The small, historic town of Bradford on Avon is just 6 miles south-east of Bath and only 15-20 minutes away by train. In many ways, it is a smaller, more intimate version of Bath, and its history closely mirrors that of its bigger neighbor. The town has been occupied for thousands of years, and in recent times, one of England’s most impressive Roman mosaics was accidentally discovered when diggers began to pull up the local school’s playing field as part of a new housing development. There’s little else left of the Roman era, but the town does boast a multitude of wonders from subsequent periods.
One of my favourites is the Church of St Lawrence – an exceptionally rare, and atmospheric, example of a Saxon church, and one only rediscovered in the Victorian era. The town sits alongside the River Avon, hence the name, ‘broad ford’. Whilst successful throughout the middle ages due to wool, it experienced a golden era, like Bath, in the 1700s and early 1800s. This was when cotton and other industries such as rubber set up alongside the river for export to London, Bristol, and then on to the rest of the world, as the British Empire and subsequent trade grew.
Today the town is impossibly pretty, with stunning views available from the Cotswolds stone weavers cottages that look down from above the river as well as a plethora of fabulous attractions and walks emanating out from the town centre. Worthy of attention is the Kennet & Avon canal with its fascinating canal lock at the heart of the town. From here there is a simply delightful walk to the Dundas Viaduct, a mile or two distant, that offers the prospect of a tea room or pub stop should you fancy some refreshments before you turn around, following the Avon River back into town again.
The municipally managed medieval farm and tithe barn are evocative and atmospheric, with the farms’ former stables now converted into a series of small, independent arts and crafts stores. Fabulous food and drink options, including England’s ‘oldest tea rooms’, mean that there’s plenty to see and do in Bradford-On-Avon for those willing to invest a languid day exploring the town.