The best UK towns and villages for food and drink

The best places to dine in the UK aren’t necessarily touristy seaside resorts or big cities. Eateries in small towns and medieval villages also wowed Which? readers.

More than 9,000 Which? members rated their favourite inland towns and villages for food and drink. The best, with five stars, was the historic market town of Ludlow, home to fewer than 11,000 people.

An even smaller place with a big reputation was Lavenham, a village with a population of just 1,225 – but a range of pubs and cafés that equal those of much bigger towns.

From Wells in the south to Cartmel on the edge of the Lake District, you can eat well in unexpected little locations throughout the country.

Heading to the coast instead? Check out the best seaside towns for food and drink. 

Or, for even more variety and choice, the best UK cities for food and drink.

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Ludlow – 5 stars, destination score 79%

Ludlow, in Shropshire, was the only town in our survey to score the full five stars for food. This is despite the fact that 20 years ago it had three Michelin-starred restaurants (more than any other English town or city outside London), but none today.

Our survey endorses the local view that standards overall have, if anything, improved since then. 

Instead of a handful of high-end eateries there’s a culture of local produce – including great butchers and bakers – as well as numerous pubs and cafés, served by people who care about food. 

Ludlow also received five stars for the attractiveness of its Georgian and Tudor architecture, as well as four stars for scenery and tourist attractions. The medieval castle is host to a food festival every September, as well as a Winter Festival with a light show from 24-26 November 2023.

Wells – 4 stars, destination score 83%

The UK’s smallest city (after the City of London) has a number of atmospheric old taverns serving local ales and traditional pub food. Favourites within a few minutes walk of the famous cathedral include the City Arms and the Globe Inn.

The new star on the food scene is ‘veg-led’ small plates restaurant Root, already awarded a Bib Gourmand by Michelin (for serving high-quality food at a reasonable price), despite only opening at the end of last year.

And, even before you think about food, Wells has a huge amount to offer. It had the highest destination score, and five stars for attractiveness and tourist attractions, in our survey of the best small towns and villages in the UK.

Lavenham – 4 stars, destination score 79%

Halfway between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury in Suffolk you’ll find Lavenham, which, with good reason, calls itself ‘England’s finest medieval village’.

Its beautiful preserved centre has managed to resist the tide of chain shops and restaurants in other, better-known towns. 

Instead the streets are lined with independent bakers, butchers, pubs and cafés, such as the Munning Tea Rooms at the aptly named Crooked House – a Tudor-timbered, 14th-century building leaning companionably against the house next door.

Llangollen – 4 stars, destination score 79%

Deep in the Dee valley, Llangollen is another little place with a big, independent spirit. It’s long been famous for the lamb and black beef, from the farms all around, or local trout from the River Dee.

Local cafés and restaurants mix traditional ingredients and modern techniques to great effect. Try the Bara Brith (fruit loaf) that you’ll find at cafés including the popular Cottage Tearooms and Bistro by Llangollen Bridge.

Stamford – 4 stars, destination score 79%

In the 19th century, local landowners decided they wanted nothing to do with industrialisation in Lincolnshire’s finest gem, Stamford. It lost the chance of a railway or modern factories, but in exchange got to keep its honey-coloured stone buildings, many of which are now listed.

Local food can be appreciated at its best in olde world pubs such as the Tobie Norris or, as this is Lincolnshire, try the pork pies or the cheese at specialists Rennet and Rind on the High Street.

Cartmel – 4 stars, destination score 78% 

The medieval village of Cartmel, just outside the Lake District, has a population of fewer than 5,000 people but is famous for two culinary legends.

The first is the restaurant L’Enclume, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a third Michelin star last year. Chef Simon Rogan’s farm-to-fork philosophy has been hugely influential on British cuisine. His 20-course tasting menu (£250) is still considered by many critics to be one of the UK’s best. 

A simpler take on his foraging based menu (five courses, including canapes and dessert) is available at the nearby Rogan & Co for £79.

The other culinary legend in Cartmel is sticky toffee pudding. The version that the Village Shop on the main square created more than 20 years ago helped popularise what is now one of the UK’s most ubiquitous desserts. They still sell it today, from £3.35 for a small portion. 

The best UK towns and villages

Visit our survey of the best UK towns and villages to find out which had the highest ratings for attractiveness, scenery, tourist attractions and more, as well as details of how we carried out our survey.