10 Small Towns In New Hampshire With The Best Downtowns
A good downtown district can become the best version of a black hole, inescapable because of the activities and landmarks it offers. Concord, for example, offers a self-guided tour of its historic downtown district so visitors don’t miss a thing. In North Conway, the downtown features a unique museum dedicated to skiing. And downtown Rochester offers beautiful views of the Cocheco River. These 10 small New Hampshire towns with the best downtowns will have visitors hooked.
Concord
Concord became New Hampshire’s capital in 1808, and this town knows it has a beautiful downtown district, offering a self-guided tour that runs for roughly two miles through the town’s center. Along the tour, visitors will pass dozens of historical buildings showing off architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The New Hampshire Historical Society, built in 1823, is one of Concord’s main attractions, with tours that explore exhibits such as the Concord coach, one of New Hampshire's products of the 19th century, and “A Legacy of Landscapes,” including 48 paintings by Thomas Cole, John Frederick Kensett, and more.
Back through the downtown district, tourists will encounter the Clock Tower and Eagle Square. While the clock was built in the 1870s, it was lost for more than 40 years. The clock face and bell were preserved and reinstalled downtown in 1998, where they remain as one of Concord’s must-see historical landmarks. Concord hosts many annual events. America 250/ Concord 300 Anniversary Liberty and Legacy celebrates New Hampshire’s democratic traditions, running through North Main Street with food trucks, reenactments, performers in period costumes, and more.
Exeter
Exeter’s downtown is designated as the Downtown Area Commercial District, located in the heart of town with intersecting streets like Water Street, Front Street, and Court Street. Part of the downtown core is listed as one of Exeter's Historic Districts, established in the early 1970s to preserve the town's heritage with landmarks and buildings scattered throughout. The preserved Town Hall, built in 1855, remains the center of Exeter, with nearby views of the Squamscott River from String Bridge. Tourists can walk along the river from Founders Park, a great, family-friendly outdoor space located right next to Exeter’s public library.
The American Independence Museum is another must-see attraction located right off Water Street, the perfect spot for history buffs and those looking to learn more about Exeter. Just outside the museum, with festivities taking place across downtown, visitors can celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the Declaration of Independence to New Hampshire in 1776. The American Independence Festival, usually occurring in July, has live readings, dances, musical performances, and reenactments of historical trades and skills.
North Conway
The area of New Hampshire surrounding North Conway has built quite a reputation for outdoor activities, such as hiking in the White Mountains or paddling along the Saco River that runs beside the small town. After a day of traveling, tourists can enter North Conway’s downtown district to visit a branch of the New England Ski Museum, housing collections of vintage skiwear and timeline exhibits. The Conway Scenic Railway departs from the preserved 1874 North Conway station, sending tourists on another journey across historic New Hampshire.
North Conway has also established a reputation for impressive, expanding breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Two of the best places to grab a drink are Moat Mountain Brewing Company and Cathedral Ledge Distillery, both located on White Mountain Highway, vertically splitting North Conway in two. Moat Mountain Brewing Company has been brewing craft beers since 2000, and the Cathedral Ledge Distillery features a tasting room for bourbons and spirits right where they're made.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth features plenty of historic homes and structures from the 18th and 19th centuries, contributing to a downtown area that is truly from another time. The Portsmouth Athenaeum is a non-profit library located in the heart of Portsmouth with impressive collections of artifacts, photographs, and manuscripts. The Strawbery Banke Museum is a unique outdoor museum in New Hampshire with a handful of historic structures that once collected the neighborhood, with an impressive over 100,000 annual visitors.
Beyond preserved pieces of history, Portsmouth’s downtown district offers a perpetually short walk to any place to eat, buy a new outfit, or raise a glass. The Music Hall is a great place to experience the New Hampshire Film Festival or catch a comedy show in their lounge, presenting performances of many kinds since 1878. The Market Square Kiosk is the official starting point for walking tours twice a week, so completionists won’t miss a thing while visiting Portsmouth.
Milford
Located in south New Hampshire, right along the banks of the Souhegan River, carving straight through the town, Milford wears its history on its sleeve with pride, displaying landmarks and heritage wherever it can. Thanks to its pivotal granite history, Milford is "the Granite Town in the Granite State” of New Hampshire.
Visitors have an abundance of beautiful parks to walk in while touring Milford’s downtown district, such as Keyes Memorial Park, Emerson Park, and Centennial Park. Many downtown parks house historical landmarks like the Milford Horse Watering Trough and significant fixtures of the town like the central gazebo in the Milford Oval. The bronze Harriet E. Wilson Memorial statue honors the first Black American to publish a novel in the United States. The Paul Revere bell now hangs in the Town Hall belfry, once used to call the community to church and events, and still brings people, old and new, to Milford.
