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Dolgellau town CentreDolgellau, #1 on this list · Photo: Eirian Evans · CC BY-SA 2.0
England and Wales · History

Most historic towns in England and Wales

Dolgellau, Gwynedd and Tenby, Dyfed share first place on history among 2,156 towns and cities of 2,500+ in England and Wales; 477 of the 2,156 grade A− or better against UK towns.

The History Grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): listed buildings, monuments and registered parks (Historic England, Cadw), per resident and as a count, and homes built before 1919. The county rank sits beside each letter. How grades work

#T1

Dolgellau

Gwynedd · 2,599 people
A+

Better than almost every UK town·#1 of 13 in Gwynedd

#T1

Tenby

Dyfed · 4,092 people
A+

Better than almost every UK town·#1 of 23 in Dyfed

#T3

Dartmouth

Devon · 5,260 people
A+

Better than almost every UK town·#1 of 47 in Devon

The top 100

History grade, best first; towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied). Military garrison towns and university campuses keep their grades but aren’t ranked. Each county rank links to that county’s list.

100 towns on this page. Counties with 15 or more towns have their own list.

#TownGrade · county rankCompared with UK towns
T1DolgellauGwynedd · 2,599 peopleA+#1 of 13 in Gwyneddbetter than almost every UK town
T1TenbyDyfed · 4,092 peopleA+#1 of 23 in Dyfedbetter than almost every UK town
T3DartmouthDevon · 5,260 peopleA+#1 of 47 in Devonbetter than almost every UK town
T3WestminsterLondon · 203,571 peopleA+#1 of 33 in Londonbetter than almost every UK town
T5ArundelWest Sussex · 3,035 peopleA+#1 of 40 in West Sussexbetter than almost every UK town
T5BathSomerset · 94,080 peopleA+#1 of 49 in Somersetbetter than almost every UK town
T7AshburtonDevon · 3,368 peopleA+#2 of 47 in Devonbetter than almost every UK town
T7SandwichKent · 4,258 peopleA+#1 of 87 in Kentbetter than almost every UK town
9RyeEast Sussex · 4,888 peopleA+#1 of 26 in East Sussexbetter than almost every UK town
T10LlangollenClwyd · 3,048 peopleA+#1 of 39 in Clwydbetter than almost every UK town
T10St IvesCornwall · 5,413 peopleA+#1 of 35 in Cornwallbetter than almost every UK town
T12BreconPowys · 8,257 peopleA+#1 of 7 in Powysbetter than almost every UK town
T12PetworthWest Sussex · 2,592 peopleA+#2 of 40 in West Sussexbetter than almost every UK town
14LlandudnoClwyd · 14,699 peopleA+#2 of 39 in Clwydbetter than almost every UK town
15LewesEast Sussex · 16,066 peopleA+#2 of 26 in East Sussexbetter than almost every UK town
16PwllheliGwynedd · 3,622 peopleA+#2 of 13 in Gwyneddbetter than almost every UK town
T17AberystwythDyfed · 14,646 peopleA+#2 of 23 in Dyfedbetter than almost every UK town
T17BakewellDerbyshire · 3,275 peopleA+#1 of 59 in Derbyshirebetter than almost every UK town
T19PorthmadogGwynedd · 2,579 peopleA+#3 of 13 in Gwyneddbetter than almost every UK town
T19VentnorIsle of Wight · 5,566 peopleA+#1 of 10 in Isle of Wightbetter than almost every UK town
21RydeIsle of Wight · 24,094 peopleA+#2 of 10 in Isle of Wightbetter than 98% of UK towns
T22BridportDorset · 12,294 peopleA+#1 of 30 in Dorsetbetter than 98% of UK towns
T22LostwithielCornwall · 3,067 peopleA+#2 of 35 in Cornwallbetter than 98% of UK towns
T24CaernarfonGwynedd · 9,831 peopleA+#4 of 13 in Gwyneddbetter than 98% of UK towns
T24FishguardDyfed · 3,422 peopleA+#3 of 23 in Dyfedbetter than 98% of UK towns
T24PenzanceCornwall · 14,957 peopleA+#3 of 35 in Cornwallbetter than 98% of UK towns
27Henley-on-ThamesOxfordshire · 11,786 peopleA+#1 of 38 in Oxfordshirebetter than 98% of UK towns
28Long MelfordSuffolk · 3,895 peopleA+#1 of 34 in Suffolkbetter than 98% of UK towns
T29CamdenLondon · 209,342 peopleA+#2 of 33 in Londonbetter than 98% of UK towns
T29CoggeshallEssex · 3,767 peopleA+#1 of 81 in Essexbetter than 98% of UK towns
T29SherborneDorset · 10,359 peopleA+#2 of 30 in Dorsetbetter than 98% of UK towns
T32CranbrookKent · 3,962 peopleA+#2 of 87 in Kentbetter than 98% of UK towns
T32Hebden BridgeWest Yorkshire · 5,230 peopleA+#1 of 91 in West Yorkshirebetter than 98% of UK towns
34BrutonSomerset · 2,816 peopleA+#2 of 49 in Somersetbetter than 98% of UK towns
35HawkhurstKent · 3,683 peopleA+#3 of 87 in Kentbetter than 98% of UK towns
T36BatheastonSomerset · 3,878 peopleA+#3 of 49 in Somersetbetter than 97% of UK towns
T36City of LondonLondon · 7,820 peopleA+#3 of 33 in Londonbetter than 97% of UK towns
T36WesterhamKent · 3,390 peopleA+#4 of 87 in Kentbetter than 97% of UK towns
39Kensington and ChelseaLondon · 143,348 peopleA+#4 of 33 in Londonbetter than 97% of UK towns
T40FavershamKent · 20,941 peopleA+#5 of 87 in Kentbetter than 97% of UK towns
T40IlfracombeDevon · 9,199 peopleA+#3 of 47 in Devonbetter than 97% of UK towns
T42TopshamDevon · 4,193 peopleA+#4 of 47 in Devonbetter than 97% of UK towns
T42WhitbyNorth Yorkshire · 12,603 peopleA+#1 of 54 in North Yorkshirebetter than 97% of UK towns
