The pretty market town with the UK’s best food known as the ‘loveliest town in England’

A charming market town in Shropshire has some of the best food in the UK, according to a survey from Which? Travel.

The team asked more than 9,000 people to rate their favourite inland towns and villages’ food and drink offerings.

Ludlow, a historic market town in Shropshire, came out on top with the nation’s best-rated food and drink.

The pretty town was awarded five stars for food, the only inland town in the survey to achieve such a high ranking.

Ludlow has more than 500 listed buildings and the poet John Betejman once described it as “the loveliest town in England”.

The town’s foodie offering puts the focus on fresh, local ingredients. A Which? spokesperson said: “Instead of a handful of high-end eateries, there’s a culture of local produce as well as numerous pubs and cafes, served by people who care about the food.”

The Old Downton Lodge is currently Ludlow’s best-rated restaurant on Tripadvisor while Vaughan’s Sandwich Bar topped the list for cafes.

The Boyne Arms is a top-rated gastropub while CSONS, a cafe on the river, was another of the town’s best-loved hotspots.

If you’re looking to try some local ingredients, make sure you visit on the second or fourth Thursday of the month for the Ludlow Local Produce market.

The market features food and drink that is produced within 30 miles of the market town and promotes sustainable food.

Wells, the UK’s second-smallest city, was named as the second-best inland destination for food.

Best UK towns and villages for food

1. Ludlow, Shropshire
2. Wells, Somerset
3. Lavenham, Suffolk
4. Llangollen, Denbighshire
5. Stamford, Lincolnshire
6. Cartmel, Cumbria