Gloucester

Roman legions once marched through these streets, and two millennia later you can still feel that sense of permanence in Gloucester's red-brick Victorian terraces and medieval remnants. The city sits where the Severn meets smaller tributaries, creating a landscape of gentle hills and water meadows that feels properly English without being chocolate-box twee.

Gloucester Cathedral dominates the skyline, its Norman tower visible from miles around. But the real character lies in the working docks area, where 19th-century warehouses have been given new life as museums and galleries. The antiques centre sprawls through multiple Victorian buildings - you could lose a morning here easily.

Venture beyond the ring road and you'll find yourself in proper Cotswold country. Haresfield Beacon offers cracking views across the Severn Vale, while Cromwell's Stone marks where the Lord Protector supposedly surveyed Gloucester during the Civil War siege. The surrounding countryside takes in everything from the grand estates like Highnam Court to working farms that have been here since Domesday.

Train connections to London are decent - just over two hours from Paddington. The M5 junction puts you within striking distance of both the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds proper. Several holiday parks dot the countryside around Gloucester, from traditional camping at places like Severn Valley Touring Caravan & Camping Site to more upmarket glamping options. Makes perfect sense as a base for exploring both the cathedral city itself and the gloriously varied landscape that surrounds it.