T44MinchinhamptonGloucestershire · 3,412 peopleA+#1 of 48 in Gloucestershirebetter than 97% of UK towns
T44Wotton-under-EdgeGloucestershire · 4,966 peopleA+#1 of 48 in Gloucestershirebetter than 97% of UK towns
46SettleNorth Yorkshire · 2,710 peopleA+#2 of 54 in North Yorkshirebetter than 97% of UK towns
T47LlanfairfechanClwyd · 3,547 peopleA+#3 of 39 in Clwydbetter than 97% of UK towns
T47TotnesDevon · 9,217 peopleA+#5 of 47 in Devonbetter than 97% of UK towns
T47WiltonWiltshire · 4,300 peopleA+#1 of 30 in Wiltshirebetter than 97% of UK towns
T50MalmesburyWiltshire · 7,184 peopleA+#2 of 30 in Wiltshirebetter than 97% of UK towns
T50Pembroke DockDyfed · 9,659 peopleA+#4 of 23 in Dyfedbetter than 97% of UK towns
T52Appleby-in-WestmorlandCumbria · 3,233 peopleA+#1 of 23 in Cumbriabetter than 97% of UK towns
T52FortuneswellDorset · 4,554 peopleA+#3 of 30 in Dorsetbetter than 97% of UK towns
T54LauncestonCornwall · 8,431 peopleA+#4 of 35 in Cornwallbetter than 97% of UK towns
T54Lyme RegisDorset · 3,741 peopleA+#4 of 30 in Dorsetbetter than 97% of UK towns
T54WoodstockOxfordshire · 3,522 peopleA+#2 of 38 in Oxfordshirebetter than 97% of UK towns
T57Ash (Dover)Kent · 2,529 peopleA+#6 of 87 in Kentbetter than 96% of UK towns
T57DenbighClwyd · 8,072 peopleA+#4 of 39 in Clwydbetter than 96% of UK towns
T59RamsgateKent · 42,031 peopleA+#7 of 87 in Kentbetter than 96% of UK towns
T59WelshpoolPowys · 5,460 peopleA+#2 of 7 in Powysbetter than 96% of UK towns
61BuckfastleighDevon · 2,720 peopleA+#6 of 47 in Devonbetter than 96% of UK towns
T62Linthwaite and SlaithwaiteWest Yorkshire · 9,242 peopleA+#2 of 91 in West Yorkshirebetter than 96% of UK towns
T62TodmordenWest Yorkshire · 12,971 peopleA+#2 of 91 in West Yorkshirebetter than 96% of UK towns
64WinchcombeGloucestershire · 4,339 peopleA+#3 of 48 in Gloucestershirebetter than 96% of UK towns
T65KnightonPowys · 2,911 peopleA+#3 of 7 in Powysbetter than 96% of UK towns
T65MelbourneDerbyshire · 4,860 peopleA+#2 of 59 in Derbyshirebetter than 96% of UK towns
T67CardiganDyfed · 3,767 peopleA+#5 of 23 in Dyfedbetter than 96% of UK towns
T67Great YarmouthNorfolk · 28,979 peopleA+#1 of 51 in Norfolkbetter than 96% of UK towns
69WirksworthDerbyshire · 4,904 peopleA+#3 of 59 in Derbyshirebetter than 96% of UK towns
70BungaySuffolk · 5,012 peopleA+#2 of 34 in Suffolkbetter than 96% of UK towns
T71Berwick-upon-TweedNorthumberland · 13,181 peopleA+#1 of 20 in Northumberlandbetter than 95% of UK towns
T71HexhamNorthumberland · 10,945 peopleA+#1 of 20 in Northumberlandbetter than 95% of UK towns
73BeaminsterDorset · 2,995 peopleA+#5 of 30 in Dorsetbetter than 95% of UK towns
74MereWiltshire · 2,808 peopleA+#3 of 30 in Wiltshirebetter than 95% of UK towns
T75DealKent · 28,992 peopleA+#8 of 87 in Kentbetter than 95% of UK towns
T75MarsdenWest Yorkshire · 3,691 peopleA+#4 of 91 in West Yorkshirebetter than 95% of UK towns
T75NailsworthGloucestershire · 5,657 peopleA+#4 of 48 in Gloucestershirebetter than 95% of UK towns
T78AbergavennyGwent · 13,689 peopleA+#1 of 38 in Gwentbetter than 95% of UK towns
T78St AgnesCornwall · 3,253 peopleA+#5 of 35 in Cornwallbetter than 95% of UK towns
80ThorntonWest Yorkshire · 5,410 peopleA#5 of 91 in West Yorkshirebetter than 95% of UK towns
T81Bradford-on-AvonWiltshire · 9,864 peopleA#4 of 30 in Wiltshirebetter than 95% of UK towns
T81DowntonWiltshire · 2,952 peopleA#4 of 30 in Wiltshirebetter than 95% of UK towns
83West MallingKent · 4,251 peopleA#9 of 87 in Kentbetter than 95% of UK towns
84Barnard CastleCounty Durham · 5,783 peopleA#1 of 52 in County Durhambetter than 95% of UK towns
T85LudlowShropshire · 10,037 peopleA#1 of 19 in Shropshirebetter than 95% of UK towns
T85StroudGloucestershire · 26,073 peopleA#5 of 48 in Gloucestershirebetter than 95% of UK towns
T85TorquayDevon · 52,034 peopleA#7 of 47 in Devonbetter than 95% of UK towns
T85WoodbridgeSuffolk · 10,146 peopleA#3 of 34 in Suffolkbetter than 95% of UK towns
89SwanageDorset · 9,115 peopleA#6 of 30 in Dorsetbetter than 94% of UK towns
T90CuckfieldWest Sussex · 3,767 peopleA#3 of 40 in West Sussexbetter than 94% of UK towns
T90WadhurstEast Sussex · 3,408 peopleA#3 of 26 in East Sussexbetter than 94% of UK towns
92Milton-under-Wychwood and Shipton-under-WychwoodOxfordshire · 2,956 peopleA#3 of 38 in Oxfordshirebetter than 94% of UK towns
T93MaltonNorth Yorkshire · 6,320 peopleA#3 of 54 in North Yorkshirebetter than 94% of UK towns
T93RuthinClwyd · 5,700 peopleA#5 of 39 in Clwydbetter than 94% of UK towns
95CharlburyOxfordshire · 2,810 peopleA#4 of 38 in Oxfordshirebetter than 94% of UK towns
96MarlboroughWiltshire · 8,829 peopleA#6 of 30 in Wiltshirebetter than 94% of UK towns
97Combe MartinDevon · 2,707 peopleA#8 of 47 in Devonbetter than 94% of UK towns
98HaverfordwestDyfed · 12,088 peopleA#6 of 23 in Dyfedbetter than 94% of UK towns
T99BecclesSuffolk · 9,807 peopleA#4 of 34 in Suffolkbetter than 94% of UK towns
T99CrewkerneSomerset · 7,067 peopleA#4 of 49 in Somersetbetter than 94% of UK towns
Not ranked

