While everyone loves a good city break, a rural village offers an intimate travel experience that vast metropolises simply can’t.
In place of trendy cocktail bars, there are cosy pubs. Instead of dashes for the Tube, there are countryside rambles.
One place that delivers all of this in spades is Castle Combe, often described as the ‘prettiest village in England’.
A trip there means you can ditch your worries about hand luggage dimensions and passport expiry dates, and enjoy a staycation that will have you yearning for quiet living like an episode of Countryfile.
A word of warning, though: weekends can be incredibly busy, so plan your visit wisely (more on that later).
Here’s everything you need to know.
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Where is Castle Combe?
Castle Combe is in Wiltshire, on the southernmost edge of the Cotswolds, an area renowned for its outstanding natural beauty.
Chippenham is its nearest town, around a 15-minute drive (or 6 miles).
In terms of larger cities, Castle Combe is about a 30-minute drive from Bath to the south and around the same journey time from Bristol to the west.
Why visit Castle Combe
A quick Google image search of Castle Combe reveals why this place is known as England’s prettiest village.
The buildings are constructed in typical Cotswold style, featuring great blocks of what appears to be ancient limestone and tiled roofs of natural stone.
The village website boasts that it has been welcoming tourists for ‘at least a century’. However, its origins go back way further: the site of the castle above it has been occupied since Roman times.
Castle Combe even has Hollywood connections.
It has served as the setting for a whole host of films, including ‘Doctor Doolittle’ filmed around the village back in 1966, and 2011’s ‘War Horse’.
Travel account Lost Temples recently added Castle Combe to its thread of the ‘most tranquil and alluring villages’ in the world.
Things to do in Castle Combe
As you’d imagine, Castle Combe does not offer the same array of activities as a larger town. No axe-throwing or tequila tasting here.
However, there is still plenty to do, and in picturesque surroundings, too. Private tours run through several Cotswold villages, including Castle Combe.
In terms of points of interest, St. Andrews Church dates back to the 13th century, and the nearby stately homes and gardens of Bowood House, Stourhead, and Longleat are all worth visiting.
If you’re after something a little more exciting, then you’ve also got the nearby Castle Combe Racing Circuit – the ‘West-Country’s home of motorsport’, which offers track days, experiences, and more.
If good food is your focus, Castle Combe has a few solid options, including The Castle Inn pub, The Old Stables coffee shop, and Bybrook, a fine dining restaurant located within The Manor House.
If you’ve worked up a thirst while wandering around, you might also be tempted by a cocktail in the Time Bar – also located in the Manor House – or a pint at The White Hart, a 14th-century pub in the heart of the village.
How to get to Castle Combe
If you’re travelling by car, Castle Combe is just off the M4, providing easy access by road and a virtually direct route from London and Bristol.
However, it is also possible to get there on public transport.
Take the Great Western Railway train from London Paddington to Chippenham station (don’t forget to book well in advance for the cheapest fare).
Outside Chippenham station, take Bus 95; check schedules online, there are more buses laid on during school holidays. Return tickets cost around £4.
All in, the journey from Paddington to Castle Combe takes two-and-a-half hours one-way.
What visitors think of Castle Combe
Most reviews by tourists to Castle Combe say the same thing: it’s a gorgeous place to visit, but be aware of crowds during high season.
In a post on TripAdvisor, independent reviewer Cee Gee said: ‘Castle Combe is honestly one of the most magical villages I’ve ever visited.
‘It looks like something straight out of a storybook or a Disney film – no TV wires, no satellite dishes, just pure old-world charm. The houses are made of beautiful honey-coloured Cotswold stone, the streets are cobbled, and the cottages look like they belong to fairies or hobbits.
‘But here’s the thing… do your research before visiting… I visited on a Saturday (big mistake) and it was absolutely packed.
‘Tourists everywhere – some were even sitting in the middle of the road for selfies while cars tried to pass. I felt like I was in a slow-motion episode of “Tourists Gone Wild.” It kind of spoiled the peaceful vibe.’
Locals have also complained about some of the tourists’ behaviour. The BBC reported in May that Castle Combe residents had been dealing with an ‘invasion’ of tourist drones.
While the village is home to just 400 people, it sees thousands of visitors every year, and some of them have been flying drones very close to private dwellings. Many say they have been flouting UK Civil Aviation Authority rules.
This has led to several locals putting up ‘No drones’ signs in their windows, with one man claiming he had even been filmed in the bath.
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