Cirencester

Top 3 Things To Do In Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Cirencester is a market town situated approximately 100 miles west of London, with a very long history associated with the Romans. It has one of the largest churches in the UK and is surrounded by beautiful villages on the outskirts, a perfect holiday destination. Situated in the Cotswolds with Roman remains dotted around the town, the town attracts thousands of visitors each summer. The Japanese are particularly fond of the area. If you decide to visit Cirencester, here are the 3 top things you should do whilst you’re there: Corinium Museum and Black Jack Street The town’s, once owned by the Roman’s, history can be found here. The museum contains mountains of genuine artifacts, mosaics (of which many mosaics can be found around the town, for example, the Brewery Arts rabbit mosaic) and pottery. There are also Roman army tunics on show as well as Roman weaponry. It’s relatively cheap to get in (£4.80 for an adult and £2.40 for children and further discount for families) and there is also a souvenir shop where you can buy replica artifacts. After walking through the museum, take a walk down Black Jack Street for some excellent coffee at Keith’s or some fantastic baked cakes at Jack’s.   Cricklade Street and the Market Place

These are two main shopping streets of the town. Here you’ll find boutique shops and cafes serving up fresh baked cakes, quality ground coffee through personal customer service. Everyone here knows everyone, and they’re more than willing to introduce tourists to their quirky shops. The Market Place holds a farmers’ market whereby morning fresh foods and meats are brought to the stands. Unfortunately, unlike some places in Asia, there is no bartering here! The Market Place leads up to the Parish Church, one of the largest churches in England. Recently renovated, there is underground heating (so it’s warm unlike most churches where it’s freezing!) and a new pipe organ as well as several damaged statues that have been restored.   Nearby Towns – Bibury

Bibury is a beautiful village approximately 6.5miles north east of Cirencester. The River Coln cuts straight through the village making it a picturesque village, nominated once as the most beautiful village in England. A lot of the buildings are made of the famous Cotswold Stone, a local material found only in the Cotswolds. The Bibury Court Hotel is a fantastic hotel which offers tea and scones every evening, for guests and non-guests. Set in acres and acres of land, it really is a perfect place for a wedding or a romantic getaway. The village has also been used as a film location by Hollywood for Stardust and Bridge Jones Diary. You can reach Cirencester from London by Rail (1 hour 40mins), Bus (2 hours 30mins) and by Car (2 hours). This is a guest post by  James Bean. He regularly blogs about holidays in the Great British Countryside @ sceniccotswolds.com