Sandwiched Between Liverpool And Birmingham Is A Market Town With Canal Views, Cute Cafes, And Shops

There's a rich tradition of street markets in Shropshire, the English county that borders Wales, and it can be seen with unforgettable clarity in the town of Market Drayton. People have lived here so long that Great Drayton and Little Drayton were listed in the Domesday Book in 1086, but it was the granting of a market charter in the 13th century that gave Market Drayton its name and its claim to fame. Conveniently located roughly 50 miles from Liverpool and just over 45 miles from Birmingham, Market Drayton offers a glimpse of both that mercantile history and how Shropshire residents live today, and it all starts with the market.

Market Drayton has been hosting its Wednesday market for centuries, ever since King Henry III approved it in 1245. Today, the market runs twice a week, with a street market on Wednesdays and an indoor one on Saturdays, featuring a collection of independently owned shops selling a wide variety of wares. Stalls ring Cheshire Street on Market Day, and vendors can also be found inside Market Hall; there's even a special monthly Artisan Market held on second Saturdays, with a focus on handmade art and crafts. Whether you're looking for gifts, new styles, or fresh produce, this historic market probably has what you need.

One of those shops specializes in a tasty treat that has become baked into the fabric of the town. Billington's Gingerbread traces its history back to 1817, when a local confectioner hit upon an original recipe that remains largely unchanged today. You can find Billington's signature gingerbread at vendors throughout the United Kingdom today, but there's something special about sampling it at The Fields Kitchen in the heart of Market Drayton, mere feet from the market itself.

The Fields Kitchen is just one of the many cute cafes and eateries you'll find throughout Market Drayton. The Hideout sits at the top of Tripadvisor's ranking of quick bites in Market Drayton, with a 4.8 rating after dozens of reviews. This spot serves coffee and shakes, sandwiches and scones, puddings and cakes, and a full English breakfast, and also has vegan and gluten-free options. Jones's Coffee House promises a warm welcome to all customers, with a breakfast and lunch menu using locally sourced ingredients. And Kaz's Cafe supplements its coffee and breakfast with a wide variety of teas. Any of these three will give you a welcome break from shopping, whether you're after coffee and cake or a more substantial meal.

If the market didn't have what you're looking for — or if you like the unpredictability and savings of thrift stores — there are several charity shops in Market Drayton you might want to visit. It might not be London, which has been called the best thrifting city in Europe, but you can still find some exciting bargains in Market Drayton's shops. Newlife is a U.K. charity that provides medical support and play opportunities to disabled children and their families; like all locations, the Market Drayton store sells discounted new clothing and other goods donated by well-known brands, with profits helping fund the charity's work. The town is also home to an Oxfam store, which helps fund the anti-poverty NGO, and an AEDdonate store, which benefits a U.K. charity that helps communities fund, install, and maintain public defibrillators across the country. Whether you're hunting for a bargain or simply browsing, these shops are worth a look, and you'll be helping out others at the same time.

Shopping's all well and good, but don't overlook nature during your stay in Market Drayton. Make time for a leisurely stroll along the canal when you aren't too busy sipping coffees and bargain-hunting. You'll see some pretty sights and maybe learn some fascinating things about Shropshire's industrial history.

One of the defining features of this part of England is the Shropshire Union Canal. Its main line runs for just over 66 miles from Wolverhampton to Ellesmere Port, near the breathtaking scenery of Liverpool, with branches connecting it to the River Dee in Chester (considered the most beautiful architectural city in the U.K. by mathematics) and the canal network at Middlewich. The canal was built in the first half of the 19th century by the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company, and it's still in use today, managed by the Canal & River Trust. The canal is popular with recreational boaters, and its towpath is a popular walking trail, with a few of its miles running through Market Drayton and into the surrounding countryside.

Walking the canal will take you past Market Drayton Wharf, once an important landing place for coal and other goods that arrived by boat. You'll see the apartment building that was originally the Betton Mill warehouse, built in 1905, and a couple of scenic bridges. Near the Newcastle Road Bridge you can see an old pillbox, one of many such fortifications built to protect roads and canals against a potential German invasion in World War II. Walk far enough, and you'll come upon the Tyrley Flight, where you might get to see some of the canal's locks in action. Throughout the walk you'll pass houses, staircases, and impressive canal embankments, while also glimpsing the delights of the Shropshire countryside.