The stunning Cotswolds draw in tourists year-round, but there's something special about visiting during the colder months when the pubs are cosy and the walks are crisp. There are plenty of destinations within easy reach of Bristol, including the market town of Lechlade.
It's about a 70-minute drive away from Bristol city centre, near Gloucestershire's border with Oxfordshire. In 2020 Gloucestershire Live named it as one of the poshest locations in the county to live in, after Zoopla figures revealed that property prices there are £590,478 on average - but a day trip there doesn't have to break the bank.
Historically it served as one of the main trading routes from the region to London, with its road and river networks making it ideal for transporting goods. Nowadays the boats that traverse its waters are mainly for tourists, with the town making a popular spot to moor up and explore.
Read more: Charming Cotswold town house near Bristol for sale
Many visitors start off in the Market Place, either to pop into the information centre and get their bearings or to admire St Lawrence Church, which dates back to the 15th century. Its spire is visible from most places in the small town's centre.
Nearby, the High Street is flanked by buildings with the distinctive honey-hued stone the Cotswolds is known for, and one of the shops is a particular draw as the countdown to December 25 edges closer. The Cotswold Christmas Shop sells festive decorations all year round, crammed with pretty ornaments and baubles with options for personalisation for a unique touch.
Shoppers can also visit the antiques and vintage market at the Memorial Hall on the first Sunday of the month, and the same venue is hosting a 'Crafty Boaters' Christmas markets on November 13 and November 20. If you fancy a cosy place to sit down after a bit of Christmas shopping there are plenty of options to pick from, from a hearty lunch at the New Inn to a warming hot chocolate at the Tea Chest café.
There's also the Riverside pub if you want a view, or take a stroll just past it to the pretty stone bridge over the Thames where huge willow trees lean over the water and narrowboats line the riverbank. It's about a 15 minute walk along the water's edge to St John's Lock and weir, which is the furthest upstream lock along the River Thames.
If you're in need of another pitstop before heading back it's right next to the Trout Inn, a traditional pub with roaring fires in winter and a Sunday roast that claims to be "world famous". The town's culinary offering also includes the newly-opened Jó Szerencsét restaurant, whose team made it on to Bake Off: The Professionals earlier this year.
Which towns and villages do you love to visit near Christmas? Let us know in the comments below
Read next:
- TUI Bristol flight cancellations for 2023 to 'impact small number of flights'
- The ‘pretty’ Somerset village with a fairytale castle overlooking it
- Take a look inside the stunning Cotswold town that inspired Lord of the Rings
- Hot October half-term holiday destinations for autumn sun seekers
- Town named one of the UK's prettiest is less than an hour from Bristol
