The UK’s real-life ‘gingerbread town’ that’s better to visit in winter with cosy pubs and biscuit festivals
GINGERBREAD has become a staple of Christmas – and there is a town in the UK that is considered the home of it.
Ormskirk is a market town in Lancashire sitting around 13 miles from Liverpool.
The town has its very own gingerbread history which dates back to the early 1700s when “Gingerbread Ladies” would sell their homemade spiced goods from baskets.
These were especially popular with travellers at coaching inns and later railway passengers.
Ormskirk gingerbread was even rumored to be enjoyed by King Edward VII.
While the gingerbread we buy in shops usually has a distinct taste and snap, Ormskirk Gingerbread is very different.
In texture, it’s dense, chewy and cakey, and has a speckled appearance because it’s made from treacle and candied peel.
If you fancy a taste, the gingerbread is still sold in Ormskirk today in places like Mr Thompsons Bakery which is at the bi-weekly food market.
Every year, the town even holds its very own gingerbread festival to celebrate the biscuit history of Ormskirk.
Usually it takes place in summer with the last being held on July 13, 2025.
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There are lots of free family activities, and stalls selling handmade treats and gifts – all of which is themed around gingerbread.
Of course having a bite of gingerbread isn’t the only reason to visit Ormskirk in the wintertime, there’s plenty of other places to see.
If wrapping up for country walks is what you prefer to do in winter, then head to Rufford Old Hall.
The National Trust Tudor and Jacobean house that’s around 500 years old sits on the outskirts of Ormskirk.
Here are period rooms to explore along with a cosy Victorian tearoom which serves afternoon tea, cakes, scones and tray bakes.
There’s also a secondhand bookshop, garden and woodland, and the site has a two mile circular walk too from the hall along the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
Ormskirk holds a market every Thursday and Saturday that’s one of the oldest in the country.
It’s one of the UK’s oldest and most traditional markets having been open for almost 700 years.
There you’ll find around 100 stalls selling baked goods to clothing and gifts.
When it comes to cosy pubs, there are plenty in Ormskirk like The Kicking Donkey which is another great winter spot as it has an open fire and hearty meals.
On Sundays the classic country pub serves up roast dinners from beef brisket to gammon and turkey, to pork belly and chicken from £16.75.
One visitor said: “Lovely traditional pub, real fires and candles, amazing food and service and fabulous negroni.”
Other popular spots include Tiny Tavern Ormskirk, The Cricketers, Lost and Found and The Buck I’th Vine.
Here’s UK’s longest seaside village that’s surrounded by countryside & is the best for winter walks…
Sat on Devon‘s Jurassic Coast, Branscombe stretches around 3.5 miles long and is known for its pebble beach, thatched cottages and historic buildings.
The village features a mile-long high street running through its centre and it is surrounded by rolling hills with grazing sheep.
Alex Gwillim, local travel expert at Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays, said: “Branscombe is one of Devon’s most picturesque villages, and its cosy aesthetic paired with wellness-inspired activities makes it ideal for those looking for a staycation that prioritises self-care.”
And she isn’t wrong; Branscombe boasts amazing coastal walks like the South West Coast Path.
“Situated along the South West Coast Path, Branscombe makes the perfect starting point for a winter walk through woodland, beaches, and clifftops.
“From here, you can explore the Beer head loop or venture further along the coast to Sidmouth.”
And of course, Branscombe’s beach is a top spot to explore, with pebbles and often quieter during the autumn and winter months.
Alex added: “The mile long beach is ideal for a dog walk or simply clearing your head.”
Visitors can also get a glimpse of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast at the beach, with dramatic cliffs.
For little ones, there are plenty of rock pools to explore and fossils to find, including early reptiles, plants and marine life.
After exploring the beach, make sure to visit The Old Bakery and The Forge, both of which are National Trust sites.
For more on staycation breaks during winter, check out one Sun writer’s favourite seaside town in winter which is overlooked by a famous neighbour.
Plus, here’s one of the UK’s best seaside destinations to visit in winter – with beachfront pubs and stargazing nights.