The Cotswolds is packed with pretty picturesque villages and, in fact, it’s what the area is known for. With their quaint cobblestone roads and picture-perfect houses, tourists flock from all over to visit the likes of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, .
However, there is an equally gorgeous town much closer to Bristol where you can avoid the crowds. Painswick offers peace and calm even in high season, according to My London.
Not only does the little market town have lots to explore, but it also lies in the heart of the Five Valleys which offers some of the best walking opportunities in the Cotswolds. Located north of Stroud, there’s no shortage of things to do, from exploring the famous churchyard and gardens to enjoying local restaurants and cafés.
READ MORE:
- Take a look inside the stunning Cotswold town that inspired Lord of the Rings
- The West Country twin seaside villages so beautiful – they’ve been dubbed ‘Little Switzerland’
What’s more TV fans may recognise Painswick because it featured heavily as a location for the BBC adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy. On approach to Painswick the first thing you’ll notice is the impressive spire of St Mary’s church that stands proud as the centrepiece of the town.
The graveyard is a big attraction for the town, lined with uniquely shaped yew trees and a rich history of late wool merchants. Luscious green spaces are in abundance in the area, not just in the bucolic rolling hills which are excellent for walks, but also in Britain’s last surviving complete rococo garden.
Designed in the 1700s as a fanciful pleasure garden for the owner of Painswick House, the gardens now let visitors take in the quirkiness of the nature and ornamentation. If this wasn’t enough to convince you, The Telegraph even listed Painswick as one of the UK’s prettiest spots.
From New Street to Bisley Street, Tibbiwell Lane, St Mary’s Street and Vicarage Street, take in the chocolate-shop cottages that line the cobbled roads as you revel in this quintessentially British location.
This article was originally published in October 2022 and republished in October 2024.