The UK’s ‘best town’ has plenty of pretty independent shops (Image: Getty)
With the weather finally brightening across the UK, we can all begin planning our weekend getaways. Quaint cafes, ambling walks, cosy pubs and unique shops are the trademark of a British trip to the countryside – no more, no less. Stamford delivers that and more, nestled in the coastal county of Lincolnshire.
If you’re a keen shopper, this may be the place for you. St Mary’s Street in Stamford was crowned the best high street for independent shops across the whole of the UK in a 2024 AmEx study, which aimed to showcase the value of small businesses. It is lined with unique boutiques, among the 170 believed to be packed into the town, from artisan bakers, to antiques dealers, art galleries and local brewers.
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The market town is full of historic buildings (Image: Getty)
Despite shop closures up and down the UK high streets, shop owners previously told the Express that the loyal community, strong tourist pull and a close-knit network of traders helped this high street withstand the challenges.
Ben Stevenson, owner of jewellery shop Rubirox, said it was a « great town to be based in » and highlighted the importance of shopping local.
If you prefer browsing a market, then you must plan a long weekend instead, because every Friday, around 70 stallholders fill Broad Street and Ironmonger Street, selling fresh food and flowers.
The accolades don’t end at the shops. Sir Walter Scott claimed that Stamford was “the finest sight on the road between Edinburgh and London” while the historian WG Hoskins said « if there is a more beautiful town in the whole of England, I have yet to see it”.
There are believed to be more around 170 shops in Stamford (Image: Getty)
More recently, The Sunday Times declared it to be « Britain’s top place to live ». So what is it that makes Stamford so special? Its historical architecture is certainly one factor.
There are more than 600 listed buildings in and around the market town, with pretty pastel-coloured 17th and 18th-century limestone houses, and rustic timber-framed buildings.
One avid travel blogger, Travel Gourmet, enthused: « We didn’t really see more modern buildings and talked about how it was a bit like staying in a living museum – everywhere was beautiful and well preserved. »
Despite its quaint size, with a population of just 2,000, there are also five medieval churches squeezed into the market town.
If you want the best of both worlds, Lincolnshire is known for its countryside. Stamford is within reach of the county’s sandy coast, with the likes of Skegness, Cleethorpes and Mablethorpe just a short drive away.
Walkers might like to explore the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a rolling chalk landscape served by stunning trails.
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