
📷 Photo by Graham Horn · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About five miles north of Cirencester, you'll find Rendcomb, a small village that's been shaped significantly by Rendcomb College, a private boarding and day school established in 1920 by Frederick Noel Hamilton Wills.
The school has been central to village life for over a century, though it announced closure at the end of the 2025/26 academic year due to financial difficulties. The college's grounds and architecture are worth seeing as you walk through the area.
The village itself has that characteristic Cotswolds feel, with stone buildings scattered throughout and countryside all around that's very pleasant for wandering. There aren't specific tourist attractions concentrated in Rendcomb itself, but that's partly what makes it appealing if you want to see how a real Cotswolds community actually works, rather than visiting the busier spots everyone flocks to.
Its location works well if you're using it as a quieter base while exploring the wider region. Cirencester is just a short distance away and has everything you might need, including shops, restaurants, and Roman heritage sites worth your time. Walking trails through the surrounding countryside are accessible from the village, so you can easily head out for a few hours and then retreat to something more peaceful. It's really best experienced as part of a broader exploration of the Cotswolds rather than as a destination in itself.
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Photos

Dave.Dunford · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

T. Jacombs · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons