The tree-line high street 1 hour from Cambridge filled with independent shops

You could easily spend a day wandering around the village

Britain’s high streets have struggled in the last few years, so it’s more important than ever to support local businesses. Cambridgeshire is home to varying high streets, but if you are looking for different ones to explore, there are some that are only a stone’s throw from the county.

One that’s only an hour from Cambridge and is full of lots of independent shops is Long Melford’s high street in Suffolk. Long Melford’s high street is more unique, as it’s very long, stretching over 2.5 miles.

It’s filled with cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and antique shops. It’s also lined with overarching trees, making for a picturesque walk along the 2.5 mile street.

Bury St Edmunds and Beyond says you could “easily spend a morning or afternoon wandering around the small independent shops of Long Melford”.

It added: “Small boutiques with friendly staff sell a wonderful variety of quality items including clothes, china, furnishings, works of art, books, kitchenware and food.” The high street is also considered one of the best in the country by Muddy Stilettos.

Muddy Stilettos has praised its offering of cafes such as Long Melford Tea Room. The Black Lion pub, a 15th century coaching inn filled with “rustic charm”, has also been praised by Muddy Stilettos.

While it’s praised for its cafes and gift shops, antiques is a big draw for the large village. This is helped by the fact 90s comedy Lovejoy, which follows the daily deals of an antiques dealer that shares the namesake with the TV show, was filmed.

Long Melford served as the primary filming location for the TV series, which starred Ian McShane as Lovejoy. The high street, antique shops and local spots such as The Bull Hotel frequently appeared across the show’s 71 episodes.

Today, fans can visit the “Lovejoy Country” and explore the antiques shops that featured in the TV series.