Peterborough
Peterborough is a beautiful small town that runs along the Contoocook River. Its downtown district is perfect for tourists of all ages, with educational museum exhibits and places to sit back, relax, or engage with locals in unforgettable community events. The Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center is a great destination for families, featuring a gift shop, performance area, reading nook, and more, with exhibits like A Glimpse of South Africa with photographs and fine art on display. It’s a fun, educational experience with particular exhibits and programs designed for children and students.
There’s always something new to discover when venturing through Peterborough's downtown district. This small town houses so many incredible, long-time establishments that locals could not sing higher praises for, such as the Peterborough Diner, a timeless breakfast place located inside a 1950s-style dining car. The Depot Square Park is a great outdoor community space that hosts farmers’ markets, summer concerts, and festivals.
Wolfeboro
What the small town of Wolfeboro lacks in population density and size, it more than makes up for in historical significance. The Wolfeboro Historical Society knows just how special and unique their downtown district is, so they crafted the Wolfeboro Historic Downtown Walking Tour for tourists who want to check as many boxes as possible while visiting this small New Hampshire town.
Along the tour, visitors will come across the Clark House Museum Complex with exhibits such as “Early Settlement” about Wolfeboro's founding and “Summer Resort Era,” the evolution of America's oldest summer resort. Several memorial landmarks honor soldiers who fought in World War I and World War II, such as the Wolfeboro Roll-of-Honor, with three massive plaques and the hundreds of names listed. After a day of traveling and honoring the past, visitors can finish their stay in Wolfeboro by visiting establishments like Morrisseys' Porch & Pub, one of the local hubs and a great place for seafood and pints right on South Main Street.
Rochester
Rochester serves as a gateway to the larger Lakes Region in New Hampshire, the White Mountains, and the Seacoast. It's a great starting point for any trip across New Hampshire as well as a great destination itself. Visitors can’t help but spend some time roaming Rochester’s downtown district, visiting places like the Rochester Historical Society and Museum to view their collections and rotating exhibits.
The Rochester Opera House, another local landmark, has operated since the early 20th century, with several remodeling and furnishing efforts to help maintain and preserve this New Hampshire landmark. For more than 100 years, the opera house has lent its stage to plays, comedians, jazz players and many more. Rochester’s hub also offers a Downtown Riverwalk, with tables for outdoor dining and a great view of the Cocheco River that cuts right through the town.
Littleton
In 2003, Littleton won a “Great American Main Street Award” thanks to its charming downtown with the White Mountains as a backdrop. While that award was some time ago, revitalization programs have honored Littleton’s great downtown with funds and donations to help preserve and continuously improve the district so they can show off their prize-winning city streets year after year.
The Riverwalk Covered Bridge is a historical landmark and the most stylish way to cross over the Ammonoosuc River. The over 100-year old Littleton Opera House has become a great venue for theatrical performances, dances, and musical events, large and small. Main Street is a great starting point for hikes to see New Hampshire’s natural beauty, taking trails like Parker Mountain and Pine Hill. Organizations like Littleton Main Street, Inc. continue to support local businesses along their main streets and encourage them to maintain an excellent appearance to help improve customer experiences.
Dover
Settled in 1623, Dover is the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire, and they offer plenty of exhibits and opportunities to learn about their historical foundations. In downtown Dover, everything is just a short walk around Central Avenue Square, offering entertainment for families as well as nightlife.
The Woodman Institute Museum, founded in 1916, is a traditional early-20th-century-style natural science, history, and art museum, with events throughout the year, from paranormal investigations to performances of Oscar Wilde classics. The Children's Museum of New Hampshire is another great destination for families traveling through Dover, offering hands-on, interactive exhibits for children who want to learn about dinosaurs, music, world cultures, and more. At the end of the full day’s visit, locals would invite you into Cara Irish Pub, a place that brings the best parts of Ireland, from the music and food to the stories and friendships.
Dazzling Downtowns In New Hampshire
These 10 small towns all boast some of the most beautiful downtowns in New Hampshire, each housing historical landmarks and structures with heritage and stories oozing from every crack and crevice. The 100-year-old Opera House is the best place to catch a theatrical performance in Rochester. Visitors walking up and down Wolfeboro streets will encounter memorials honoring war veterans. These New Hampshire downtowns have their own gravitational pulls, keeping visitors within with past and present wonders on every street corner.
