Bridport, Dorset
Bridport is a hip and happening place to be right now; this West Dorset town has all the usual sort of shops, plus a few long established ones – like Snooks, the hat shop which gets really busy in the run up to the annual Hat Festival. There’s usually something on at the Arts Centre or the Electric Palace, and there’s a fabulous Vintage Quarter with some very original shops and the quirky Red Brick Café. If you go on a Saturday in summer, the town is abuzz with the upbeat vibe of the market which lines both sides of South Street, and you’ll find a crowd gathered at Ducky Boo Square watching a live music performance – it’s a lovely atmosphere, especially if the sun is shining. Plenty of places to eat too – try The Bull Hotel, Beach and Barnicott, and The George Hotel.