Foxham

The real draw here is St Michael's Church, designed by William Butterfield, one of the nineteenth century's most influential architects. Butterfield became known for his obsessive approach to Gothic Revival design, particularly his use of polychromy – the practice of combining different coloured materials to create bold, patterned effects. Walk inside St Michael's and you'll understand his reputation immediately. The interior showcases his signature technique of weaving stone, brick and tiles together in combinations that genuinely pushed boundaries for the period.

Butterfield's work was inseparable from the Oxford Movement, a theological revival aiming to restore Catholic traditions within the Church of England, and his buildings became physical expressions of those beliefs. St Michael's is modest in scale but repays close attention to every detail, from floor to roof.

The village itself is rural and straightforward, without much in the way of shops or services, so arrive prepared for a quiet experience. Chippenham, your nearest proper town, is where you'll find facilities. This is somewhere that responds better to a slow wander and genuine architectural interest than a quick pass-through, particularly if Victorian design appeals to you.