Britons looking to breathe in some fresh air are looking to one historic market town for a tranquil weekend of reading in its antiquarian bookshops. This picturesque corner in a certain national park is known as England’s “book town”.

The cobbled streets of Sedbergh in Cumbria seem frozen in time. Its quaint high street is lined with independent cafés, specialty shops and pubs serving local produce.

Located in the rolling hills of the unmissable Yorkshire Dales National Park, it’s just a stone’s throw from the breathtaking Lake District. It has a 78 mile hiking route, making Sedbergh a wonderful base for outdoor activities.

The town is home to Farfield Mill, a former Victorian woollen mill that has reopened as a heritage site. It’s now used by local artisans for gallery spaces, artist’ studios and handlooms displaying jewellery and other crafts.

The former chemist shop on Main Street is housed in a medieval building that was featured in the BBC production of ‘The House Detectives’. Bonnie Prince Charlie reputedly hid in a chimney here during his retreat north in 1745.

Sedbergh became listed as one of 45 book towns around the world in 2006 in a publication, Book Towns by Alex Johnson. It’s one of only three in the UK (the others being Hay-on-Wye in Wales and Wigtown in Scotland). It has the most books for sale per head of population anywhere in England, and has several publishing houses. Despite having a population of less than 3,000 people, Sedbergh has five book shops.

Other than old books, Sedbergh is best known for its historic boarding school that stretches back five centuries. The Sedbergh School was founded in 1525 and its alumni include military officials, politicians, biologists and explorers.

The history of the town goes way back. The market dates from the 13th century, and it has a 12th century Norman church. Sedbergh is mentioned in the Domesday Book, so a settlement must have existed before the Norman Conquest. Visitors can also stroll around Castlehaw Tower, a well preserved motte and bailey castle surrounded by a ditch that the Normans constructed when they arrived.