Witney

Ancient blanket-making machinery still hums in parts of this West Oxfordshire mill town, though these days Witney's more famous for its weekly market and handsome stone cottages. The River Windrush meanders through the centre, creating proper English charm without the tourist crowds that plague nearby Burford.

Witney's compact high street rewards wandering. Independent shops jostle with cafes serving proper coffee, while the Buttercross - that distinctive 17th-century market shelter - anchors the town square where traders have gathered for centuries. The old blanket mills tell the town's industrial story, and you can still spot the occasional weaver's cottage tucked down side streets.

This feels like authentic Cotswolds without the coach parties. Kingston Bagpuize Millennium Green lies just south, offering gentle walks through meadowland where wildlife sculptures pop up unexpectedly - look out for the carved Brown Hare and Green Woodpecker among the trees. Harrowdown Hill provides cracking views across the Thames Valley, worth the climb on a clear day.

Oxford's dreaming spires sit just 12 miles southeast, easily reached by regular bus services. But honestly, Witney works better as a base for exploring the quieter western Cotswolds - Burford, Chipping Norton and Charlbury all lie within easy striking distance.

Staying at one of the nearby caravan parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough for evening strolls into town for dinner, yet positioned to explore both the Cotswolds proper and the Thames Valley. The Windrush flows east towards Oxford, while westward lie those honey-stone villages that grace every chocolate box. It's a proper gateway location.