18 Beautiful Small Towns in the UK You Need to Visit
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There is so much more to the UK than just London and visiting beautiful small towns is one of my favourite things to do.
You can stroll around, pop into a café, browse the shops, and more often than not there’s a castle around the corner.
They make for a perfect day out or a great addition to any itinerary.
Today I’ll share with you some of the best small towns to visit in the UK.
1. Conwy, North Wales
Conwy gets you from the moment you arrive. As you cross the bridge into town, you’ll be greeted with one of the most iconic views in Wales with the castle and the harbour.
The town walls are among the best-preserved in Europe and you can walk along the top for free.
The castle itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and absolutely worth the visit.
It’s very nice to walk around the town as there are loads of local shops, cafés and pubs.
The Popty Conwy Bakery sells some of the best vanilla slices in the country.
Down on the quay, look out for Conwy Mussels Co. — a great little seafood spot serving local seafood treats (they even have a £3 crab roll!).
Another place you shouldn’t miss on the quay is the Smallest House in Great Britain.
There’s a small entry fee to go inside, but it’s fun and makes a great photo.
2. Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Shrewsbury is one of my favourite towns in the UK, and Shropshire in general is massively underrated — most people drive through without stopping, which is a real shame.
The town centre is full of beautiful black-and-white timber-framed Tudor buildings and winding medieval lanes, and you’ll find a brilliant food scene to go with it.
The Henry Tudor Inn is one of the oldest pubs in town and is incredibly cosy, especially in winter when it feels really atmospheric.
There’s also a lovely park (The Quarry) where you can walk along the river.
If you fancy something a bit different, Shrewsbury Prison does fascinating tours and even sleepover nights if you’re feeling brave.
The market is also brilliant for local food and produce and well worth timing your visit around.
3. Salcombe, Devon
Salcombe is one of the prettiest seaside towns in Devon, and it has a bit of everything — beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and stunning coastal walks along the South West Coast Path.
One place well worth visiting is Overbeck’s, a National Trust subtropical garden perched above the estuary with incredible views.
It doesn’t feel like it should exist in England, which is part of the charm. Entry is free for National Trust members.
Salcombe has a great foodie reputation and is particularly lovely in summer — it gets very popular though, so book ahead if you’re planning a meal out.
4. St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is probably the most famous seaside town in Cornwall, and it absolutely lives up to it — the bay is stunning, the beaches are beautiful, and there are loads of brilliant galleries, shops, and restaurants.
One thing to know though: parking is a real nightmare.
I’d strongly recommend skipping the car and taking the train instead. Park at St Erth station, which has a Park & Ride, and hop on the St Ives Bay Line.
It’s only about 20 minutes and one of the most scenic rail journeys in the UK — the train follows the coastline and you get beautiful views of the bay as you arrive.
Once you’re there, Tate St Ives is a brilliant art gallery and of course the beaches — Porthminster Beach is gorgeous for a swim.
5. Tenby, Wales
Tenby is a colourful medieval walled town on the Pembrokeshire coast, and those ancient walls are still almost completely intact — you can walk along sections of them as you explore. I
You’ll also find colourful Georgian townhouses, great independent shops, and some lovely places to eat.
The town has three sandy beaches, and Castle Beach was named the best beach in Britain by The Sunday Times in 2019.
One thing not to miss is a boat trip out to Caldey Island.
It’s a small island run by Cistercian monks and open to visitors from April to October.
You can visit the monastery and pick up some of the monks’ famous chocolate from the island shop — it’s a really unique experience.
6. Whitby, Yorkshire
Whitby is a town that completely blew me away.
It’s lively, full of brilliant pubs and restaurants, and there’s a great live music scene at weekends.
But the thing you absolutely have to do is climb the 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey — an English Heritage site and one of the most dramatic ruins in England.
The views of the town and harbour from the top are stunning.
This is also where Bram Stoker found his inspiration for Dracula.
There’s also a Captain Cook Museum in town — the famous explorer learned his seamanship here as a young man.
7. Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire
Hebden Bridge is a brilliant day trip from Manchester — only about 20-25 minutes on the train.
The town centre is really pretty with lovely stone buildings, and you’ll find a good mix of pubs, restaurants, and independent shops.
If you’re visiting at the weekend, there’s a market in the town centre with food stalls and craft sellers which is well worth a browse.
There’s also a canal running through, so you can walk along the towpath or take a small boat trip.
Not far from town is Hardcastle Crags, a beautiful National Trust woodland where you walk through ancient oaks alongside a stream to some restored Victorian mills.
It’s particularly special in autumn when the leaf colours are incredible.
8. Rye, East Sussex
Rye is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in England and it genuinely looks like it fell out of a storybook — cobbled streets, crooked half-timbered buildings, and a hilltop setting with lovely views over the surrounding countryside.
Mermaid Street is the one everyone comes to photograph, and rightly so.
Some of the buildings on this cobbled lane date back to the 1100s — just walk it slowly and take it in.
St Mary’s Church is also worth a visi.
The town is great for browsing too — you’ll find antique shops, independent boutiques, and galleries all over the place.
9. Portree, Isle of Skye
Portree is the main town on the Isle of Skye and if you’re visiting the island, this is your base for everything — you’ll find shops, a supermarket, restaurants, and accommodation all here.
But beyond the practical stuff, Portree is genuinely beautiful.
The harbour is a perfect curve of colourful buildings that makes for the perfect photo spot.
I would also recommend driving up the road above town to the viewpoint overlooking the harbour.
From up there you get a completely different perspective.
