Alcester

Half-timbered buildings line the high street of this ancient market town, their wonky beams a reminder that Alcester has been trading since Roman times. Founded as a settlement where the Roman roads Ryknild Street and Salt Way crossed, the town still feels like a proper crossroads - though these days it's more about weekend shoppers from Birmingham than centurions.

Roman Alcester Museum tells the story of those early days, with genuine finds from the settlement that once stood here. It's worth a browse before wandering the streets to spot the Tudor and Georgian architecture that replaced whatever the Romans left behind. St Milburga church anchors the town centre, while Alcester's Positivity Rockline gallery adds a contemporary splash to the cultural mix.

The countryside around Alcester is properly lovely - rolling Warwickshire hills dotted with woodland. Oversley Wood offers decent walking, as do the various copses scattered about: Saddlers Hill Coppice and The Alders both provide that proper English forest experience. For views, Durlop Hill and Rommell's Hill reward the climb with perspectives across the Vale of Evesham.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The town sits about 8 miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon, making it an easy drive from the M40. Hillers Halt connects to the national rail network, though services can be a bit patchy midweek.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense if you want to explore both Alcester and the wider area. You're within striking distance of Stratford-upon-Avon's theatre scene, the Cotswolds' honey-stone villages, and Warwick Castle - yet based somewhere that feels authentically English rather than touristy. Ranch Caravan Park and Wootton Park Glamping Pods offer different accommodation styles, while Welford Riverside Park puts you right by the River Avon.