Chipping Norton

Victorian wool barons built some seriously grand houses here, and you can still feel that old money confidence in the limestone streets. Chipping Norton sits pretty on a Cotswold hilltop, its market square proper handsome and the surrounding countryside rolling away in every direction like a Constable painting come to life.

The town centre has that satisfying weight of permanence - proper pubs, independent shops that haven't been chain-stored to death, and St Mary's Church keeping watch from above. It's not chocolate-box twee like some Cotswold spots, which makes it all the better. Real people live and work here, not just weekend visitors.

Charlbury makes for a lovely day out, just a short drive away with its Museum telling local stories and the grand Friends' Meeting House worth a look. The train station there connects you to Oxford if you fancy a proper day trip. Back towards Chipping Norton, Wigwell Nature Reserve offers decent walking through ancient woodland, while Dean Grove and the various copses - Knighton's, Shock's, Church Brake among them - create a green network perfect for afternoon rambles.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The A44 runs right through town, connecting Oxford to Worcester and beyond. If you're without wheels, the buses from Oxford run regularly, though you'll want to check times for the return journey.

Staying at one of the nearby parks - whether traditional camping at Chipping Norton Camping and Caravanning Club Site or something posher at Bluewood Lodges with their hot tubs - puts you right in the heart of proper Cotswold country. You can explore the wool towns by day and return to your base without the hassle of London prices or tourist crowds.