Ebrington – Paxford; Mickleton – Aston sub Edge – Weston sub Edge – Saintbury -Broad Campden – Hidcote Boyce – Hidcote Bartrim – Charingworth
Campden, as it is known locally – as opposed to Chippy, which is very much Chipping Norton – is regularly lauded as one of if not the most beautiful High Streets in all of England. It’s not hard to see why. There are little, subtle differences here that until pointed out, it’s hard to discern quite what makes it so special. There are no overhead wires, for example; only one detached house on the high street; that same street has an ever-so-slight bend in it, meaning you can never from one end to the other, but always enough for it to draw you in and keep you amazed. It is also home to St James’ church, one of the finest Cotswold Wool Churches. Like Moreton-in-Marsh, Campden was created around burgage plots, and you can clearly see this from above. The town also has its own history society so we won’t go on too much here – you can read for yourselves the history of this beautiful town.
Compared to some of its neighbours, Campden seems to have avoided mass tourism, partly by not really being on the road to anywhere, and partly the way it’s laid out – it just doesn’t lend itself well to the in-and-out required of a busy tourist site. And this is what helps it retain a more local feel, a place you can probably walk around unbothered at any time of the day.
There are arts and farmers markets in the town and market halls (the latter dating back to 1627) galleries and tearooms dotted among the more everyday. Tokes wine shop and deli, and Fillet & Bone are just two of the longstanding epicures in the town. Pubs and eateries include:
The Volunteer Inn https://www.thevolunteerinn.net/
The Eight Bells Inn https://www.eightbellsinn.co.uk/
The Noel Arms http://www.noelarmschippingcampden.com/
The Cotswold House https://www.cotswoldhouse.com/
Chipping Campden is situated in a valley, and a short walk up the hill to the east of the town brings you to the top of Dover’s Hill. This is a natural amphitheatre which looks out towards the Malvern Hills and on a clear day the Black Mountains of Wales, and is home to Robert Dover’s Cotswold Olimpick Games a four-century-old tradition featuring the world shinkicking championships, and having its roots in the early Jacobean reaction to the rise of puritanism. As the website quotes: “…Events come and go; the novelty passes. But Robert Dover’s Games continue to attract crowds to Dover’s Hill on a late May or early June evening. One may ask why and offer emotional reasons – The setting has its romantic qualities. The sound of a band, particularly a pipe band, echoing across a hillside can be haunting. Bearing a torch aloft can evoke the past. Combine all three elements in the procession from the hillside as darkness falls and one can feel part of the agelessness of ways in which people have always enjoyed themselves.”
Churches in Chipping Campden
Church of England – St James’ – https://www.stjameschurchcampden.co.uk/
Catholic – St Catharine’s https://welcometomickleton.uk/Charities_and_Institutions/st-catharine-s-catholic-church-chipping-campden
Baptist – https://www.campdenbaptist.org.uk/
Sports & Leisure activities if you are living in Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden CC – https://www.chippingcampdencricketclub.co.uk/
Campden Bowling Club – https://www.bowlsengland.com/club/chipping-campden/
Campden Tennis Club – https://www.chippingcampdentennis.com/
The Campden Society – https://www.thecampdensociety.org/
Campden History Society – https://www.chippingcampdenhistory.org.uk/
Cidermill Theatre – https://cidermilltheatre.com/
