Dating back to the Iron Age and reputedly the oldest borough in England, the pretty market town of Malmesbury is located on a hilltop in the southern Cotswolds. Malmesbury is steeped in history and offers visitors over 400 listed buildings, a 15th century Market Cross, a ruined 7th century Benedictine abbey, an annual carnival and many independent shops, cafes and traditional pubs. Abbey House Gardens, home to ‘The Naked Gardeners’ can also be found in Malmesbury (Note: The gardeners are clothed during normal opening hours) and the annual Womad Music Festival is close by at Charlton Park. The area offers many country houses, including Rodmarton Manor and Gardens, and Chavenage House, a fine example of a Cotswold manor unchanged for 400 years. Just a short drive away is The Cotswold Water Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, covering 40 square miles and offering a wide range of activities, including boating, waterskiing, fishing, cycling, golf and horse riding, plus Bath, Cirencester and Tetbury are all within easy reach and well worth a visit.
