I visit 'frozen in time' West Midlands market town with 'queues out the door' icecream parlour

I'd never really thought much about Henley-in-Arden until I read that it had been named one of the best places to live in the West Midlands.

Then I spotted another claim that caught my eye, its famous ice cream shop has been serving award-winning ice cream for generations. That was all the excuse we needed for a family day out.

Just an hour from Wolverhampton, Henley-in-Arden feels like stepping back in time. Famous for its mile-long High Street lined with over 150 listed medieval, Tudor, and Georgian buildings, the town offers a quintessential English escape.

Walking through the town felt like strolling through Shakespeare's England. In fact, it reminded me of a smaller, quieter version of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Our first stop had to be Henley Icecream. We soon found out why people were queueing out the door and down the high street. The choice was huge, and everyone in the family found a favourite. We tucked into bubblegum, coffee and honeycomb flavours, while the kids took ages to decide because they wanted everything!

The biggest surprise? Five ice creams came to just £12. In a world where family treats can soon add up, that felt like an absolute bargain.

Part of what makes a visit so special is the history behind the famous ice cream parlour. Tudor Dairies has been part of Henley-in-Arden since the early 1930s, when brothers Harry and Arthur Fathers took over the local milk round and grocery shop.

They began making ice cream by hand in 1934 using a family recipe passed down by their mother, and it quickly became a local sensation. Just three years later, Henley Ice Cream was crowned the best ice cream in the UK, putting the little Warwickshire town firmly on the map.

Its popularity was so great that by 1938, crowds of visitors were causing traffic jams along the High Street, with a uniformed attendant brought in to keep vehicles moving.

Nearly a century later, people are still queuing outside for a taste, proving some traditions never go out of style.

With our ice creams in hand, we wandered along the High Street, popping into lovely independent shops, browsing boutiques and stopping to admire the historic buildings. There are cosy cafés, quirky little stores and plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by. The whole town has a relaxed, welcoming feel that makes you want to slow down.

If you're looking for a family day out that's a little different, Henley-in-Arden is well worth the trip. Come for the famous ice cream, stay for the history, charming streets and independent shops.

We'll definitely be back, and next time I might even try another flavour... if I can resist the honeycomb!

Here’s our gallery of photos taken from our time there: