Coln St Aldwyns

The name comes from the river itself and from Saint Aldwyn, an Anglo-Saxon saint with historical ties to the area, and you can trace this heritage through the local church, which has stood here for centuries.

The real draw is the setting. The river flows directly through the village, and walking its banks gives you a genuine chance to spot kingfishers or herons depending on what season you're visiting. The stone cottages and farmhouses are built from local limestone and have accumulated around the water over centuries in that organic, unplanned way that gives the place its character.

If you're looking for somewhere quieter than the busier villages in the area, Coln St Aldwyns delivers. There's a proper pub where you'll find local people, and the whole place feels like somewhere people actually live rather than somewhere preserved behind glass. The church rewards a visit if medieval architecture and local history interest you.

Most visitors use it as a base for exploring further afield. Cirencester's Roman museum and market town amenities are within easy reach, or you can walk to Bibury if you want a more dramatic riverside landscape. It's the kind of place that works best when you slow down and pay attention to what's around you.