Cowbridge in South Wales was declared the finest place to live in Wales by the Sunday Times in 2017, with visitors impressed by the charming town’s wealth of independent shops, eateries, and a weekly farmers’ market
Cowbridge, a charming market town just half an hour from Cardiff, is renowned for its beautiful gardens, award-winning pubs, and delightful high street. In 2017, the Sunday Times declared Cowbridge in South Wales the best place to live in Wales, and it’s easy to see why.
The picturesque Welsh town boasts a plethora of independent shops, eateries, and a weekly farmers’ market, and is a real haven for foodies. Every Saturday, visitors can explore the farmer’s market at Arthur John’s car park, offering a variety of handcrafted produce including meats, cheeses, plants, herbs and fresh fish.
The organisers emphasise that all products at the market have been “grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed” by the stall holders themselves.
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For those who love shopping, there are plenty of charity shops as well as independent retailers. This includes No39, which offers furniture and gifts, and Stwff-Stuff, where you can discover a range of delightful items such as bags, jewellery, and trinkets, reports Wales Online.
The Happy Days Vintage Home Store is perfect for a leisurely browse. Here, you can search for unique, vintage furniture and household items. They offer everything from nostalgic toys to records, clothes, postcards, and retro signs—and there’s even a cafe nestled amongst the eclectic assortment of items.
Cowbridge’s crown jewel is the Physic Garden, a peaceful sanctuary perfect for unwinding, wandering, and quiet reflection. This enchanting space showcases a “glorious array of medicinal plants and herbs”, with its half-acre site home to species historically employed for therapeutic and cooking needs.
The Welsh Historic Gardens Trust transformed the garden several years back, with Queen Camilla, who was the Duchess of Cornwall at the time, officially opening it in 2008.
Guests have praised the gardens as a “tranquil haven.” One reviewer wrote, “An absolute haven in the centre of town. We’ve been here many times when we’ve needed an uplift. Volunteers are helpful and really well informed about what is growing.”
A second visitor commented: “A little oasis of calm…we recently met a friend for lunch in Cowbridge and we got there early so we decided to spend some time walking around the Physic gardens…it was so calm and peaceful.”
The town’s dining scene includes The Bear Hotel, which scooped a 2025 TripAdvisor award, and the Penny Farthing, holder of a 2024 Travellers’ Choice accolade. The local Hare and Hounds appears in the Michelin Guide and has earned a Bib Gourmand for “good quality, good value cooking”.
Food enthusiasts will no doubt adore the Elephant and Bun delicatessen, which stocks an array of charcuterie and cheeses, wines, and cider. The prize-winning ice cream shop, Fablas, is absolutely essential. The town is a haven for nature lovers, with parks and plenty of walking trails.
Nearby attractions include the Hensol Castle Distillery, the Vale Resort Golf Club, St Hilary Vineyard, and Warren Mill Farm.
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