Castle Combe
A valley village where time seems to have stopped in the Middle Ages. Almost no new houses have been built since 1600, and it is often named England's most beautiful village.
Castle Combe lies in Wiltshire at the southern tip of the Cotswolds, only about 25 minutes' drive from Bath. The village is tucked into a wooded valley along the Bybrook stream. It prospered on wool and weaving in the 14th and 15th centuries and then almost stopped developing, so it has kept its complete medieval character. Highlights include the market cross at the village center, an old water pump, the 14th-century St Andrew's Church (which houses one of England's oldest surviving mechanical clocks), and rows of honey-colored stone houses. The most classic photo spot is the stone bridge at the southern end of the village. Looking back from the bridge at the stream and stone houses gives the postcard view. The village has appeared in the films Doctor Dolittle (1967), War Horse and Stardust. Tourist vehicles are not allowed into the village, so park in the free car park on the hillside to the north and walk downhill for about 5 to 10 minutes. The village is small and can be explored in an hour. You can enjoy a drink at the manor hotel or at a village pub.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Lacock and Lacock Abbey
- Holburne Museum
- Pulteney Bridge
- Prior Park Landscape Garden
- Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House
- Bath Abbey
- Roman Baths
- The Circus