There’s another great reason to visit Market Drayton! Our lovely Shropshire market town has officially been recognised as a Coach Friendly destination, and we’re looking forward to welcoming even more visitors to discover our shops, markets, famous gingerbread and friendly local community.
Whether you’re planning a coach trip, organising a group outing or simply looking for somewhere different to spend a few hours, Market Drayton has plenty to offer.
From browsing independent shops and enjoying a coffee to exploring our history, discovering local events and sampling our famous gingerbread, there’s much more to Market Drayton than you might expect.
What does Coach Friendly status mean?
In May 2026, Market Drayton received official Coach Friendly accreditation from the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT).
This national recognition is awarded to destinations that demonstrate a commitment to welcoming coaches and their passengers, with suitable arrangements for dropping off and collecting visitors, coach parking, accessibility, visitor information and facilities.
For coach operators, it means Market Drayton is a recognised destination where coach visits have been considered and planned for.
For visitors, it means another opportunity to explore somewhere new, enjoy a traditional market town and experience a warm Shropshire welcome.
It’s an important achievement for Market Drayton, particularly for our independent businesses, market traders, cafés and attractions.
Every coach bringing visitors into town creates opportunities for people to discover what we have to offer. Whether someone buys a gift, stops for lunch, enjoys a slice of cake or takes home some gingerbread, those visits make a real difference to our local economy.
We hope Coach Friendly status will encourage more operators to include Market Drayton in their itineraries, whether as a destination in its own right or as part of a wider tour of Shropshire and the surrounding area.
A traditional market town with plenty to discover
One of the pleasures of visiting Market Drayton is that you don’t need a complicated itinerary to enjoy yourself.
Our town centre is ideal for a leisurely wander, with independent businesses, welcoming cafés and interesting places to discover along the way.
Here are a few ideas for your visit.
Explore our markets
If you’re visiting on a Wednesday, you’ll find our traditional street market, a great opportunity to browse stalls, meet traders and experience a little of Market Drayton’s market town heritage.
Our indoor market is another place to explore, with traders offering a variety of products.
Markets are an important part of our town’s identity, and we’d love more visitors to discover them.
Discover our independent shops
Market Drayton has a wonderful collection of independent businesses, each offering something different.
From gifts and homewares to food, fashion and specialist products, there’s plenty to browse.
Shopping locally is also a lovely way to meet the people behind the businesses and discover things you might not find on the high street elsewhere.
Use the Make it Market Drayton website to discover local businesses and start planning where you’d like to visit.
Try our famous gingerbread!
You can’t come to Market Drayton without discovering our gingerbread!
Our town has a long association with this much-loved treat, and it’s one of the things that makes Market Drayton rather special.
Look out for traditional gingerbread in local shops and discover the story behind our town’s famous speciality.
It makes a lovely treat to enjoy during your visit or to take home as a reminder of your day.
Stop for a coffee or something to eat
Whether you’re looking for a morning coffee, a light lunch or somewhere to sit and enjoy a slice of cake, Market Drayton has a selection of cafés, pubs and places to eat.
Take your time, enjoy a conversation and experience the friendly welcome that makes our town such a pleasant place to visit.
Discover our history and heritage
There’s plenty of history to uncover in Market Drayton.
Explore the town centre, admire its historic buildings and discover stories of the people, industries and traditions that have shaped the town over the years.
Our Museum and Heritage Centre is another place to look out for when planning your visit. Check opening arrangements before travelling.
Enjoy our green spaces and canal
If you have a little longer, why not explore beyond the shops?
Market Drayton has lovely places to enjoy some fresh air, including the Shropshire Union Canal and the Town Park.
A gentle stroll offers a different perspective on the town and an opportunity to enjoy some of the surrounding countryside.
Planning a visit? Let us help!
One of the reasons we created Make it Market Drayton is to help people discover everything our town has to offer.
Our website is a useful starting point for anyone planning a coach trip, group visit, family day out or a few hours exploring.
You can use it to:
- Discover local shops and businesses – find places to browse, shop, eat and enjoy during your visit.
- Find out What’s On – discover markets, festivals, exhibitions, performances and community events that could make your visit even more special.
- Read our latest news and visitor guides – find inspiration, seasonal activities, local stories and ideas for things to see and do.
- Plan a return visit – there’s always something different happening throughout the year, so it’s worth seeing what’s coming up next.
Visit www.makeitmarketdrayton.com before you travel and see what catches your eye.
A great stop on a Shropshire coach tour
Market Drayton is also well placed to be included in a wider day trip.
When the accreditation was announced, Shropshire Council highlighted the potential for coach companies to visit Market Drayton’s Wednesday market before continuing to other attractions, including Hodnet Hall Gardens, Bridgemere Garden Centre and the Dorothy Clive Garden.
There was also interest in exploring opportunities to work with Fordhall Farm to create an offer for coach groups.
It’s easy to see the appeal of combining time in a traditional market town with a visit to one of the area’s gardens or countryside attractions.
Coach operators should confirm current parking, drop-off arrangements and group facilities before travelling.
Why welcoming more visitors matters
For Market Drayton, Coach Friendly status is about much more than somewhere for a coach to park.
It’s about giving more people the opportunity to experience our town and encouraging them to return.
Visitors bring life to our markets and town centre. They support independent shops, cafés, attractions and local businesses, helping them to thrive.
Every visit matters, whether someone spends an hour exploring our shops or makes Market Drayton the main destination for a day out.
It’s also an opportunity to introduce more people to our history, our gingerbread, our local businesses and, perhaps most importantly, the friendly people who make Market Drayton what it is.
We want visitors to leave with happy memories, a few purchases, perhaps a bag of gingerbread and a good reason to come back.
Come and discover Market Drayton for yourself
If you’re a coach operator looking for a welcoming destination, a group organiser planning your next outing or a visitor searching for somewhere new, we’d love you to consider Market Drayton.
Browse our shops, explore our markets, enjoy our cafés, discover our history and find out what’s happening during your visit.
There’s always a reason to Make it Market Drayton!
Make it Market Drayton is a town council initiative.
