mushroom and hazelnut cookies.
This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on March 27, 2026, with current information. Lucy Kehoe contributed to the reporting of this article.
