Today, the centre’s ancient buildings contain an array of shops including a deli, an excellent butcher and numerous boutiques, along with a wide choice of places to eat and drink. Bradford-on-Avon is well connected to Bath and beyond by road, rail and canal, and is a great base for walkers and cyclists wishing to explore the area.
Bath is justifiably popular with visitors all year round. Whether your interest is architecture, shopping, antiques, theatre or simply relaxing in natural thermal waters, Bath has it all. One of the loveliest ways to reach Bath from Bradford-on-Avon is by train, which takes you through the picturesque Limpley Stoke valley.
Wiltshire is home to many ancient sites. Stonehenge is the most famous, but Avebury is in some ways far more captivating: a place where you can wander amongst the stones and get a real sense of its neolithic history. 800 year old Lacock Abbey will seem uncannily familiar, used as a film set for Harry Potter.
There are many beautiful gardens to explore within easy reach of Bradford-on-Avon. A number of these are owned by the National Trust, including Prior Park Gardens in Bath and Stourhead in Wiltshire. Further afield, Westonbirt Arboretum contains over 16,000 trees, while the Italianate Iford Manor is set in a lovely, tranquil valley.
Bradford-on-Avon offers an excellent base for walkers and cyclists. The Kennet and Avon canal provides a flat, traffic free route through spectacular countryside, whether travelling west towards Bath or east towards the flight of 16 locks at Devizes. There are a number of cafes and pubs along the route.
Bradford-on-Avon and Bath have long been associated with the antiques industry, and you will find numerous shops offering everything from retro collectables to high end pieces. A recent addition to Bath is the Vintage and Antiques Market, which takes place every month in Green Park Station.
