When did you last come to Market Drayton just for lunch?
Not because you needed to visit the supermarket. Not because you had an appointment. Just because you fancied something nice to eat and a few hours away from home.
This autumn, we’d like to tempt you to do exactly that.
Pick somewhere for lunch in Market Drayton, give yourself the afternoon and see where the town takes you.
Start with lunch
One of the nice things about Market Drayton is the choice of places to eat without having to travel far once you’ve arrived.
There are cafés, pubs and restaurants around the town centre offering everything from a coffee and sandwich to a proper sit-down lunch.
You could try somewhere you’ve never been before, return to an old favourite or arrange to meet a friend you’ve been promising to catch up with for months.
And don’t rush. The afternoon is yours.
Have a wander around the shops
Once you’ve finished lunch, take some time to explore the town centre.
Alongside familiar high-street names, Market Drayton has independent businesses that are well worth discovering.
Browse the shops around Cheshire Street, High Street and Queen Street, have a look around the Indoor Market when it’s open and don’t forget our charity shops – they’re often some of the best places for an unexpected find.
You don’t need a shopping list. Sometimes it’s much more enjoyable just to have a look.
Discover a little of Market Drayton’s history
It’s easy to walk through a familiar town without really looking at it.
Slow down and Market Drayton starts revealing some of its history.
Take a look at the Buttercross, notice the older buildings above the modern shopfronts and discover some of the places connected with the town’s long history of markets, pubs and, of course, gingerbread.
Market Drayton Museum & Heritage Centre is also busy developing its new museum space beneath The Stag, with exhibitions, guided walks and other activities providing even more opportunities to discover the stories behind the town.
See what’s happening at Festival Drayton Centre
Before you decide when to visit, have a look at what’s on at Festival Drayton Centre.
You could turn lunch and an afternoon in town into an early evening out by adding a film, live performance or other event.
That’s when a couple of hours in Market Drayton can quite easily become most of the day.
Or simply go for a walk
If autumn gives us one of those crisp, dry afternoons, wrap up and spend a little time outside.
Market Drayton Town Park is close to the centre, while the Shropshire Union Canal offers another completely different side to the town.
You don’t need to plan a long hike. A short wander after lunch can be enough before heading back into town.
And if the weather has other ideas, there’s always another shop to explore or somewhere warm to stop.
There’s always room for coffee and cake
Surely the best way to finish an afternoon out?
Find somewhere for a hot drink, add a piece of cake if you’re tempted and watch the world go by for a while.
Then you can head home having done something rather different with an ordinary autumn afternoon.
Make Market Drayton your next lunch date
You don’t always need a major event or special occasion to justify going somewhere.
Sometimes lunch is reason enough.
So phone a friend, arrange to meet the family or simply come along yourself.
Have lunch in Market Drayton, stay for the afternoon and rediscover what we’ve got on our doorstep
