Things to do
around Chippenham

Chippenham is a working Wiltshire town rather than a chocolate-box village, and that's rather the point of it. Within about two miles of the centre you'll find 51 places to eat and drink, ten places to visit, seven places to stay, five services, four activities and three shops — a spread that says more about everyday life than about tourism. It makes a practical base if you're touring the wider Cotswolds, with somewhere to sleep, somewhere to fill the car and somewhere to eat at almost any hour, and it rewards visitors who like their days a little unpolished.

A good few hours here might begin at Quetzal Gallery, which is worth a slow browse before you go anywhere else, then continue on foot towards the water, where the Millennium Milepost on Riverside Drive marks the cycle route and makes a natural pause. Lunch could be something fragrant at Wara Thai Cafe, or you might hold out for an early supper of fish and chips from Lees. If you're after a late bite instead, Chippenham Kebab & Pizza House will see you right before you head back out into the countryside.