Wiltshire town named in UK’s top 12 ‘most perfect’ market towns

In a recent feature, The Telegraph picked the 12 best British market towns from across the country.

These destinations, which the national paper described as “quintessentially British locales hovering between rural and urban”, were picked based off the 12 ingredients which supposedly make up “the ideal British market town.”

Of the 1,275 market towns in England alone, Malmesbury made the cut to be named in a list of the country’s best 12.

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The Wiltshire town made the list thanks to its Grade I listed Market Cross, which expert Sarah Baxter says is an important aspect of market towns.

She said: “Malmesbury’s octagonal cross – a pinnacled, buttressed affair, with stone benches inside – is especially elegant. 

“Built, according to records, “for poore market folkes to stande dry when rayne cummith”, it has endured since the 15th century, despite once being hit by a lorry.

“Admire it, then visit the even-older ruins of Malmesbury Abbey (home to the tomb of Athelstan, England’s first king) and the Old Bell, founded in 1220 and reputedly England’s oldest hotel.”