Creativity in the country
You don’t know it, but as you meander into the village store with its British Racing Green paint façade, you’re about to find something for which you’ve been searching for months: a 60th birthday present for your father. You’ve never seen one before, but the leaping salmon forged from burnished metal looks as though it is still wet from the river. Placed strategically in your father’s garden pond, it’s going to make the perfect gift for a life-long angler. And you remind yourself once again just how hooked you can become on real shopping, well away from the neon glare and mind-numbing sameness of the hypermarkets and high street.
Order your FREE Rural Escapes guide now
Tap into your artistic side - from local shops selling handmade products to arts and crafts markets and outdoor art inspired by the surrounding landscapes, there's plenty to get your teeth into.
Read our top ideas
Discover the connections between landscape, art and identity, which continue to attract artists and visitors today.
More about inspiring artworks
What better way to get a true taste of England than by paying a visit to one of England's many farm shops. There are over 3,000 farm shops scattered throughout England's beautiful countryside.
More about farm shops