Cirencester

Cirencester is a picturesque Cotswolds market town in the English county of Gloucestershire, some 93 miles (150 km) west of London.

Cirencester is the Roman capital of the Cotswolds, Roman Corinium. It's an ancient market town with traditional Cotswold buildings and thriving shopping centre. It's worth spending a morning here, especially on a Saturday. Every other Saturday there is a farmer's market. People are very friendly and it's easy to get in. The town is famous for its polo connections in the Cirencester Great Park, and for the Royal Agricultural College.

• The Roman Amphitheatre, Cotswold Avenue, Cirencester. On the outskirts of the town is an original mound formation used for entertainment during Roman times. In winter the locals like to use for tobogganing! Owned by English Heritage.
• Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, +44 1285 655611. M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 2PM-5PM. Excellent visitor attraction in the town centre about the town's Roman heritage.
• Parish Church of St John the Baptist. Called the 'Cathedral of the Cotswolds', this is an impressive large church right in the centre of the town.
• Abbey Grounds. 9AM-5PM. This is a large park that was a Catholic Abbey before its destruction by Henry VIII.

The Roman Amphitheatre, Cotswold Avenue, Cirencester. On the outskirts of the town is an original mound formation used for entertainment during Roman times. In winter the locals like to use for tobogganing! Owned by English Heritage.

Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, +44 1285 655611. M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 2PM-5PM. Excellent visitor attraction in the town centre about the town's Roman heritage.

Parish Church of St John the Baptist. Called the 'Cathedral of the Cotswolds', this is an impressive large church right in the centre of the town.

Abbey Grounds. 9AM-5PM. This is a large park that was a Catholic Abbey before its destruction by Henry VIII.

• Outdoor Swimming Pool. Swim outdoors in the summer
• New Brewery Arts, Brewery Court (Off Cricklade Street - by the Brewery Car park. M-Sa 9AM-5PM; Su 10AM-4PM. A centre for contemporary craft in the Cotswolds - a gallery, shop, cafe and on-site makers studios, all open to the public. Regular workshop and events. Buildings house a lift, ramps and aerial walkways giving over 90% wheelchair access. The Barrel Store has specially adapted rooms for guests with access needs. Disabled toilet facilities are available on the ground floor. Disabled car parking is available in the adjoining car park. Assistance dogs are welcome. Free.

Outdoor Swimming Pool. Swim outdoors in the summer

New Brewery Arts, Brewery Court (Off Cricklade Street - by the Brewery Car park. M-Sa 9AM-5PM; Su 10AM-4PM. A centre for contemporary craft in the Cotswolds - a gallery, shop, cafe and on-site makers studios, all open to the public. Regular workshop and events. Buildings house a lift, ramps and aerial walkways giving over 90% wheelchair access. The Barrel Store has specially adapted rooms for guests with access needs. Disabled toilet facilities are available on the ground floor. Disabled car parking is available in the adjoining car park. Assistance dogs are welcome. Free.

There are the typical high-street chains here, but there are some good special local shops in Dyer Street, the Market Place and in Black Jack Street behind the church.

A great locally-owned fresh fish shop, New Wave, in Dyer Street, sells quality sustainable Cornish fish and shellfish, as well as homemade fishpies, fishcakes and potted shrimp.

• Greasy Joes. Cheap trucker fry ups.
• West Corning Pasty Company, Cricklade Street. English chain restaurant selling warm pasties for a few pounds. Close enough to the Abby Grounds for a quick picnic on a summer day.

Greasy Joes. Cheap trucker fry ups.

West Corning Pasty Company, Cricklade Street. English chain restaurant selling warm pasties for a few pounds. Close enough to the Abby Grounds for a quick picnic on a summer day.

• Pizza Express. Chain pizza restaurant.
• Thai Emerald.
• Tatyan's. Chinese.

Pizza Express. Chain pizza restaurant.

Thai Emerald.

Tatyan's. Chinese.

• Jesse's Bistro, Black Jack Street, +44 1285 653387. A really good bistro experience, connected to their own butcher shop on Black Jack street. £15 and up.
• Soushi, 12 Castle Street, +44 1285 641414. Japanese restaurant with good quality fish although other ingredients such as miso seem to be instant varieties. Although not as good as your options in London, this is probably the best place in Cirencester for East Asian food. £9 and up for lunch.

Jesse's Bistro, Black Jack Street, +44 1285 653387. A really good bistro experience, connected to their own butcher shop on Black Jack street. £15 and up.

Soushi, 12 Castle Street, +44 1285 641414. Japanese restaurant with good quality fish although other ingredients such as miso seem to be instant varieties. Although not as good as your options in London, this is probably the best place in Cirencester for East Asian food. £9 and up for lunch.

• The Crown, 17 West Market Place, GL7 2NH (facing the front of the church, it will be directly left of you, +44 1285 653206. M-Th: 11:30AM-11PM, F: 11:30AM-midnight, Sa: 10AM-midnight, Su: noon-11PM. Reasonable beer. Unexciting chain pub.
• Somewhere Else, Castle Street. Pub-atmosphere bar, fantastic tapas, good late night atmosphere. Friendly.
• Twelve Bells. Good food, good beer and a friendly cosy environment.
• The Wheatsheaf, Cricklade St. The place to watch sport
• The Oddfellows, Chester St. Refurbished but ordinary beers. Walking distance of town centre.
• The Rock Nightclub!. In the shopping piazza.. Where everyone ends up; even Prince Harry has been spotted here!
• The Bees Knees, Watermoor Rd. The place to watch rugby.
• The Black Horse. Real ale. Great place to meet friends.

The Crown, 17 West Market Place, GL7 2NH (facing the front of the church, it will be directly left of you, +44 1285 653206. M-Th: 11:30AM-11PM, F: 11:30AM-midnight, Sa: 10AM-midnight, Su: noon-11PM. Reasonable beer. Unexciting chain pub.

Somewhere Else, Castle Street. Pub-atmosphere bar, fantastic tapas, good late night atmosphere. Friendly.

Twelve Bells. Good food, good beer and a friendly cosy environment.

The Wheatsheaf, Cricklade St. The place to watch sport

The Oddfellows, Chester St. Refurbished but ordinary beers. Walking distance of town centre.

The Rock Nightclub!. In the shopping piazza.. Where everyone ends up; even Prince Harry has been spotted here!

The Bees Knees, Watermoor Rd. The place to watch rugby.

The Black Horse. Real ale. Great place to meet friends.