The Angel Inn

The Angel Inn sits on Coleford's high street as one of those buildings you'd walk past a dozen times without realising what you're looking at. It's a proper old coaching inn, the sort of place that's been serving travellers for centuries - the bones of the building go back to medieval times, though most of what you see now dates to the 17th century when the coaching trade was at its peak.

What makes it worth stopping for is the sense of actual history in the timber framing and the knowledge that countless travellers have passed through those doors. You're not getting a museum experience here - this is a living, working pub that happens to be genuinely ancient. The interior retains original features if you know where to look, and there's something rather satisfying about nursing a pint in a room that's been doing exactly that for four hundred years.

It works best if you're already in Coleford exploring the Forest of Dean's broader attractions - the walks, the small museums, the industrial heritage of the area. Pop in for a drink and a meal rather than planning a special trip. The nearby campsites at Bracelands and Doward Park put you within easy reach if you're doing a Forest of Dean holiday, and the Angel makes a convenient refuelling stop during a day's wandering.

Truthfully, unless you're genuinely interested in vernacular architecture or the history of coaching inns, you might not linger long. But that's rather the point - it's the sort of place that rewards a casual visit more than it demands one.