Chippenham SN15

Market day brings proper life to this old Wiltshire town. Every Friday and Saturday, stallholders set up in the pedestrianised centre, selling everything from fresh vegetables to vintage bric-a-brac - it's been happening here since medieval times, though the modern shopping precinct doesn't quite have the same charm.

Chippenham sits comfortably in the Cotswolds' southern reaches, making it a cracking base for exploring both the honeyed villages to the north and Bath's Georgian splendour just 13 miles south. The town itself has a bit of everything: the Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre tells the story of this former cloth-making hub, while the curious Maud Heath Sundial commemorates a 15th-century benefactress who left money to maintain the causeway to Kellaways.

Monkton Park offers a proper green lung for the town - its nature reserve trails wind through old water meadows where you might spot kingfishers along the River Avon. Less wild but equally pleasant, the park's main areas host everything from outdoor theatre to the annual folk festival.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Direct trains from London Paddington take just 75 minutes, while the M4 puts you within striking distance of the Cotswolds, Marlborough Downs, and even Stonehenge in half an hour. The A4 Bath Road cuts right through town, connecting you to centuries of coaching route history.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around Chippenham's edges makes perfect sense if you want to explore this corner of Wiltshire without the hassle of daily packing. Burton Hill Caravan & Camping Park sits particularly well for accessing both the M4 and quieter country lanes that lead to forgotten villages and ancient earthworks.