6 of the best MARKET TOWNS

An important part of our national heritage, British market towns were traditionally places where farmers went to sell their produce and locals shopped. Today they’re still at the heart of rural life, with historic buildings, thriving local, independent businesses and bustling communities. Set amid beautiful countryside, they’re brilliant choices for a town and country weekend break.

LUDLOW, SHROPSHIRE

Set on the edge of the stunning Shropshire Hills – with its half-timbered shops and pubs, beautiful Georgian town houses and an imposing 11th-century castle on the River Teme – Ludlow caught the attention of the poet Sir John Betjeman, who said it was ‘probably the loveliest town in England’.

There’s still an open-air market in Castle Square