Ampney Crucis

The Ampney Brook, a tributary of the Thames, runs through the settlement and provides a pleasant focal point for wandering through the lanes.

The Church of the Holy Rood is what brings most visitors here. Built in the 12th century, it's a solid piece of medieval parish church architecture with a distinctive spire that stands out in this part of the Cotswolds. If you're interested in that period of English history, it's certainly worth stepping inside.

Beyond the church, Ampney Crucis delivers the kind of peaceful village atmosphere that makes the Cotswolds worth visiting. You'll see traditional honey-coloured stone houses scattered about, and the surrounding countryside offers decent walking routes along the brook and through the fields. The landscape has a genuinely rural character rather than feeling overly managed.

The village is compact enough that you can see it properly in an hour or two, so it works best as part of a wider exploration of Cirencester and its neighbourhood rather than as a destination on its own. If you're here, the nearby villages of Ampney St Mary and Ampney St Peter are worth a look too if you want to spend a bit longer in the area.