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Marlborough, with its rich history and vibrant high street is certainly worth visiting. You might even like to know that its mega-wide high street came about due to a row of houses catching fire back in 1660 and then being knocked down!
Just a 30-minute drive from your holiday accommodation in the Cotswold Water Park, Marlborough offers a selection of great cafes & shops to enjoy. Whether you’re exploring the quaint historic buildings, enjoying a delicious coffee or just shopping for unique finds, Marlborough has something for everyone.
Plan your visit today and discover the beautiful architecture charm of this rather delightful market town. We’ve listed our favourite shops and cafes in Marlborough below for you to try.
Do note that a market is held every Wednesday and Saturday which takes up some of the car parking spaces. As a result the town gets very busy so get there early, or late after the market has gone!
The Food Gallery
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This lovely family-run café at the end of Marlborough’s high street is a perfect spot for a morning coffee or a relaxed lunch. Known for its excellent cappuccinos and refills at just £1 a cup, make a beeline for it!
You’ll find reasonable prices and friendly service, as well as a cosy and welcoming atmosphere clearly on offer. The menu features homemade dishes, gluten-free options, and award-winning breakfasts. Staff always seem really happy (and chirpy) which also adds to the ambience.
We’ve always experienced top notch service when we’ve frequented this quaint little café. It’s a charming place to unwind with family after a day of exploring the town or the hills and countryside beyond.
Awarded Wiltshire Café of the Year back in 2017, it’s certainly one to check out as some say it might just serve the best coffee in Marlborough. Get there early though, its popularity ensures it gets busy pretty quickly.
Menu items that caught our eye:
- Eggs Benedict
- Croque Madame
- Tiger Prawn with Lemon Mayonnaise Panini
Contact details:
Address: 47-48 High St, Marlborough SN8 1HQ
Website: https://thefoodgallery.co.uk/
Phone Number: 01672 514069
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 3.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 3.30pm, Sunday 9.30am to 3.30pm
The Polly Tea Rooms
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A Marlborough landmark, The Polly Tea Rooms was established in 1912 and is famous for its afternoon teas and cream teas. Though the café can get crowded, the charming atmosphere and delectable treats make it a must-visit. It’s an ideal spot for a mid-afternoon break when exploring the town.
Due to its celebrity as a cream tea specialist, it can be seen as a little pricey in comparison to other cafes in Marlborough. We’ve also (very occasionally) received slow service but then it was mega-busy so not entirely unexpected!
Menu items that caught our eye:
- Veggie Full English Breakfast
- Mozzarella, Tomato & Pesto Open Sandwich
- Luxury 3 Tier High Tea
Contact details:
Address: 26-27 High St, Marlborough SN8 1LW
Website: https://www.thepollytearooms.com/
Phone Number: 01672 512146
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 6pm, Sunday 9am to 5pm
Coffi Lab Marlborough
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This contemporary styled and wonderful coffee shop, housed in a former bank, offers delicious cakes, fresh sourdough sandwiches to die for as well as toasted paninis and croissants. The dog-friendly café has a dark grey and beautifully white interior with high ceilings, creating a light and airy space.
With its large interior it’s a perfect spot for a coffee break whilst exploring the rest of the town, with plenty of seating, helpful staff and a pleasant ambiance. There is a single step to get up over but once inside the café is wheelchair friendly. Out back is a courtyard seating area that’s somewhat small but it is peaceful.
In our opinion it’s a real star of a café in this Wiltshire town!
Menu items that caught our eye:
- Veggie Sausage Bap with Warmed Sweet Chilli Jam
- Chicken Focaccia
- Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Brownies
Contact details:
Address: 141 High St, Marlborough SN8 1HN
Website: https://coffilab.co.uk
Phone Number: 01672 555815
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 8am to 5.30pm, Sunday 8.30am to 5.30pm
Mercers of Marlborough
Known for its delicious range of toasties, Mercers is a lovely little café with seating over two floors and friendly welcoming staff. It’s an absolute hidden gem just off the High Street but it’s worth a searching out.
