Avebury, Wiltshire
Avebury is a magical and ancient place, perfect for history and nature lovers alike. It is an UNESCO world heritage site situated in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, composed of a picturesque village nestled amongst the world’s largest (and very old) stone circle. It is also home to two further stone avenues: West Kennet Avenue and Beckhampton Avenue; as well as Silbury Hill, and a neolithic tomb – West Kennet Long Barrow.
My partner and I had an amazing day out here last year. We arrived by public transport and headed to the nearby National Trust site, Avebury’s Old Farmyard and museum, to explore. Not only does this site have a cafe and toilets, but more importantly it has the Alexander Keiller Museum which contains prehistoric artefacts, and the barn gallery which gives a pictorial history of the landscape.
After, we went for a hike across the rolling fields, as there is a route that takes you from the village to West Kennet Long barrow. It took us a couple of hours to do the loop to the barrow and back, though there are many different trails to explore. Here, at the barrow, one of our highlights was finding a swallow nest – a perfect contrast of life and death.
Another highlight was all of the sheep near the stone circle! They are everywhere, which for an animal lover like me was a pure joy to see (reminder: please keep dogs on leads near them).
If you’re more into sweeping views, the hike up the hill to the long barrow is worth the effort, although good walking shoes are advised.
Finally, we went to the Red Lion pub to rest our legs with a pint and some scrummy food. I recommend the crispy squid!
The best bit? It was a wonderfully cheap day out. The stone circle and earthworks are free, and if you don’t fancy going to the museum or pub, you can still make the most of your visit. Just give this English Heritage history guide a read, pack a picnic, and enjoy the scenery.
Travel tips
Avebury is not too far from Swindon and can be reached by car or public transport. If driving, there is paid parking in the National Trust car park, as well as parking on the outskirts of the village which is free.
If you are going via public transport, first catch a train to Swindon then take a five minute walk to the bus station where you catch the 49 or 42 (less frequent) to the Red Lion stop.
The site is open all year, and the National Trust hosts several free or reasonably cheap events which visitors can enjoy.
Bath, Somerset
Another UNESCO heritage site, what can I say? I love history.
The City of Bath dates back to the Romans (1st century AD) who built the stunning bath that you see today around the area’s natural hot springs. Centuries later, loved by the Georgians for this same reason, the city flourished in the 18th century. During this era, several famous pieces of architecture were built, including The Royal Crescent, The Circus, and Pulteney Bridge with its shops and cafes.
Bath has several cultural attractions including the Jane Austen Centre, the Holbourne Museum, the Abbey, and art galleries. Add to that its modern spa – Thermae Bath spa, many shops, restaurants, and green spaces, and Bath is a city that has a mix of history, culture, and leisure that is hard to resist.
I’ve been to Bath a handful of times over the last couple of years. The first time I came with my friend. We had lunch at the Thai Weir at Pulteney Bridge, followed by a stroll through the city and The Royal Crescent, then on to Royal Victoria park.
The second time we went to Bath, we visited Thermae Bath Spa for a dip and some relaxation. The prices are reasonable and there is plenty to enjoy, including a rooftop pool, an indoor pool, saunas, and a few steam rooms. We spent several hours here relaxing and left feeling like new women.
Most recently, I visited with my partner and our families. First, we went for a walk up to the Bath Lookout (Alexandra Park) to get a view of the city which was absolutely worth the climb. Afterwards, we were hungry and grabbed a bite to eat at Plant.Eat.Licious, and treated ourselves to ice cream at Bricknell’s. Then we had a look inside the Abbey and admired the exterior of the Roman Baths, as the entry was a little too expensive for us.
Finally, we visited The Circus, The Royal Crescent, and explored Royal Victoria Park once more.
Travel tips
Bath is easily accessible by car or public transport. By car, Bath is just off the M4 (junction 18). Parking in the centre can be tricky, but there are three Park and Rides available. If travelling by public transport, you can catch a train, National Express coach, or catch a local bus from Bristol, Chippenham, and Wells.
Bibury and Sister Wood
Described by William Morris as the “most beautiful village in England”, Bibury is known as the capital of the Cotswolds and certainly worth a visit. It is divided by the river Coln, which runs through the heart of the village. On a hot day like when my friends and I visited, I found it was lovely to sit on the bank with a picnic and watch the swans drift past.
Not far from the river is Bibury Trout Farm, one of the oldest working trout farms in the country. Whilst we didn’t end up visiting here, there is certainly lots to do – from crazy golf to fishing, a gentle stroll around the grounds, or even trying the trout yourself. There are also a couple of eateries, including St Mary’s church, and (most famously) Arlington Row, which is a row of picturesque cottages.
To reach Arlington Row, you will need to cross one of the two whimsical stone bridges. The cottages themselves were originally built in the 14th century to store wool but were later turned into cottages in the 17th century. Today, they stand out as one of the most iconic (and photographed) sights in the Cotswolds. They are so beautiful that they have been the setting for several films, including Stardust and Bridget Jones’ Diary.
When I visited with my friends, we did a circular walk of the village, then headed to St Mary’s. The church is beautiful, and we visited when the roses that border the path were in full bloom. Scattered behind the church are very old and weathered headstones and graves, which we found interesting to look at.
After the church, we had our picnic followed by a trip to Eleven for some cake which was delicious! I recommend the Guinness cake. Not pictured here as I ate it in 0.5 seconds!
Travel tips
You can get to Bibury most easily by car, as public transport options are limited. However, you can catch a train to Kemble (14 miles away) followed by a taxi, or travel to Cirencester then catch the 855 bus to Bibury, which takes less than 20 minutes. Parking is limited so it’s best to park away from the centre. We managed to find parking near the church.
The site is very busy and popular with both local and international tourists. I would recommend going during the week (which may also be busy with internationals but less so with locals). Better yet, go early in the morning before the coaches arrive to get better parking options.
Subscribe to our newsletters
Each of our Bylines sends a newsletter every month and we also send out a ‘Best of Bylines, featuring a selection of the best articles from across the network
