Between Bristol And Southampton Is An Underrated Town With Antique Shops, Markets, And A Vibrant Food Scene

If you're looking for market towns in England, you'll have your pick of the litter. The country has over 1,200 of these beauties scattered across its countryside. If you're staying in Bristol or Southampton, one of the closest and most enticing market towns is Frome (pronounced Froome). This historic place is about 56 miles from Southampton and 25 miles from Bristol, yet it has its own distinct character developed over centuries.

According to the Frome Museum, the town's history dates all the way back to the year 685, when a monastery produced a small river community. However, its heyday spanned mostly between the 15th and 18th centuries, when it was an important cloth town. Although you can no longer see that seventh-century monastery, Frome still retains much of its heyday aesthetic. The town has 370 Grade 1 and Grade 2-listed buildings, including many historic darlings built before the 1800s. The town's Georgian and medieval architecture, cobblestone streets, and narrow laneways contain much of its thriving arts, food, shopping, and entertainment scenes.

With all this in mind, it's a surprise that much of what's written about Frome refers to it as a hidden gem or underrated. Homes & Antiques called Frome "England's best-kept travel secret," while PlymouthLive said it was "an underrated gem that boasts one of the U.K.'s finest high streets" before going on to say, "The enchanting market town of Frome in Somerset is this hidden treasure." It's still not for everyone, and you need to know where to go and when to visit. But it might be a gem for you if you're interested in alternative shopping, cultural, and dining experiences.

In recent years, Frome's locals have drawn upon its clothing and textiles heritage to imbue their town with a more enticing shopping scene. Sustainable and cyclical fashion and furnishings have become staples of Frome's retail culture, supported by its vintage and antique stores. About a dozen of these shops are found around town, hidden amongst its side streets and lanes. Catherine Hill, one of Frome's main shopping strips, is a narrow cobblestoned lane with brick and pastel-colored shopfronts tempting you on either side. Here you'll find Held, where antique homeware, furniture, and tableware await. The thoughtfully curated collection ranges from silver goblets and Art Deco lamps to ceramic jugs and wooden milking stools.

Elsewhere in town, you can find new and pre-loved furnishings at Eagle Lane Emporium. It has a decent collection of antique furniture, including upcycled and vintage items. "It's always worth popping in and having a walk around here," one shopper said in a Google Maps review. Paddy's Vintage is a couple of streets over in The Iron Gates, a Grade 2-listed historic building that now houses some of Frome's creators and makers. Owner Paddy Magnall has gone from running a market stall to having this brick-and-mortar shop selling eclectic antique items, including folk art, glassware, and furniture.

Frome is also great for vintage clothing shopping. The Dandy Lion, on Catherine Hill, is a men's and women's vintage fashion retailer selling leather jackets, knee-high boots, winter coats, chinos, suits, and more. Deadly is the Female is slightly further up Catherine Street. This is the spot for vintage glamor; think Hollywood-esque outfits reminiscent of the '40s and '50s waiting for their next owner. While this is the store's specialty, it also sells '60s mini dresses, femme fatale outfits, and swimwear from bygone eras.

History, shopping, food, and community converge during Frome's weekly and monthly markets. The Wednesday and Saturday markets take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. They started way back in 1239, and today they often include live music, games, and stallholders selling fresh produce, baked goods, bespoke clothing, homewares, and coffee. Cheese & Grain hosts the Flea & Collectibles Market every Wednesday, a great option for shoppers seeking antiques and pre-loved goods. Then there's The Frome Independent, held on the first Sunday of every month between March and December. It showcases the wares of designers, antique and vintage collectors, food and drink makers, and other independent creators alongside live music, street performers, and all-ages workshops.

Food also plays an important part in Frome's daily culture. The town has numerous cafes, restaurants, and pubs catering to various tastes. The High Pavement receives high praise online. It specializes in Moorish tapas with a selection of cold, hot, and charcoal-grilled plates on its menu. For breakfast, grab a coffee from independent brewer Moo and Two, before visiting Rye Bakery for freshly baked pastries. If you want a traditional English pub setting, pop into The Three Swans. Small, cozy, and full of character, it has wood-burning stoves keeping patrons warm as they sip cask ales while sitting in vintage stools and armchairs. Those who love English pubs should add a stop in Keynsham, a town with charming riverside walks and pubs.

You can drive or catch a train to Frome in about one hour from Bristol, one of the best places in the world to travel in 2026. The trip takes just under two hours by car or by train if you're coming from Southampton, an underrated seaside gem. Frome has numerous hotels, inns, and bed-and-breakfasts around downtown.