The menu is fairly simple but tasty, but all meals come with generously served portions, you won’t go hungry or feel shortchanged here. Their sausage sandwiches are truly scrumptious too.
The owner goes out of their way to ensure they cater for those with allergies so do mention this when you visit, it won’t be a problem in our experience.
This café is highly recommended by many and you’re welcome to bring your dog along as well.
Menu items that caught our eye:
- Fish Filet Bap with Fries
- Victoria Sponge Cake
- Dairy-free Milkshakes
Contact details:
Address: Hilliers Yard, Marlborough SN8 1BE
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MercersOfMarlborough/
Phone Number: 01672 511377
Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday closed, Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm, Sunday 10.30am to 4pm
Bunces Bakehouse Marlborough
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Known for its delicious range of breakfast offerings (including gluten free) prepared and presented by super friendly staff, Bunces Bakehouse is a very busy though small(ish) Marlborough café with seating over two floors. Their menu is classic fare but tasty, featuring homemade hash browns and freshly squeezed orange juice served amongst other heavenly food. It’s dog-friendly too so you can bring along your poochy pal.
We recommend booking a table to avoid disappointment otherwise you risk ending up with a long wait as Bunces gets incredibly busy. Take-aways are also available from this popular Marlborough cafe.
Menu items that caught our eye:
- Smoked Trout Kedgeree (for brunch?? … yummy!!)
- Coronation Bhaji Sandwich
- Homemade Brioche French Toast
Contact details:
Address: 100 High St, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1HD
Website: http://www.buncesbakehouse.co.uk/
Phone Number: 01672 513515
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 4pm, Dinner Served Friday and Saturday 6pm to 10.30pm
Cardinal Coffee Shop
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Tucked away inside St Peter’s Church (at the west end of town), you’ll find this quiet café a tranquil blessing!
Open 6 days a week, the café is spacious, fully accessible and dog friendly. The staff take great care in sourcing produce from local suppliers, including delicious cakes made by a local baker.
St Peter’s is no longer a working church, so you won’t “find” Jesus but the café helps to raise funds to keep up its repair, enabling it to remain as a community hub.
You’ll discover a selection of beautiful coffees, cakes, sandwiches and paninis on offer at perhaps lower prices than some other cafes in the town (so we say it’s worth the walk down to it).
Menu items that caught our eye
- Mrs Brown’s handmade biscuits
- Vegetable soup
- Shortbreads to die for!
Contact details:
Address: St Peter’s Church, High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1HQ
Website: https://stpetersmarlborough.org.uk/coffee-shop
Phone Number: None
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, closed on Sunday
Other Cafes in Marlborough
There are also 3 national chain owned coffee shops in Marlborough that get a (brief) mention:
- Costa Coffee
- Caffe Nero
- Waitrose Coffee Shop
As we’re focusing more on the independent coffee shops in Marlborough we’ve elected to leave out a detailed review of them at this time.
Independent Marlborough Shops Worth Checking Out
Crosby and Laurence Sporting Goods Shop
Located at 66 High St, this shop is a haven for Marlborough based sports enthusiasts. Known for its friendly and helpful service, Crosby and Laurence Sporting Goods offers reasonably priced sports gear and expert advice. They also supply school uniforms to the nearby Marlborough College students.
It’s a great place to pick up any sports equipment you might need during your stay. They can even restring your tennis or squash racket for you!
Contact details:
Address: 66 High St, Marlborough SN8 1HF
Website: https://crosby-lawrence.myshopify.com/
Phone Number: 01672 892498
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday closed
The Emporium of Loveliness*
This unique charity shop offers a wonderful shopping experience. With its retro fashion and vintage clothing, you’re sure to find some hidden gems. Proceeds go to “Empower the Gambia”, making your purchases even more worthwhile. The friendly staff and bargain prices add to the charm of this delightful boutique shop.
Contact details:
Address: Unit C, Hilliers Yard, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1BE
Website: https://theemporiumofloveliness.com/
Phone Number: 07771 804365
Opening Hours: N/a
*Do note this shop may be permanently closed however there is an alternative at 29 The Parade in Swindon.
