A historic market town in Shropshire
Known best for its gingerbread, Market Drayton sits between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent Near the Welsh border. The Shropshire Union Canal runs just few hundred metres from the town centre, perfect for walking off all those biscuits. If you'd rather relax in a greener oasis, the Nearby Dorothy Clive Garden has fantastic seasonal plant displays all year round.
Get your fill of local food and drink
Market Drayton's market has been running for over 700 years. The town's half-timbered, Georgian and Victorian buildings gather around the market square, which is filled with stalls very Wednesday and Saturday. It's the best place to sample local real ale, yoghurts, cheese, jams and, of course, gingerbread - which the locals like to dip in port.
Discover a castle at Hawkstone Park
A 20-minute drive from Market Drayton is Hawkstone Park, ideal for explorers of all ages. Enter the cliff-cut mines at Grotto Hill and climb the Monument for breath-taking panoramic views over 13 counties. Take a break from the adventuring with a family picnic at English Heritage's Moreton Corbet Castle ruins. Planning a trip to Market Drayton? Travelodge Newcastle-under-Lyme Central Hotel and Travelodge Crewe Barthomley Central Hotel are both less than 13 miles from the market town and central to Stoke-on-Trent. There's also Travelodge Stafford M6 Hotel if you're looking for a stopover on a long journey.