5 must see Cotswold destinations within

20 miles of The Old Bell Hotel.

The Old Bell Hotel is the perfect launching pad to explore some of the country’s most picturesque and quintessentially English scenery. Drawing curious travellers from around the globe, the Cotswolds is an area of national beauty nestled within green rolling hills. Visitors flock to take in the quaint villages that are home to clotted cream toned limestone cottages, and towns with lively markets and distinctive architecture.

Tetbury

Tetbury (5 miles)

The second biggest Cotswolds town, even royalty loves Tetbury, with King Charles choosing the area for his classy Highgrove Estate. Tetbury is renowned for its attractive antique shops and is a hub for dealers of antiquities from across the world.

Must See: The medieval Chipping Steps, one of the oldest parts of Tetbury, consisting of a steep set of stairs lined with centuries-old higgledy-piggledy cottages built with buttery Cotswold stone and adorned with climbing vines.

Castle Combe (10miles)

The PERFECT place for a beautiful stroll, Castle Combe is one of the most ‘instagrammable’ villages around and only a short drive from the Hotel. Known as 'The Prettiest Village in England', with good reason, visitors have been coming to enjoy its charms for at least a century. The unique charming cottages are constructed in local stone with thick walls and roofs, they are hundreds of years old and are listed as ancient monuments!

Must see: Get a picture on the iconic stone bridge that crosses the slow flowing ‘Brook’.

And Castle Combe presents this charming scene, of hill, woods and meadows cloth'd in green. Here grand terrestrial scenes, almost celestial nice, makes Castle Combe, sweet vale, an earthy Paradise.

Edward Dowling (19th Century)

Cirencester (12miles)

Pronounced ‘Siren-Cester’ this beautiful town is hailed as “The Capital of the Cotswolds”. It is, despite its ‘capital’ status, one of the best kept secrets of the Cotswolds and far less crowded than other tourist spots in the area. Visitors can explore the colourful streets, packed with vibrant independent shops, bustling back alleys and drool-worthy restaurants.

Must see: Take in the town’s rich Roman history by visiting the acclaimed Coronium Museum and the former Roman amphitheatre. There are also plaques throughout the town detailing key places within its Roman history.

Lacock (13 miles)

The historic village of Lacock looks today much like it did 200 years ago, with its oldest house being older than it’s thirteenth-century Abbey. There's lots to discover in Lacock village: quaint traditional stone cottages, the old workhouse, the medieval tithe barn, the old lock-up and the village church. For many Lacock may look strangely familiar, that’s because it has been the location for ‘Downton Abbey', the BBC’s 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Cranford', and the films 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' and 'Wolfman'!

Must See: Lacock Abbey is located in the heart of the village. Set within its own woodland it is well worth a visit. The Abbey is a unique country house with an eclectic mix of architectural styles, built upon the foundations of a former nunnery. The tranquil cloister court hints at the building’s medieval past.
Bibury (19 miles)
Possibly the most famous village in the Cotswolds. Nestled on the banks of the River Coln, Bibury is home to Arlington Row which is famed for its incredibly cute, crooked cottages. Originally built in 1380 as a monastic wool store, the building was converted into a row of weavers’ cottages in the 17th Century. The village is also home to Bibury Trout Farm and some of the prettiest scenery in the Cotswolds.
Must See: A trip to Arlington Row will make you feel like you have travelled back in time a couple of centuries, however it can get a little busy so is worth visiting earlier or later in the day.

If you would like any more information on any of the incredible places that you can visit whilst staying with us here at The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, our guest experiences team will be more than happy to help you!

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