Things to do
around Shipston-on-Stour

Shipston-on-Stour sits on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds, where the hills start to flatten out towards the Warwickshire countryside, and it has the feel of a working market town rather than a showpiece. The scale is easy to manage: within about two miles of the centre you'll find 19 places to eat and drink, 10 shops, 5 things to visit and 3 places to stay, which means you can leave the car for the day and cover most of it on foot. It's a good base if you want somewhere with proper pubs and independent shopfronts, and quiet lanes and villages within a short drive.

A few hours here works best if you start with a wander along the high street, looking in at E.H. Spencer and ivyheart, and at The Cotswold Jeweller Ltd if you're after something to take home. Break for coffee or something stronger at Thirst Edition, then carry on browsing before settling in at The White Bear or The Black Horse for a long lunch. If the weather holds, the walk out along the Stour is an easy way to finish.