Chipping Campden

Chipping Campden is a small town in the far north of Gloucestershire. A classic Cotswold town, the relaxed and friendly town is made picturesque by its historic architecture made with honey colored Cotswold stone, a charming 15th-century church, a historic Market Hall that is almost 400 years old, and a decent selection of easily accessible pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels that make it a worthy stop on a trip through the countryside.

Understand

A classic Cotswold town, the relaxed and friendly town is made picturesque by its historic architecture made with honey colored Cotswold stone, a charming 15th-century church, a historic Market Hall that is almost 400 years old, and a decent selection of easily accessible pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels that make it a worthy stop on a trip through the countryside. Chiping Campden was built on the backs of the sheep that are still raised in the area, meaning that the town, like so many in the Cotswolds, was built with wealthy wool money. The town proudly supports the tradition of walking the English countryside. In fact, Chipping Campden is the starting point for the Cotswold Way, a 100-mile (160-km) walk from Chipping Campden to Bath. Chipping Campden hosts the Olimpick Games, a celebration of sports held on the first Friday after the Spring Bank Holiday.

Climate

Chipping Campden experiences classic English weather - rainy weeks during the spring, warm pleasant summers, stunning changes of the leaves in the fall, and snowy days in the winter.

Chipping Campden
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See the 5 day forecast for Chipping Campden at the Met Office
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Get in

Chipping Campden is located in a rural area of the county, meaning car is the most efficient mode of transportation to Chipping Campden. However, with patience and planning, visitors can arrive by train, coach and on foot.

London airports

While often hectic and traffic-filled, Heathrow Airport in London is the closest airport to Chipping Campden.

  • Heathrow Airport (LHR IATA). About a 1½-hour drive from Chipping Campden. For those not travelling by car, a mix of trains and buses is the most efficient, averaging about a three-hour trip. The Heathrow Express connects at London Paddington Station to Moreton-in-Marsh, where travellers connect to a bus towards Stratford-upon-Avon, eventually arriving in Chipping Campden. (updated Dec 2023)
  • London Luton Airport (LTN IATA). A little under two hours away via car to Chipping Campden via the M1. A 3½ hour trip by train, travellers take the Luton bus to IBC Vehicles Gate 1, followed by a brief walk to the Luton Airport Parkway train station towards London St Pancras International. Head to Paddington Station from London King's Cross, followed by a train to Moreton-in-Marsh via the bus to Stratford-upon-Avon. (updated Dec 2023)
  • Gatwick Airport (LGW IATA). A little over two hours from Chipping Campden by car, where time on the M25 and M40 eventually puts drivers on charming country roads towards Chipping Campden. By train, you will catch the Gatwick Express to London Victoria Station and then take a bus to Paddington Station. Catch a train from Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh, followed by the Stratford-upon-Avon bus to Chipping Campden. The train trip is about 3½ hours. (updated Dec 2023)
  • Stansted Airport (STN IATA). A 2½-hour drive to Chipping Campden via the M25. For those travelling by public transport, go from Stanstead Express to London Liverpool Street station and take the tube to London Paddington Station, where you'll catch a train to Moreton-in-Marsh, followed by the Stratford-upon-Avon bus towards Chipping Campden, arriving in little over four hours. (updated Dec 2023)

By rail
Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

The National Rail serves Moreton-in-Marsh, which is 6.3 mi (10.1 km) away from Chipping Campden.

Moreton-in-Marsh has Great Western trains from London Paddington via Oxford, Hereford via Great Malvern and Worcester.

Get around

By foot

Walking around Chipping Campden is the most common mode of getting around. The majority of sightseeing, dining and shopping are located in the city centre, which is extremely friendly to walkers.

By car

On a busy weekend, driving can be rather hectic in Chipping Campden due to limited parking. However, the city centre has a car park right in the center.

By bike

The rolling hills of the Cotswolds make for great biking country.

See

The majority of Chipping Campden's landmarks are located in the heart of the city, however, beautiful gardens dot the landscape nearby, which are well worth the long walk or brief car ride to see.

  • 🌍 Market Hall, High Street. Built in 1627, the town's historic Market Hall is a landmark representing the community's trading heritage. Historically, the hall served as a place for vendors to sell cheese, butter, poultry, and more. Maintained by the National Trust, the hall was almost purchased and moved by an American in the 1940s. However, the community rallied and raised money to keep it in the town. Free. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Court Barn Museum, Church Street, Chipping Campden, GL55 6JE, ☏ +44 1386 841951, . Varies. Located next to St James' Church, the Court Barn Museum was founded in 2007 to showcase the Arts and Crafts movement in Chipping Campden and the surrounding area. The museum features exhibitions of the works of numerous artists from the area, including jewelry designer C. R. Ashbee and woodcarver Alec Miller. They also offer special exhibition. The Court Barn Museum has a small gift shop which features high quality art and crafts from local artisans and numerous books about current and past Arts and Crafts history. Adults £5, child (under 18) free, students free. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Hidcote Manor Garden, Hidcote Bartrim, Chipping Campden, GL55 6LR, ☏ +44 1386 438333, . 10AM-6PM. Owned and managed by the National Trust, Hidcote is a beautiful garden designed by American horticulturalist Major Lawrence Johnson. An Arts and Crafts-style garden, Johnson designed the garden to comprise a series of thematic "rooms," which includes mazes, secret gardens, meadows, and more. The self-guided tour (with guided tours optional) includes beautiful countryside vistas, an impressive vegetable garden, a posh old-school tennis court, and plenty of Cotswold sheep. Hidcote has an impressive gift shop and garden shop, where visitors can purchase rare plants that have been cultivated and named after Johnson or Hidcote. Additional activities include tennis, croquet, numerous public footpaths, and special lectures. Two small cafes are located on-site, serving tea, coffee and light fare. Adult £11.80, child £5.90, family £29.50. 
  • 🌍 Kiftsgate Court Gardens, Chipping Campden, GL55 6LN, ☏ +44 1386 438777. Varies. Located across the street from Hidcote, Kiftsgate is a privately owned garden. The garden has been continuously owned and operated by women gardeners since the 1920s. It was founded by Heather Muir, who was also good friends with Major Lawrence Johnson of nearby Hidcote. Guests can stroll through nine dramatic gardens, many which are dotted with contemporary art and beautiful views of the Cotswolds. The property grows heritage apples and other fruit trees and it is also home to the famous Kiftsgate Rose, the largest of its kind in England (it blooms in early July). The property includes a tearoom, gift shop and plant shop which features numerous roses and other special plants for purchase. Adult £8.50, child (under 16) £2.50. 
  • 🌍 St James' Church, Church Street, Chipping Campden, GL55 6JG, ☏ +44 1386 841927, . Built on the site of a former 12th-century Norman church, St James' Church is a lovely church that personifies the Cotswold "wool" church. The earliest architectural features date to the 13th century. The belltower includes bells from between 1618 and 1737, which were recast in 1987. The church includes stained glass from artist Henry Payne, rare altar frontals from before the Reformation, and a series of 15th-century brasses that depict the wool history of the town. Be sure to walk to the back of the church and explore the cemetery grounds, where the graveyard overlooks the rolling Cotswold hills. Free. (updated May 2017)

Do
  • Walk the Cotswold Way. A National Trail, the Cotswold Way is a 102-mile-long (165 km) distance footpath that starts in Chipping Campden and ends in Bath. A beautiful walk across the Cotswolds, the walk is a "must" for any self-proclaimed rambler. It passes through numerous notable places and pass many beautiful sites, including Hailes Abbey, Broadway Tower, Sudeley Castle, and more. (updated May 2017)

Buy

Eat

Restaurants
  • 🌍 Bistro on the Square, Cotswold House Hotel and Spa, The Square, Chipping Campden, GL55 6AN, ☏ +44 1386 840330, . Daily. Casual restaurant in the Cotswold Hotel with modern twists on brasserie classics and seasonal salads, seafood, pasta, and steak. Great gin and tonics. Reservations recommended for dinner. Breakfast and lunch also served. £5-18. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 The Eight Bells, 21 Church Street, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6JG, ☏ +44 1386 840371, . Noon-10PM. Modern pub food that has a following of locals and travelers alike, the Eight Bells offers mid-range dining in a cool atmosphere with a pub. Daily "fishy dishes" are offered, which features fresh seafood. The Eight Bells offers numerous vegetarian and vegan offerings, alongside seasonal asparagus with a soft poached egg, chicken liver parfait, and entrees like a Prime 8-oz Rib Eye, local sausages, and a tasty lamb burger. Kids welcome, dogs in the bar only. Reservations strongly recommended. £5.95-7.25 (starters), £12.95-22.45 (mains). (updated May 2017)

Take away and grocery
  • 🌍 Toke's, High Street, Chipping Campden, GL55 6AG, ☏ +44 1386 849 345, . 9AM-6PM. Toke's has been selling fine wine and cheese in Chipping Campden for over 40 years. A second generation shop, it's a funky shop with English and European cheeses and wine from France, Italy and Spain. A fine spot for take out coffee, too. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Fillet & Bone, High Street, Chipping Campden, GL55 6AT, ☏ +44 1386 849093, . 9AM-6PM. A self-described "urban farm shop," Fillet & Bone is a very hip food and drink shop that includes take away cheese, charcuterie, meats and local produce. They have a small wine shop that includes English made wines and ciders and all of the meat and seafood they sell is regional, including fresh daily seafood from Cornwall. Also a great place to pick up locally produced jams, oils, and other foodie gifts. (updated May 2017)

Sleep
  • 🌍 The Noel Arms Hotel, High Street, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6AT, ☏ +44 1386 840317, . A historic inn, with modern amenities, where it is said that Charles II stayed during the English Civil War. The inn offers 28 en suite rooms located on High Street. Owned by the Cotswold Hotel across the street, the Noel Arms has a coffee shop and a pub which is known for its curries. £130.50+. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, The Square, Chipping Campden, GL55 6AN, ☏ +44 1386 840330, . A modern and intimate hotel located in the heart of the town, the Cotswold House offers well-sized rooms. Many include baths and all include turn-down service. The property has well-manicured gardens, an on-site spa, and two restaurants. Be sure to say hello to the tuxedo cat that roams the property. £196+. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Howard Arms, Lower Green, Ilmington CV36 4LT, ☏ +44 1608 682226. Charming pub with rooms in picturesque Cotswold village. B&B double £120. (updated Jun 2020)

Cope
  • 🌍 Chipping Campden Tourist Information Centre, The Old Police Station, High Street, Chipping Campden, GL55 6HB, ☏ +44 1386 841206, . 9:30AM-5PM. Located in the heart of Chipping Campden, the visitors' bureau has a small gift shop, books by local authors and about the local area, maps, information on cycle, car and taxi hire, and more. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Chipping Campden Surgery, Back Ends, Chipping Campden, GL55 6AU, ☏ +44 1386 841894. (updated May 2017)
  • Public bathrooms are located on High Street and Sheep Street.

Go next
Routes through Chipping Campden
Worcester ← Evesham ←  NW  S  → Moreton-in-Marsh → Oxford


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