Historic Market Towns in England

Painswick, Gloucestershire

The streets of Painswick are narrow and crammed with fine examples of glowing honey coloured stone buildings from all periods

Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire

An attractive market town on the river Nidd, set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Twice winner of 'Britain in Bloom' and home to the oldest sweet shop in Britain....

Penrith, Cumbria

Petworth, West Sussex

Petworth is an atmospheric place, it has a wealth of historic visitor attractions nearby and its close proximity to the attractive town of Chichester and its famous harbour.

Pickering, North Yorkshire

The enduring popularity of the East Coast of North Yorkshire owes much to the excellent long sandy beaches, while the lure of the wild moorland and its communities never fades.

Pontefract, West Yorkshire

Pontefract has a ruined castle which has seen many tragedies, Richard II was murdered there in 1400, and later it was the scene of bitter, bloody battles between Roundheads and Royalists.

Potton, Bedfordshire

Potton is a small market town lying close to the Cambridgeshire border. It has a long history, holding its first market in the 13th century when much of the land on which the town stood belonged to the Earls of Huntingdon.

Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire

An exquisite feature of the town is the Norman Church of St.Mary, the church shows restoration work from the 13th and 14th centuries and a modern spire built during the early part of the 20th century.

Reigate, Surrey

This is a bustling part of the Surrey landscape, it is easily reached via the M25 from London and is right on the North Downs Way.

Richmond, North Yorkshire

Richmond is a lovely old market town on the River Swale in North Yorkshire.

Ripon, North Yorkshire

Every night Ripons market square is the scene of a 1,000 year old custom when the city Wakeman blows his horn.

Rothwell, Northamptonshire

Interesting market town, with a long history, its market charter was granted in 1204.

Saffron Walden, Essex

The outstanding feature of Saffron Walden is its rich variety of properties tangled around its web of ancient streets.

Sandbach, Cheshire

Sandbach is a market town in Cheshire

Sandy, Bedfordshire

Settle, North Yorkshire

A wonderful market town in the Yorkshire Dales. Settle is the starting point for the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway; one of Britain's most spectacular and scenic railways which...

Shaftesbury, Dorset

Shaftsbury is Dorset's only hill-top town, with its long history and good views it is particularly attractive to tourists.

Shepton Mallet, Somerset

Sherborne, Dorset

The softly glowing Ham stone of which most of the town properties are built, lends warmth and atmosphere to what is already a unique and attractive place.

Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Shrewsbury is a wonderfully atmospheric town which beguiles the visitor with sights of bygone centuries and much a great charm is to be found in its narrow streets and medieval buildings.