The South Wales market town is just a 30-minute drive from Cardiff and was named best place to live in Wales by the Sunday Times in 2017 with its charming high street, award-winning pubs, and stunning Physic Garden
The town is packed full of charming shops(Image: Google Maps)
A delightful market town just 30 minutes from Cardiff has received praise for its beautiful gardens, award-winning pubs and charming high street.
Cowbridge in South Wales was named the best place to live in Wales by the Sunday Times in 2017, boasting a plethora of independent shops, restaurants, and a weekly farmers’ market.
Every Saturday, visitors can explore the farmer’s market at Arthur John’s car park, where they can peruse handcrafted produce ranging from meats and cheeses to plants and herbs and fresh fish.
The organisers emphasise that all the products at the market have been “grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed” by stall holders.
For those who love shopping, there are numerous charity shops alongside independent retailers like No39, which offers furniture and gifts, and Stwff-Stuff where you can discover a variety of items such as bags, jewellery, and trinkets.
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The Happy Days Vintage Home Store is perfect for a leisurely browse, where you can search for unique, vintage furniture and household items.
They offer everything from nostalgic toys, records, clothes, postcards, and retro signs – and there’s even a cafe inside nestled amongst the eclectic assortment of items.
One of the premier attractions in Cowbridge is the Physic Garden, a peaceful location for relaxation, walking, and reflection.
Independent shops outnumber chains in Cowbridge(Image: John Myers)
The garden features a “glorious array of medicinal plants and herbs”, with its half-acre site containing species traditionally employed for healing and culinary purposes.
Thanks to the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, the garden received a transformation several years ago and was formally opened by Queen Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, in 2008.
Visitors have characterised the gardens as a “tranquil haven”. One visitor wrote: “An absolute haven in the centre of town. Have been here many times when we’ve needed an uplift. Volunteers are helpful and really well informed about what is growing.”
Another said: “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.”
Queen Camilla visiting Cowbridge(Image: Getty Images)
Amongst the town’s pubs and restaurants is The Bear Hotel, a recipient of a 2025 TripAdvisor award, and the Penny Farthing, which has a 2024 Travellers’ Choice award. The nearby Hare and Hounds features in the Michelin Guide and has been awarded a Bib Gourmand for “good quality, good value cooking”.
For those with an appetite for food, the Elephant and Bun delicatessen provides a range of charcuterie and cheeses, wines and cider, whilst the award-winning ice cream parlour, Fablas, is a must-visit. The town also features parks and multiple walking routes for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
Additional attractions close to Cowbridge include the Hensol Castle Distillery, the Vale Resort Golf Club, St Hilary Vineyard, and Warren Mill Farm.
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