Not on this list

22 military garrison towns and university campuses keep their grades but aren’t ranked: most residents serve in the forces or are students. 359 towns have no history grade: missing figures this grade needs.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in England and Wales?

Dolgellau, Gwynedd ranks first on history among 2,156 towns, with an A+: better than almost every UK town. Tenby, Dyfed and Dartmouth, Devon follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History Grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): listed buildings, monuments and registered parks (Historic England, Cadw), per resident and as a count, and homes built before 1919. The letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

Garrison towns and university campuses aren’t ranked, and towns without the figures this grade needs are counted above. Every town of 2,500+ is ranked here; each county with 15 or more such towns has its own list, linked below.

County by county

Most historic towns, county by county

BedfordshireBerkshireBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCheshireClwydCornwallCounty DurhamCumbriaDerbyshireDevonDorsetDyfedEast Riding of YorkshireEast SussexEssexGloucestershireGreater ManchesterGwentHampshireHertfordshireKentLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireLondonMerseysideMid GlamorganNorfolkNorth YorkshireNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNottinghamshireOxfordshireShropshireSomersetSouth YorkshireStaffordshireSuffolkSurreyTyne and WearWarwickshireWest GlamorganWest MidlandsWest SussexWest YorkshireWiltshireWorcestershire

Sources: Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Cadw listed buildings, scheduled monuments and registered historic parks and gardens via DataMapWales, October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.