Visiting Castle Combe is a must-do experience when you are in the Wiltshire area. We recently came here following our stay at the Hare and Hounds Hotel. The village is famed for its outstanding beauty and features in many famous British dramas. However, it can also get exceptionally busy and draws in tourists from all over. Here is your ultimate guide to visiting the prettiest place in Wiltshire.
Visiting Castle Combe | Your Guide to the Prettiest Place in Wiltshire
Visiting Castle Combe | How to Get to the Village
The village of Castle Combe is not as far off the beaten path as you might expect. It is just off of Junction 17 on the M4, following signs from the A350. The public transport options are also pretty good. Chippenham, a nearby town, has a train station with a direct line to Reading. From here you can catch a bus into the village centre. These run fairly regularly.
Castle Combe follows the trend set by many of the most picturesque villages in the UK with parking. The heart of the village has very limited spaces and you’ll be lucky to get one. Instead, there is a massive car park on the top of the hill which you can walk down. The journey is all down-hill and will take you just over ten minutes. There is no pavement though, so watch out for cars.
Visiting Castle Combe | The Best Days and Time to Visit
The village has become Insta-famous in recent years. I would say that it gets as busy as other hotspots such as Bourton-on-the-Water, but is a quarter of the size. Because of this, it gets crowded, and quickly. So much so that some people we spoke to had to visit on a second day as they couldn’t actually park.
In terms of best days, weekdays are the obvious winners. If you can, try not to visit in peak-season during the school holidays. We arrived early in the morning on a weekday when the weather was not great. The town had a few tourists in, but it was not too busy. However, this was at about 09:00 in the morning and I imagine if it were a sunny Saturday things would be different.
Over the year, Castle Combe changes appearance with the seasons. In the spring and summer, you can see colourful flower arrangements and the village is much greener. The stream in particular is a perfect place to sit down and to enjoy a picnic. In the autumn though, the vines on these old Cotswold stone buildings go red. It really epitomises what a cosy autumn day is in the UK. When you go depends on what you are looking for, but I would say that the wetter months will be slightly quieter. If you want to take those iconic photos though, make sure to wake up extra-early to avoid anyone blocking your view!
Visiting Castle Combe | Where to Stay and Eat
Castle Combe has one main hotel called The Manor House. It is a luxurious 5-star hotel which charges over £250 a night for a room… Which can go up even further, even double, in peak-season! The hotel looks lovely and the food is meant to be incredible. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Castle Inn in the heart of the village has rooms from £90.00 (single) / £145.00 (double). It is again a village location and is still quite luxurious. It just isn’t at the same level as the Manor House.
Both of these village options have food options, with the menu price higher in the Manor House. I also think that the pub is a bit more classical food, whereas the Manor House is Michilin Star.
Lastly, if you want to escape the hustle and bustle in peak-season, there are loads of other options nearby. We stayed at the Hare and Hounds just outside of Tetbury, which was slightly cheaper than the Manor House. Their food was also really good, but was again on the expensive side.
Visiting Castle Combe | Final Thoughts
Castle Combe is an incredibly beautiful destination in the lesser-known part of the Cotswolds. Whilst it can be a massive tourist attraction, visiting during the quiet months can really highlight the continual charm of this special place. If you have any questions about this village or the nearby area, just let me know. I would love to hear from you.
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- The Prettiest Villages in the Cotswolds
- Hare and Hounds Hotel Tetbury | A Review of this Gorgeous Hotel
- Visiting Slimbridge Wetland Centre | Your Guide to this Magical Reserve (2024)
Thank you for reading and I hope I have inspired you with a few ideas for visit to Castle Combe/ the Cotswolds! If you have any questions about anything on my list or the area in general, please do get in touch in the comments below.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
