#1: BRADFORD-ON-AVON, WILTSHIRE Cotswolds and canals without the crowds

NOT BATH-TIME, THEN?

As the sunshine descends on the glorious honey-stone of Bath, so do the crowds. But just 11 minutes away by train is the historic market town of Bradford-on-Avon. It’s a little bit of Bath-lite with its bucolic views of the river, canal and Cotswold fringes, fine old buildings, a raft of good places to eat – but with far fewer tourists. It’s full of independents too, with barely a chain in sight. Late May sees the start of the Arts Festival at Iford Manor (ifordarts.org.uk), where opera and jazz are performed in the

Italianate cloister.

IT MIGHT MAKE YOUR HOMETOWN JEALOUS

The unofficial town icon is the Bradford Gudgeon,

a type of freshwater

fish Bradford-on-Avon is almost too good-looking. Built on six centuries of wool and weaving wealth, the town’s fine mix of medieval-shonky and Georgian-grand buildings tumble idyllically down the valley and around the river, hugged by soul-stirring English countryside. Its lanes are dotted with delis, cafés and boutiques so shoppers can browse for

(strawberrybluehome.co.uk) or Made In Bradford, a collective of local artisans’ wares in the old vaults (madeinbradfordonavon. co.uk). Take a steep, but worthwhile, detour up to Newtown and the Tory to see old weavers’ cottages and views to Salisbury Plain and the Westbury White Horse. Continue up to reach the Wiltshire Music Centre (wiltshiremusic.org.uk).