Even in winter, the Cotswolds continue to draw tourists in search of that quintessentially English experience. If watching The Holiday at Christmas made you dream of a cosy cottage retreat, there are plenty of popular destinations on our doorstep that are just as charming.
From bustling Bourton-on-the-Water to the ‘most beautiful village’ Bibury, visitors have so much choice when it comes to planning a trip to this part of the South West. However, there are towns that are yet to make it on the map.
Many people will have heard of Lacock, the tiny ‘timewarp’ National Trust village, but a town just three miles away is also well worth a look. Situated on the fringe of the Cotswolds, the Wiltshire market town of Corsham is just shy of the well-trodden trail that takes in some of its more famous neighbours.
It is just 40 minutes from Bristol and 25 minutes from Bath, with a particularly unique draw – you might see peacocks roaming around the streets. These brightly-coloured birds reside at Corsham Court, an impressive stately home that members of the public can pay to enter, but they are often spotted around the town centre’s cobbled streets.
Visit Corsham describes the town as “a hidden gem waiting to be explored”, with a vibrant art scene, Georgian stone buildings and a variety of independent retailers. When Bristol Live visited, it was noticeably free of the crowds that we had seen in Lacock just before.
Like its iconic neighbour, which starred in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, Corsham is no stranger to the screen and might be recognised by fans of Poldark. The first series of the BBC drama was partly filmed in Corsham, with the town centre doubling as 18th century Cornwall despite its inland location.
There are some beautiful buildings in the historic centre, including the 1668 schoolroom and Almshouses, but the town’s shopping scene might be more of an attraction if architecture doesn’t interest you. There are boutiques selling antiques, jewellery and homeware as well as a traditional butcher, greengrocer and more upmarket deli if you want to grab something nice for dinner during your day trip.
Three charity shops are also in the town centre if you’re in the market for a bargain, including a Red Cross which was packed with new Zara clothes during our visit and a smattering of designer tags. We also stopped at Corsham Gallery, which boasts contemporary artwork from a range of local artists.
There are plenty of cafes if you want to stop for a coffee – Grounded will be a familiar sight to those in Bristol. We had a great coffee at Mother & Wild, which also runs as a pizza restaurant and bar in the evenings.
How to get there
There has been a campaign to revive Corsham Railway Station but unless that becomes a reality, getting to Corsham from Bristol is tricky via public transport. There is a direct bus if you are travelling from Bath.
From Bristol, drivers can take the M4 or a more scenic route via Keynsham. Parking in the town centre car parks is free for two hours, or if visiting on a Sunday the all-day charge is £0.70.