Ludlow is located in Shropshire and has more than 500 listed buildings (Image: BrianScantlebury via Getty Images)
Long championed by poet John Betjeman as “the loveliest town in England,” Ludlow has also earned global recognition as a culinary hotspot. With over 500 listed buildings and a skyline crowned by a Norman castle, Ludlow seamlessly blends historic charm with modern appeal.
Winding cobbled streets lead visitors to delicatessens, bakeries, inviting pubs and acclaimed restaurants. Often hailed as the “food and drink capital of the Marches”, Ludlow’s thriving hospitality scene owes much to its wealth of diverse local produce. In 2024, a Which? Travel survey canvassing more than 9,000 respondents asked participants to evaluate the culinary offerings in their preferred inland destinations, previously reported by the Express.
There is plenty to do in the colder months including its Winter Festival (Image: Getty)
As Which? Travel put it, “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.”
This ethos translates directly onto diners’ plates, with an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and seasonally changing menus.
TripAdvisor currently ranks Old Downton Lodge as Ludlow’s finest restaurant.
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Ludlow has been dubbed the ‘loveliest town in England’ (Image: Getty)
Waterside favourite CSONS stands out as another beloved spot for relaxed, high-quality dining, while Kin Kitchen and The French Pantry offer excellent cafe and bistro-style fare.
Pub lovers are spoilt for choice, with establishments including The Queens and The Boot Inn, both of which receive excellent reviews on TripAdvisor.
Experts from Ludlow Distillery note that the town’s culinary scene thrives thanks to a strong community of food and drink producers, ranging from specialist cheesemakers and bakers to independent brewers and distillers.
They stated: “The strength of this offering is best seen (and tasted) by a visit to the Local to Ludlow Market in the Castle Square (where growers and makers based within 30 miles of the town sell a range of high-quality and carefully selected produce), and the award-winning Broad Bean fine food delicatessen on Broad Street.”
The town is known for its locally sourced ingredients (Image: Getty)
The town embraces ‘Slow Food’, an international, grassroots organisation with thousands of supporters worldwide that combines the pleasure of eating with a commitment to the community.
Over recent years, the initiative in Ludlow has expanded significantly.
Slow Food Ludlow Marches offers activities throughout the year, including visits, talks, demonstrations, meals and Taste Workshops at Ludlow Food Festival in September.
Ludlow Food Festival represents one of the town’s most important annual events, regularly drawing around 15,000 visitors to Ludlow Castle over three days.
The Winter Festival at Ludlow Castle is set to take place in November (Image: Getty)
Locals and visitors can look forward to the Winter Festival at Ludlow Castle. Taking place between November 27 and 29, 2026, the event showcases local entertainment, mulled wine, and cherished favourites from the Ludlow Food Festival.
Consider visiting on the second or fourth Thursday of the month to experience the Ludlow Local Produce Market, a celebration of food and drink sourced within a 30-mile radius.
Stalls champion sustainability and seasonality, turning an ordinary shopping outing into an enjoyable afternoon adventure.
Beyond Shropshire, Wells secured the runner-up position for inland dining according to Which? Travel.
Additional destinations that earned recognition include Lavenham in Suffolk, Llangollen in Denbighshire, Stamford in Lincolnshire, and Cartmel in Cumbria. Each offers a distinctive flavour of a culinary escape.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
