Worcester

The River Severn curves gracefully through this ancient cathedral city, creating a landscape that's both pastoral and properly urban. Worcester sits where the Cotswolds begin to roll eastward, with proper countryside starting just minutes from the city centre. You'll find yourself torn between exploring the magnificent cathedral - where King John is buried - and wandering the network of footpaths that lead into surprisingly wild woodlands like Aldwick Wood and Arle Covert.

Baughton Hill offers cracking views across the Severn Valley, though it's a bit of a trek from the city centre. Worth it on a clear day when you can see the Malvern Hills rising in the distance. The Memorial to 6th Earl of Coventry reminds you that this has always been landed gentry territory, while the Eckington Memorial speaks to more recent history.

Tewkesbury lies just south, reachable in twenty minutes by car through some lovely Worcestershire countryside. The M5 makes Worcester surprisingly accessible from Birmingham or Gloucester, though the train from London takes just over two hours. Peak District devotees might find Worcester a touch tame, but there's something deeply satisfying about a place that does market town life this well without shouting about it.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Bredon View Holiday Park Estate & Golf Course or Cotswold Grange Country Park puts you within easy striking distance of both Worcester's urban pleasures and the Cotswolds' rolling hills. The Springs Holiday Park offers another solid base for exploring the Severn Valley's mix of working river life and weekend countryside.