Shipston-on-Stour

Railway lines once carved through this market town, bringing London commuters and freight trains alike. That's all gone now - the station closed decades ago - but Shipston-on-Stour retains the purposeful air of a working place rather than a tourist honeypot.

High Street still hums with proper shops rather than tea rooms, though you'll find both the Shipston Museum and The Shipston Gallery tucked between the butcher and baker. The town sits snugly in the Feldon, that gentle stretch of south Warwickshire where the landscape rolls rather than soars. It's farming country through and through.

Whichford Pottery, just outside town, draws ceramic enthusiasts from across the Cotswolds. Their traditional methods and wood-fired kilns produce work that's miles from your average garden centre fare. The surrounding countryside offers decent walking too - Long Compton Woods provides proper shade on hot summer days, while Whichford Wood has paths that meander without much effort required.

Golfers rate Feldon Valley Golf Club highly. The course takes advantage of the undulating terrain without being too punishing for weekend players. Meanwhile, Corn Mill Meadows offers a gentle riverside stroll when you need to stretch your legs.

Stratford-upon-Avon lies fifteen miles north via the A3400, making Shipston perfectly placed for Shakespeare country without the crowds. The M40 is twenty minutes east, connecting you to Oxford or London. Several touring parks dot the surrounding villages - Aylesmore Farm Camping Ground and Kirby Farm Caravan Site both offer rural settings within easy reach of town. Staying locally means you can explore the Cotswolds' northern reaches by day, then return to somewhere genuinely lived-in rather than preserved in aspic.