Half An Hour From Norwich Is A Charming Market Town With Quaint Shops, Nearby Trails, And Medieval Beauty

Market towns have been a staple of English communities since at least the 12th century. Towns fought hard to be granted a Royal Charter, which would give communities the chance to thrive with a regularly scheduled market. Folks would travel from miles around, hoping to get their hands on everything from baked goods, fish, and meat to ironware, clothes, and more. Bargaining was a necessary skill, and any debts were written down in books. Today, Attleborough — located about 40 minutes from Norwich — keeps that tradition alive with its colorful weekly market, which has been going strong since King Henry III granted his permission in 1226.

Attleborough also has unique shops that you can visit any day. Several are perfect for gift giving, such as a card and gift shop, a handmade candle and perfume store, and a bakery.  A drive around Attleborough reveals its charming appearance. It's lined with modest-sized buildings and historic standouts, including The Thatched Cottage, a 16th century cottage that resembles a dwelling from The Shire. You can also visit the Church of St. Mary, which dates back to 1100 and pleases the eye with its stone facade and detailed inlay. The gardens at Peters Beales Roses provide a lovely place to enjoy the outdoors in town, while nearby trails take you into the countryside and through farmland.

According to the Attleborough Town Council, Attleborough's market has opened every Thursday since its inception. The weekly market is recognizable by its candy-striped stalls, which shelter enticing goods displayed in wooden carts. If you have your heart set on local, handmade goods, make sure to catch the Makers Market on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Rather than outdoors, you can find the stalls inside the Town Hall.

Visit From Me To You if you're in the market for cards and gifts. The shop sells ornately designed cards, novelty items, and wrapping paper. Norfolk Melting Pot is your go-to location for all things candles and scents. Its collection boasts hand-poured candles, room diffusers and mists, and wax melts with scents such as sandalwood & vanilla and lemon verbena. You can also pick up a bottle of luxury perfume or an aromatic massage oil.

Highly rated on Google, Bakeaholics has your sweet tooth covered. The bakery offers irresistible treats such as Kinder Bueno cakes, cookie pies, and blondie stacks. You can also build your own box, making the bakery's goodies perfect for an edible gift. Alternatively, We Three Bears is perfect if you know someone who has a baby on the way. The store customizes items for babies, from onesies and hats to blankets and teething toys. As long as you know the little one's name, you can have it embroidered on a gift of your choosing.

If you want to experience nature in town, visit the gardens at Peter Beales Roses. The flower shop has a lovely rose garden that is open to the public and free to enter. The gardens rival the beauty of the rose garden at Cholmondeley Castle, a scenic castle with gorgeous gardens. Its rose-lined pathways and flower-adorned archways bring images of "Alice in Wonderland" to mind. If you're around during summer, you can catch the annual Rose Festival in June.

You'll have to travel a bit outside town to experience countryside trails. Great Hockham Circular, near Puddledock Farm in Great Hockham, is an easy 2.2-mile trail. The nicely cleared path loops through the forest under towering trees and, according to AllTrails, is suitable for children and  walking dogs. Another trail is Rockland All Saints Circular, which traverses farmland in Rockland All Saints. The 3.8-mile trail starts at Rockland Playing Field, before passing by golden farm fields and looping through a combination of narrow lanes and rough paths. Conveniently, Rockland All Saints is under a 10-minute drive from Attleborough.

Market towns abound in England. If you want to keep the experience going, then Rothbury, a small market town with shops and tasty eats, is a good bet. Another lovely option is Haltwhistle, a charming market town nicknamed '"the centre of Britain."