The fairytale little UK town that's beautiful at Christmas with 'quaint' independent shops

A UK town that looks like it has been taken straight out of a fairy tale storybook is a must-visit in the run-up to Christmas. Locals and tourists have called it a "lovely" spot, and it gets extra "magical" over the festive period. The UK has some seriously underrated towns and villages across the country with great things to do and independent shops to visit. Considering the historic beauty of this place, it's a surprise that it hasn't received more hype.

Arundel is a market town located in the south east of England in the county of West Sussex. This town really is picture-perfect, with an amazing elevated castle, a beautiful cathedral, plenty of independent shops, tasty places to eat and charming old buildings scattered around the place. You'll find Arundel not too far from the south coast of England, close to major towns such as Worthing and Bognor Regis.

Coming up to Christmas might be the best time to visit Arundel. In fact, Hello Sussex says that "Arundel at Christmas is truly magical", with Christmas trees and twinkling lights at every turn.

With gifting season fast approaching, it is worth checking out Arundel's array of independent shops for unique and special presents for loved ones. Some of the best ones include Arundel Bridge Antiques, Pallant of Arundel and Macaroon Jewellery.

Another must-see is the Old Printworks Shopping Arcade, where you will find things like vinyl records, vintage clothing and accessories. It's safe to say that you could walk away from Arundel with some really great gifts.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of cultural experiences to keep you entertained in Arundel. They include the castle and cathedral, Arundel Museum and Amberley Museum. In terms of food and drink, you will probably want to visit the cosy pubs, such as Old Cross, The Red Lion and St Mary's Gate Inn.

Those who have visited Arundel have had some pretty great things to say about it. When one person asked in a Reddit post where they should go in the UK at Christmas time, one user was quick to suggest Arundel.

"Arundel is only small, but there is a castle and a wetland centre nearby, plus lots of quaint little shops and restaurants."

Meanwhile, one TripAdvisor reviewer said: "Arundel is a lovely town. It is a nice town to walk around in too. The castle/private manor house is a lovely one to visit. There are a number of antique shops and centres if you enjoy that too. If you stay overnight, you really have the place to yourself."

Another shared: "Arundel is certainly a pretty town. As the previous post states, there are lots of antique shops and plenty of other activities. Arundel is a great place to spend a day."

While some suggest staying overnight in Arundel, it is an easy day trip from nearby towns and cities such as Chichester, Worthing, Brighton and London.