Fairford, Gloucestershire GL7

Probably most famous for the USAAF airbase just out of the town where B-52s take off for various places "over there" in times of trouble, Fairford is one of those unspoilt Cotswold towns that never seem to make the real tourist trails - and luckily don't suffer from the Nikon-snapping hordes and over-crowding that is Bourton-on-the-water.

Fairford has a small, but very cosy town square, surrounded on all 4 sides by timber framed and Georgian buildings as well as the George, a great example of a coaching inn turned pub. The church of St. Marys is famous for its medieval glass, made in 1500-17 by the King's glazier, Barnard Flower, working out of his workshops at Westminster. Many of the glaziers and glass painters who worked on the project were Dutch, which shows in the styling of the windows.
Walk diagonally through the church graveyard and exit through the gate down to the millpond. You can stand and admire the view on the small bridge over the millpond and watch the river Colne flow beneath you. Look closely and you'll see monster trout - escapees from the trout farm upstream at Bibury.

Facing the town square across the main road is Allium, a good value restaurant, whilst facing the Post Office across the square is Andrew Butler's butchers - buy the best home made pies and sausages - all made from local herds within 2 miles of Fairford!