The whole harbour is laid out below you.
It’s even more beautiful than from street level and a lot of people miss it entirely.
10. Ambleside, Lake District
Most people visiting the Lake District head straight to Windermere, but Ambleside just up the road has something a bit different — a proper stone town with great pubs, outdoor shops, and a really lovely feel.
In the centre of town, look out for the Bridge House — a tiny 17th-century building sitting on a bridge over the beck. It’s completely unique and makes for a great photo.
From the town, you can also walk up to Stock Ghyll Force, a beautiful 70-foot waterfall tucked into the woodland just behind Ambleside.
It’s about a 30-minute walk from the centre, easy and really worth it.
There are also a couple of pubs with outdoor seating along the river that are great on a sunny day.
11. Pitlochry, Scotland
If you’re driving from Edinburgh up to the Highlands, Pitlochry is a brilliant stop right on your route — a pretty, quaint town that’s well worth a couple of hours.
You’ll find bakeries, cafes, independent shops, and pubs.
One thing you absolutely have to try is the whisky ice cream from the ice cream parlour in town — it sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it’s genuinely delicious.
There are also lovely walks along the River Tummel, and it’s a great base for exploring Perthshire more widely.
12. Aberystwyth, Wales
Aberystwyth is a lovely seaside town on the Ceredigion coast with a long promenade lined with colourful Victorian townhouses.
Right on the seafront you’ll also find the ruins of Aberystwyth Castle, which is free to visit and has great sea views.
But the real highlight is going up Constitution Hill for the panoramic view over the whole bay.
If you’d rather not walk up, take the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway — a Victorian funicular that’s been running since 1896.
I’d recommend taking it up and walking back down, which gives you the best of both worlds.
And before you leave, make sure to get a fish and chips — they’re excellent here.
13. Ludlow, Shropshire
Ludlow is one of the most beautiful medieval market towns in England, with gorgeous Tudor timber-framed buildings, ancient pubs, and a food scene that has a serious reputation — it’s well worth planning a meal here.
The main attraction is Ludlow Castle, which is a really impressive ruin.
One thing worth knowing is that it’s privately owned, so everyone pays an entry fee regardless of National Trust or English Heritage membership.
That said, it’s absolutely worth it.
If you can time a visit for the Ludlow Castle Christmas Fair, it’s one of the most magical festive events I’ve been to in the UK.
Before you leave, also make sure you stop at the viewpoint on Whitcliffe Road — there’s a pull-off on the road that gives you a beautiful view of the castle and town.
14. Alnwick, Northumberland
Alnwick Castle is famous for being used in the Harry Potter films — the Outer Bailey is where Harry first learns to fly in that iconic broomstick training scene.
You can visit the exact spot, and the castle runs broom flying classes that are included with your ticket. Great fun whether you’re a big fan or just visiting with kids.
Beyond Harry Potter, it’s one of the largest inhabited castles in England and a genuinely brilliant place to visit in its own right.
Next door, with a separate ticket, is the Alnwick Garden, home to the famous Poison Garden.
Over 100 toxic plants sit behind locked gates, visited only on guided tours where you’re strictly forbidden from smelling or touching anything. It’s fascinating.
Alnwick town itself is also lovely for a wander, with good independent shops and cafes.
15. Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
Ballycastle is a small harbour town on the Causeway Coast in County Antrim.
The town itself is lovely — a charming harbour, great seafood pubs, and a gorgeous mile-long blue-flag beach right on the edge of town.
The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is just a short drive away, suspended 30 metres above the sea with incredible coastal views.
From Ballycastle harbour you can also take the ferry to Rathlin Island in just 20-40 minutes — a beautiful, peaceful island known for its puffins in season, dramatic sea cliffs, and wonderful wildlife.
16. Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Even if you’ve never heard of the Isle of Mull, you’ll almost certainly recognise Tobermory — a row of brightly coloured buildings lining the harbour that is one of the most photogenic waterfronts in Scotland.
Park near the harbour and take your time walking along the waterfront. You’ll find independent shops, a museum, and pubs serving great fresh seafood.I
If you’re feeling energetic, you can also walk out to the lighthouse and back for lovely coastal views.
17. Hay-on-Wye, Wales
If you love books, Hay-on-Wye is going to be your paradise — this small Welsh border town is world-famous as one of the greatest book towns in the world, and once you’re there it’s easy to see why.
Bookshops are everywhere — big ones, tiny ones, ones full of rare editions, others specialising in specific subjects.
They all look different and have their own personality, and you could genuinely spend an entire day just moving between them.
Hay Castle is also well worth a visit — a Norman castle that completed a major restoration in 2022 and now hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year.
And in late May, the town transforms for the Hay Festival, one of the world’s most celebrated literary festivals with over 600 events across ten days.
If you can time a trip around it, it’s a truly special experience.
18. Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury is a nice market town in Dorset with good shops and bakeries, but what most people come for is Gold Hill — a steep cobbled street that curves downhill between beautiful stone cottages, with the Dorset countryside rolling out in the distance below.
You’ll almost certainly recognise it. This is the street where Ridley Scott filmed the iconic 1973 Hovis “Boy on a Bike” advert, which was recently voted Britain’s most beloved TV ad of all time.
At the top of the hill there’s even a prop loaf of bread you can pose with for a photo, which is a fun touch.
Right next to it is the Gold Hill Museum, which is free to visit and has a lovely display about the history of Shaftesbury.
I hope this article has given you some inspiration for your next UK adventure! If you love discovering beautiful places in the UK, here are some other articles you might enjoy:
