Fairford
Fairford town sits on a lovely stretch of the River Coln and owes its fortune to its location - an important coaching town on the old London to Gloucester route. Some of the inns and hotels are reminders of this by gone era.
Fairford is famous for its great glory the parish church, St Mary’s, which is a fine 'wool church' with a set of 28 medieval stained glass windows that tell the story of the Bible, the finest complete set in England.
The old water mill over the river Coln at Fairford is one of the prettiest in the country: the view over to the church and water meadows is incredibly picturesque and appeals to walkers from miles around.
The town has a regular traditional market every Wednesday, a continental market twice a year and a festive market for Christmas on the first Friday of December.
Carrying on an ancient tradition, the Fairford Town Crier “cries” in the Market Place on the 1st Wednesday of every month and at other events.
The village is also well known for its air base, with thousands of people visiting for the three-day Royal International Air Tattoo, the biggest military air show in the world, every July.
It’s impressive, with more than 200 aircraft – and 2018 (weekend of 13-15 July) will be special: it’s the RAF centenary. Concorde was first tested at this air base.
This isn’t the only major event in the town, which also holds The Fairford Festival, a whole weekend of fun and events for all ages over the 1st weekend of June (including 10k road race, 3k fun run, live music, Festival parade, children’s party, art exhibition, historical photographic exhibition and more.
With four pubs and one hotel, Fairford is well served to quench the thirst of walkers and fishermen. There is also a great Italian restaurant in the town centre and a café serving famed brownies, paninis and other delicious food.
Fairford attracts many walkers to enjoy the picturesque walks along the River Coln, by the Old Mill and around the many lakes in the Eastern Cotswold Water Park which is a stone’s throw from the town. A short Heritage Walk around the town is also a “must” for visitors.
One can also walk from Fairford to Bibury, which William Morris described as the “most beautiful village in the Cotswolds” and is famous for its weavers’ cottages.
