Bewdley

A proper Georgian market town sits proudly on the banks of the River Severn, its red-brick terraces tumbling down to the waterfront like something from a period drama. Bewdley feels frozen in time - but in the best possible way.

The town's Georgian architecture is genuinely stunning, with Load Street offering one of England's finest examples of an 18th-century high street. You won't find chain stores here. Instead, independent shops and tearooms fill the handsome buildings that barely seem to have changed since Jane Austen's day.

West Midlands Safari Park dominates the local attractions scene, just outside town. It's proper family territory - the Sea Lion Theatre puts on cracking shows, and driving through the animal enclosures feels like a mini African adventure. Kids absolutely love the Penguin Cove and Hippo Pool sections.

For a quieter pace, the surrounding Wyre Forest provides miles of walking through ancient woodland. Coxgreen Copse and Hollies Dingle offer lovely rambles, while the peaks at Devils Spittleful and Long Coppice Hill reward the effort with decent views across Worcestershire's rolling countryside.

Blake Marsh Nature Reserve sits right on the doorstep - it's a brilliant spot for birdwatching, especially during winter months when the wetlands attract all sorts of waterfowl.

Bewdley station connects you to Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway, one of Britain's best preserved steam lines. The journey through the Wyre Forest is lovely any time of year.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around Bewdley puts you bang in the middle of some cracking countryside. You're close enough to nip into town for dinner, but far enough out to properly unwind. The Severn Valley feels worlds away from the Midlands' industrial reputation.