Honiton, Devon, a market town nicknamed the 'Southwest Capital for Antiques', offers a tranquil weekend escape with a high street packed with antiques dealers, independent shops, and art galleries. Its bustling markets typically run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Beyond antiques, the town provides a range of quaint shops selling ceramics, artwork, jewellery, furniture, and clothes, making it an ideal spot for a relaxed browse. Popular spots according to Tripadvisor reviews include the Thelma Hulbert Gallery and Fountains Antiques, though dozens of galleries and dealers cater to specific interests.
History, museums, and local landmarks
History enthusiasts can visit the Allhallows Museum to learn about the town's links to lace making. The Honiton Town Trail, roughly one mile long, offers a route to explore historic landmarks at a leisurely pace.
For wildlife fans, museum exhibits cover the Honiton hippo, following the discovery of fossil remains of around 17 creatures by construction workers in the late 1960s. After exploring, visitors can choose from a range of tea rooms, cafes, and traditional British pubs.
Walks in the surrounding countryside
Honiton is described by locals as a 'gateway' to the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty featuring woodlands and rolling green valleys. Combe Woods, a National Trust site, offers an easy stroll, while the three-mile route between Honiton and Littletown uses mainly tarmacked paths.
For a more challenging option, the five-mile route between Honiton and Offwell requires sturdy hiking boots but rewards walkers with views of the rolling hills. The town is also about a half-hour drive from popular seaside towns such as Lyme Regis and Beer, offering beaches, fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours, and independent shops without the peak summer crowds.
