An ancient village once famous for its silk and corn mills, Blockley lies just 3 miles from Moreton-in-Marsh and features a unique collection of honey-coloured buildings with a pretty village green, two excellent pubs, serving hearty food and real ale, as well as a village store and café, serving dinner on a Friday night. Many walks and cycle rides through the beautiful rolling countryside of the Cotswolds can be enjoyed from the centre of the village, with the Macmillan Way, Heart of England Way and the Gloucestershire and Monarch’s Way all running close by. Very close by, Moreton-in-Marsh boasts many elegant 18th century buildings and is home to traditional inns, tea rooms, restaurants and individual shops to suit all tastes. It also offers its own train station and lies on the intersection of the Paddington rail line from London. The town hosts the Moreton-In-Marsh Show, one of the UK’s largest one-day agricultural shows, as well as the Moreton Beer Festival, an annual French Market, and a large outdoor market every Tuesday. The highest town in the Cotswolds, this ancient market town has played host to many fairs since the 12th century and today holds a biannual Gypsy Horse Fair, craft fairs and monthly farmers’ market. Close by is Bourton-on-the-Water, which lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is known as the Venice of the Cotswolds as the River Windrush runs through the centre. Also within reach is the spa town of Cheltenham, boasting an incredible range of shops, cinemas, theatres, restaurants and pubs, as well as being famous for its horseracing festival in March, culminating in the Gold Cup steeplechase. Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Worcester and the waterfront city of Gloucester are also within driving distance, making Blockley a great base for a Cotswolds holiday.
