There are many beautiful market towns in the South, and in our latest blog, we explore a few of our very favourites. 

Did you know that to be officially considered a market town, a town must have received a royal charter conferring this title? Perhaps that’s why they’re so often such fantastic places to live. Keep reading to find out more.

Marlborough

The southern market town of Marlborough in Wiltshire has a wide range of attractions and can definitely be considered a great place to live. The prestigious Marlborough College is one of the best schools in the country, with famous alumni including Kate and Pippa Middleton, comedian Jack Whitehall, and former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman. 

As well as being the perfect place for families looking for the very best education for their children, Marlborough has an abundance of independent shops, cafes and upmarket eateries, and boasts the second widest High Street in the UK. The World Heritage Site of Avebury with its iconic stone circles is only a short distance away, and is open to the public all year round, whilst to the southeast of the town, Savernake Forest is popular with families and walkers. Some of Wiltshire’s ancient White Horses are also situated near Marlborough, making it a fantastic location for anyone interested in ancient history. 

Marlborough frequently features on lists of the UK’s best places to live, thanks in part to its rustic charm. Cosy cottages and cobblestoned streets pair with beautiful Georgian buildings, elegant townhouses and a diverse range of modern homes to provide something for everyone in this picturesque rural town.

Farnham

Overlooked by the romantic ruins of Farnham Castle, this pretty market town is surrounded by woodland and nature trails and lies against the backdrop of the Surrey hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are lots of excellent state and independent schools in and around Farnham, so it’s a great place to settle down if you have a young family. The 300 acres of Farnham’s medieval deer park is a lovely asset to the town, being situated only a few hundred metres from the town centre. 

Farnham is a vibrant community with lots going on, from concerts and markets, to craft fairs, charity events and a burgeoning arts scene. It offers charming traditional shops, as well as upmarket clothing boutiques and lots of pubs and restaurants to explore. Being just 42 miles from London commuters are well served with a mainline rail link to Waterloo in under an hour and excellent and easily accessible links to the A3 and M3, providing fast connections to both Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.  

A broad range of house styles exist in the area, from smaller cottages and modern homes right through to large country houses, farms and estates. Many houses in Farnham boast classic period features, with Georgian properties being evident along many streets. The fabulous townhouses of Castle Street are prime examples of this stunning architectural era.

Offering a diverse culture that spans generations, Farnham is a close knit rural idyll, especially popular with those looking to escape city life, making it one of our favourite market towns in the South and a great place to live.

Alresford

In the heart of rural Hampshire, Alresford is a small Georgian market town full of colour-washed houses, beautiful riverside walks and specialist shops. The River Arle, a classic English chalk stream and major tributary of the River Itchen, meanders through the town, and has given rise to Alresford becoming the UK’s capital of watercress farming. To highlight this, on the third Sunday in May every year, the town plays host to the nationally acclaimed Watercress Festival, attracting thousands of visitors to celebrate all things watercress. 

Although small, Alresford has some fantastic places to eat, from traditional pubs with roaring log fires, to smart, modern bistros and afternoon tea hotspots. Close by is the beautiful Candover Valley, a unique rural community of picturesque villages and hamlets nestled in some of the loveliest countryside in Hampshire. The Yard in Chilton Candover, a rural cafe and events space, has, in recent times, become the hub of this close knit community. 

For those who enjoy the feeling of stepping back in time, a trip on The Mid Hants Railway, known locally as the Watercress Line, is an absolute must. Hop aboard one of the powerful steam locomotives for the 10 mile trip to Alton, or simply take in the sights, smells and sounds of this lovingly restored station. 

Alresford is also very conveniently located for some of the best private schools in the country, with both Winchester College and St Swithuns within easy striking distance. For those with young families and a love of history, Alresford is definitely a great market town in the South.

Beaconsfield

This charming town in Buckinghamshire is the ultimate in melding old and new, with many different kinds of architecture evident in the town and its environs. Surrounded by farmland and adjacent to the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Enid Blyton spent most of her life in this market town, and you can certainly envisage the Famous Five having a marvellous adventure in the beautiful local countryside. In fact, the name ‘Beaconsfield’ is derived from ‘beech tree,’ as the town was once nestled in a beech woodland. 

It is extremely convenient for access to London by both car and rail, so if commuting into the City is a key consideration, Beaconsfield could be the perfect place for you. The town’s nature reserve, Holtspur Bank, and area of over 6 hectares, plays host to many species of butterflies and plants, in particular wild orchids, making this a fantastic town for nature lovers. 

There is a great range and variety of shops, and the town’s vibrant restaurant scene offers  an eclectic mix catering for all tastes. The luxurious surroundings of The Crazy Bear Hotel with its English and Thai restaurants delivers an experience like no other and The Royal Standard of England lays claim to the title of the oldest pub in Britain.

Beaconsfield old and new towns combine to offer a mix of properties, from character cottages to executive family homes and smart contemporary apartments. To the south the old town is characterised by medieval and Georgian houses, whilst the new town to the north

offers sprawling modern mansions and a smattering of Arts & Crafts and 1920’s mock Tudor properties. 

There is excellent schooling in the area including sought after grammar schools like Beaconsfield High School for girls, John Hampden School for boys and Royal Grammar School. Davenies Prep School for boys and High March School for girls are also extremely popular. 

If you’re interested in moving to a market town and would like to learn more about how Bradbourne can help you discover the charm of market towns in the South, get in touch with us today.