Cotswolds town ‘nobody knows exists’ has UK’s oldest Christmas shop | UK | Travel

The Cotswolds undoubtedly make up one of the most beautiful parts of the country, with many of the postcard-worthy towns drawing in thousands of visitors every year. There are some particularly popular spots that include Bourton-on-the-Water, renowned as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, Bibury with its iconic Arlington Row, and Cirencester, frequently referred to as the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’.

While the well-known Cotswolds destinations merit attention, you often have to brace yourself for lengthy queues, packed car parks and the likelihood of missing out on that inviting café table you hoped to secure. And sometimes, that’s just not how you want to spend your weekend. Fortunately, there are alternative Cotswold towns that are equally as pretty, but without the hordes. Many even remain pleasantly overlooked, while boasting all the charm of their more famous counterparts.

One of these is Lechlade, also known as Lechlade-on-Thames, a charming riverside market town on the southern boundary of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. It features quintessential Cotswold stone buildings in warm honey tones and picturesque streets dotted with independent retailers, all complemented by its beautiful riverside setting along the River Thames.

Though more compact than Bourton-on-the-Water, it remains blissfully peaceful and stands in stark contrast to tourist hotspots, inflated prices and overwhelming crowds. In fact, many people remain entirely oblivious to the town’s delightful existence, reports Gloucestershire Live.

Its position beside the serene water only enhances its captivating appeal, with the distinctive single-arch stone Halfpenny Bridge, constructed in 1792 and spanning the River Thames, serving as a key departure point for numerous river excursions. Additionally, Lechlade marks the furthest navigable point upstream on the Thames, as the waterway flows from Gloucestershire, near Kemble, to the Thames Estuary at Southend-on-Sea in Essex, where it joins the North Sea.

Around Lechlade itself, there’s an array of independent shops lining its tranquil streets, including vintage boutique The Cats Pyjamas, The Art Shed, and Italian delicatessen CRAMPi. More vintage treasures await at Jubilee Hall Antiques Centre and The Old Ironmongers, though what truly distinguishes its shopping scene is its celebrated Christmas emporium.

The Cotswold Christmas Shop in Lechlade holds the distinction of being the UK’s first and oldest year-round Christmas shop, having traded in the town since 1985. Its shelves are packed with Christmas ornaments, baubles, candles, stockings, books, gifts, trees, calendars, and nutcrackers, bringing festive cheer throughout every season.

Elsewhere, visitors will find cafés such as Lynwood and Co Lechlade, alongside traditional establishments like The Swan Inn 1513 Lechlade, and seafood venue New Wave Brasserie. For picturesque vistas accompanied by a drink, The Riverside offers the perfect vantage point to appreciate this stretch of the River Thames, peppered with narrowboats, from its pub garden.

One tourist praised Lechlade as a “peaceful Cotswolds village most people don’t know exists”, while posting a TikTok clip showcasing its charming scenery. Other visitors were swift to echo this view, with one remarking: “Very peaceful and beautiful”, prompting the account holder to respond, “It really is such a tranquil and picturesque spot.”

Another revealed they had resided in Lechlade during their childhood, but “still missed it” and that they “loved it” wholeheartedly. A third person stated: “Looks perfect”, with the video’s creator replying, “It really was such a perfect Cotswolds day”.

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