White Horse Book Shop
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Situated in a renovated Tudor house, this independent bookshop is a treasure trove for book lovers. Established in Marlborough in 1943, it offers a wide selection of books spread over three floors, along with art supplies and an art gallery. The welcoming atmosphere and passionate staff make it a must-visit. There’s comfy window seating too for you to relax and browse the books you’ve picked up.
Contact details:
Address: 136 High St, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1HW
Website: https://www.whitehorsebooks.co.uk/
Phone Number: 01672 512071
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm
Landmark Marlborough
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For country pursuits enthusiasts, Landmark Marlborough offers a wide range of outdoor clothing and accessories. Known for quality brands and excellent customer service, this shop also provides dog accessories and gift vouchers. It’s a great place to gear up for your outdoor adventures.
In some cases they offer same day local delivery but it might be best to phone to find out if they will come as far as the Cotswold Water Park!
Contact details:
Address: 128-129 High St, Marlborough, SN8 1LZ
Website: https://landmarkstores.com/pages/marlborough
Phone Number: 01672 515000
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am (Tuesday 10am) to 5.30pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm
Marlborough Confectioners
This delightful confectionary shop offers a nostalgic experience with its old-fashioned sweets served from jars. It stocks a variety of treats, slush puppies and ice creams in the summer, beautiful chocolates and gobstoppers! Open daily, it’s a fun stop for families with children, large or small.
NEW! They also offer dog friendly ice creams too!
Contact details:
Address: High St, Marlborough SN8 1LT
Website: N/a
Phone Number: 01672 514358
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm
Mistral Ladies Clothing
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For a delightful shopping experience, visit Mistral Ladies Clothing. Known for its excellent customer service and wide selection of casual wear, footwear, and accessories, this shop offers some great bargains. Open daily, it’s a perfect place to find stylish additions to your wardrobe.
Contact details:
Address: 119 High St, Marlborough SN8 1LZ
Website: https://www.mistral-online.com/
Phone Number: 01672 516954
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm
Seasalt Cornwall
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A fantastic menswear and women’s clothing store, up from Cornwall, that’s airy and well laid out offering fantastic customer service. Their clothing range of wardrobe favourites is inspired by Cornwall and is designed to endure.
The staff here can’t do enough to help and they make it such a pleasurable shopping experience. It all sounds quite expensive, but Seasalt honestly aim for the right combination of style, value, sustainability and community support. Worth a browse!
Contact details:
Address: 7 High St, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1AA
Website: https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/locations/marlborough
Phone Number: 01672 311589
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm
Willow and Wolf Boutique
The Willow and Wolf Boutique in Marlborough, owned and run by Isabella, offers women the ultimate shopping experience. This boutique features a range of womens designer wear that’s so exquisite it will instantly catch your eye. Browsing their hand-picked selection will find you the most unique and stylish pieces. Stocking fashion you will fall in love with, their designer ladyswear certainly exudes elegance and sophistication.
The boutique owner prides herself on featuring the freshest and most up and coming designer brands, making it easier for you to stay ahead of fashion trends.
The welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff make shopping here a pleasure. Whether you’re looking for high-quality fashion pieces or unique gifts, Willow and Wolf Boutique is a must-visit destination delivering a delightful and memorable shopping experience.
Contact details:
Address: 95 High St, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1HD
Website: https://willowandwolfboutique.co.uk/
Phone Number: 01672 513780
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.00pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm
Other Places to Check out whilst you’re in Marlborough
If after all that shopping and coffee and cake you’re still looking to experience more of Marlborough then why not consider:
- Visiting the Stonebridge Wild River Reserve
- Checking out the River Kennet behind Waitrose (where you can feed the ducks)
- The Parade Cinema (perfect for a rainy day)
- Exploring Marlborough side streets to take in more of this town’s historic beauty
- Visiting the Merchants House and step back in time to the 17th Century
Hopefully you’ve found our guide to Marlborough’s independent cafes and shops most useful! If you decide to stay late then do check out our 7 Best Restaurants in Marlborough Guide to help you find somewhere to eat.
