England has more than 1,200 market towns, but Frome — pronounced 'Froome' — keeps getting called one of its best-kept secrets. Sitting about 25 miles from Bristol and 56 from Southampton, this Somerset town traces its roots to a river monastery founded in 685, though its golden era came between the 15th and 18th centuries as a cloth-trading centre. That legacy shows: around 370 Grade 1 and Grade 2-listed buildings line its cobbled streets and narrow lanes, giving the whole town a Georgian-and-medieval backdrop for a very modern scene of indie shops, markets and eating.
Shopping is the main draw. Frome leans hard into its textile heritage with a secondhand-first retail culture — roughly a dozen antique and vintage shops tucked around the side streets. Catherine Hill, a steep cobbled lane of pastel shopfronts, is the anchor. Held sells curated homeware from silver goblets to Art Deco lamps; Eagle Lane Emporium mixes antique and upcycled furniture; and Paddy's Vintage, in the Grade 2-listed Iron Gates building, stocks folk art, glassware and furniture. Vintage fashion fans get The Dandy Lion for leather jackets and suits, and Deadly is the Female further up Catherine Street for '40s and '50s Hollywood glamour alongside '60s mini dresses and retro swimwear.
The markets are just as much a reason to come. The Wednesday and Saturday markets have run since 1239 and still mix produce, baked goods and homewares with live music. The Cheese & Grain hosts a Flea & Collectibles Market every Wednesday, while The Frome Independent — first Sunday of the month, March to December — is the big one: designers, vintage dealers, street food, performers and all-ages workshops taking over the town.
Food-wise, the town punches above its size. The High Pavement does Moorish tapas with charcoal-grilled plates, Moo and Two pours independent coffee, Rye Bakery handles the pastries, and The Three Swans is the classic cosy pub play — wood-burning stoves, cask ales, mismatched armchairs. If you fancy extending the pub-crawl theme, Keynsham nearby has riverside walks and more traditional boozers.
Getting there is easy: about an hour by car or train from Bristol, or just under two hours from Southampton. The town centre has plenty of hotels, inns and B&Bs within walking distance of everything. Frome suits travellers who'd rather rummage a flea market than queue for a landmark — collectors, vintage-fashion hunters, and anyone who likes their English heritage with an independent streak. Time it for a first Sunday and you'll catch the town at full throttle.