Tewkesbury

Two rivers collide here in spectacular fashion, with the Severn and Avon meeting in a watery embrace that's shaped this market town for over a thousand years. Tewkesbury's medieval streets unfold from its magnificent abbey like spokes from a wheel, creating one of England's finest collections of timber-framed buildings.

The abbey dominates everything - and rightly so. This Norman giant survived Henry VIII's dissolution and stands as tall today as it did when the Yorkists and Lancastrians clashed at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. Walking through its nave feels like stepping back six centuries.

Beyond the historic core, the Cotswolds proper begin their gentle roll eastward. Beckford Coppice and Dixton Wood offer lovely woodland walks, while Dumbleton Hill and Alderton Hill provide cracking views across the Vale of Evesham. The train enthusiasts shouldn't miss Gotherington station on the preserved Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.

For something completely different, Prescott Speed Hill Climb hosts vintage car events throughout the summer - the roar of classic engines echoing off the hills makes for a proper spectacle. Families often head to Hayles Fruit Farm for pick-your-own sessions and farm shops stocked with local produce.

Getting here's straightforward enough. Junction 9 of the M5 puts you minutes from the town centre, while regular trains connect to Birmingham and Bristol. The surrounding countryside is peppered with holiday parks - from the Tewkesbury Abbey Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite right in town to Broadway Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite fifteen minutes northeast. Both make ideal bases for exploring this slice of the Severn Vale, where medieval England meets the edge of the Cotswolds.