Sandwiched in between Bath and Trowbridge, this market  town is far less known but boasts just as much charm as its neighbouring city, minus all the hustle and bustle.

With a scenic waterside setting, Bradford-on-Avon is home to the river Avon, which runs quietly through the town, and a wide range of local haunts for visitors to explore.

A key element drawing in people from across the UK is the  history linked to the town, dating back to the Ice Age, when a settlement began around the ‘broad ford’, giving it its name that stuck all these years later. 

Historic architecture 

It houses an original  Roman villa that contains the original mosaics, covered on the outskirts of the town, along with plenty of other breathtaking buildings. Dating back to the 17th century, there are plenty of pleasing stone cottages and original factories from the area’s heavy involvement in the Industrial Revolution.

History buffs most certainly won’t be bored with so much to soak up, including its famed bridge and Bradford-upon-Avon landmark, the Town Bridge. Its rounded Gothic arches date all the way back to the 13th century, with new additions in the 18th century.

Another strong stable to the town’s English heritage buildings is the Tithe Barn, standing at 50 metres long, making it one of the country’s longest-standing mediaeval barns. This is a popular spot for visitors thanks to its free entry and close proximity to Barton Farm Country Park.

A TripAdvisor review says: “There are those of us who like a good barn and will travel miles to visit one. This one is good and worth the time and effort. Beautifully preserved and free to visit.

“Rarely do you get to see the ancient buildings used and worked in by ordinary folk, not just the castles, cathedrals or monasteries. Survivors such as this are always worth a look.”

Shopping

The shambles is the heart of Bradford-on-Avon, a series of pretty and independent stores to wander through. It’s a cobbled street that meets both Market Street and Silver Street and is home to the town’s timber-framed 15th-century building – the only one to exist in the area. 

Not to mention, history fans can spot an incredibly rare monogram sitting on the front of the notable Post Office building, featuring Edward VIII. The street was originally where the mediaeval market sat but now instead houses picturesque bakeries, a bookshop, coffee spots and more. 

The Church 

Steeped in history, visitors have claimed the town’s church is the ‘best Anglo-Saxon church in the country’. A TripAdvisor review reads: “This Anglo-Saxon church is small and almost perfect in its original beauty.

“It was turned into a schoolhouse, and that is presumably why it survived. Outside and inside, it gives you a full idea of what a church in that ancient period would have been like.”

St Laurence Church was a resting place for pilgrims during the 15th century before its restoration in the 1800s and, from the hill in which it sits, looks over stunning views. Cotswold stone cottages can be seen from up top, alongside the rolling hills surrounding Bradford-upon-Avon.