Bradford-on-Avon sits just beyond the southern edge of the Cotswolds National Landscape, yet this handsome Wiltshire market town has all the honey-coloured charm of its famous neighbour. With its medieval streets, elegant Georgian buildings and riverside setting, many would argue it is every bit as beautiful as the Cotswolds itself.
Built on centuries of wealth from the wool trade, the town tumbles down to the River Avon in a patchwork of historic stone buildings and winding lanes, framed by rolling green countryside. While visitors do come here – not least narrowboat holidaymakers cruising along the Kennet & Avon Canal – Bradford-on-Avon has retained a strong sense of community and escaped the overtourism seen in some of the Cotswolds’ best-known villages.
Among its highlights are the 13th-century Town Bridge, the remarkably preserved Saxon church and the cruck-roofed Tithe Barn, one of the finest surviving medieval barns in England. Add in independent shops, tea rooms, cafés and cultural venues such as the Wiltshire Music Centre, and it’s easy to see why Bradford-on-Avon makes such an appealing alternative to the Cotswolds.
Where to stay
The characterful interior of Timbrell’s Yard (Photo: Jake Eastham)
