The Cotswolds is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque regions across England, with their rolling hills, cobbled streets, charming villages, and cosy country pubs. So a festive day out at the largest Cotswolds town, with a nearby reindeer park, is certainly one to visit during the festivities, as I recently found out.
With the countdown to Christmas having officially begun, I thought it was a good idea to take a day trip to Cirencester, nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, for a spot of shopping and some festive merriment. Wandering along the cobbled high streets with quaint medieval and golden stone buildings in this historic market town was enough to transport me into a scene from Downton Abbey.
At the heart of it all is the catalogue of independent shops, which proved essential when picking up some festive goodies and gifts. I browsed through the gift shop, m.a.d.e., picked up a book at Octavia’s Bookshop, and walked around the welcoming Corn Hall Indoor Market.
The indoor market is open Sunday to Thursday every week in Cirencester and is filled with traders offering everything from organic beauty products, jewellery, art, bags, scarves, cards, wood, craft, Persian rugs and even carpets – you really can find it all here. A personal highlight was when I came across the Welsh Cake stand, with the delicious goods being baked fresh, so I couldn’t resist picking up a bag to take home.
What’s more, the traders at Corn Hall Indoor Market welcome visitors with open arms and are on hand to help with any gift inspiration, as I discovered. There’s also the Corn Hall Cellars Wine Shop, where you can pick up some vino or gin for the festive season, not to mention its selection of tasty stocking filler treats.
There is also an outdoor Charter Market, one of the oldest in the country, which is open every Monday and Friday and boasts a variety of stalls selling everything from plants and outdoor furniture to fresh food and household goods. It was another great spot to wander around as I soaked up the town’s delightful atmosphere and admired St. John Baptist church, which is at the heart of it all.
Aside from the independent shops, I found a list of high street stores, from White Stuff, Seasalt Cornwall, Barbour, Mountain Warehouse, French Grey, to Waterstones. It confirmed to me that this really is the place for Christmas shopping – I even managed to pick up some new festive decorations for myself too.
For a spot of lunch, I sat down at the newly refurbished Kings Head, which served up a delicious duck wrap accompanied by a portion of crispy chips and a passionfruit spritz. Another favourite gem in this town, having visited a year or two prior, is the cosy, yet inviting Keiths Coffee Shop, which serves up some seriously tasty baked goods, along with a warming cappuccino.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration to fill those Christmas stockings, it’s worth a visit to the coffee shop just to browse their extensive selection of goodies, including jams, chutneys, chocolates, and sweets, that make perfect gifts. KNEAD Cirencester, the independent bakery, is another popular spot, along with Heather’s, which is tucked down a side street and boasts more charming independent shops.
Adding an extra touch of festive cheer is the Cotswold Reindeer Herd, located just under a 10-minute drive from Cirencester, where visitors can book to meet and feed a herd of reindeer. This makes a great day out for kids, and there’s also the chance to visit Santa Claus in his grotto. Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to go, but it’s on my list for next year!
Visitors have praised the Cotwolds town with one gushing on Tripadvisor: “A superb town. It has everything you want for a visit to a town. It is well laid out. It is largely traffic-free. The square outside the church is wonderful. It has a wealth of independent businesses. All the ugly, greedy chain stores are there but hidden away, and so Cirencester is not just another dull UK high street.”
Getting to Cirencester is a little tricky. It’s either a 40-minute drive from Bristol or two hours from London, or else a fast train from either city to Swindon, followed by a slow bus through the countryside.
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