Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury is world famous for Gold Hill, the setting for the Hovis advert, steep and cobbled, lined with picturesque cottages and the ancient Benedictine abbey walls. The views out over the Blackmore Vale are stunning, and the atmosphere in the town is bustling, with regular markets and a range of quirky, independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. If you’re looking for a spot of lunch the Grosvenor Arms in the town centre is good, or try Ye Olde Two Brewers, tucked away at the bottom of Gold Hill.