Artist's Retreat
Local Guidebook
Sightseeing
The Courts Garden is a National Trust property in the village about 5 minutes walk away from the house.
It has beautiful flower borders, water features, orchards and many nooks to explore. In school holidays there are often events for children. Garden lovers will love this traditional English country garden.
34 locals recommend
The Courts Garden
The Courts Garden is a National Trust property in the village about 5 minutes walk away from the house.
It has beautiful flower borders, water features, orchards and many nooks to explore. In school holidays there are often events for children. Garden lovers will love this traditional English country garden.
Lacock Abbey is a National Trust owned medieval abbey set in a perfect historic village. The Abbey and village is often used as a film location including for Harry Potter. Its very close by - about 10-15 minutes drive. A few very nice pubs too.
170 locals recommend
Lacock Abbey
Lacock Abbey is a National Trust owned medieval abbey set in a perfect historic village. The Abbey and village is often used as a film location including for Harry Potter. Its very close by - about 10-15 minutes drive. A few very nice pubs too.
This is an absolutely stunning manor house and garden owned by the National Trust. Very frequently used as a film location as its completely unspoiled. You can walk there from the house in about 40 mins (briskly!) or its a very short drive through winding lanes.
24 locals recommend
Great Chalfield Manor
This is an absolutely stunning manor house and garden owned by the National Trust. Very frequently used as a film location as its completely unspoiled. You can walk there from the house in about 40 mins (briskly!) or its a very short drive through winding lanes.
Stonehenge
Iconic!
Quirky fun museum in a beautiful historic house on the edge of Bath that has exhibits of American history.
64 locals recommend
American Museum & Gardens
Quirky fun museum in a beautiful historic house on the edge of Bath that has exhibits of American history.
Wells is a small and very pretty City with a Cathedral and moated Bishop's palace.
289 locals recommend
Wells Cathedral
Cathedral GreenWells is a small and very pretty City with a Cathedral and moated Bishop's palace.
Avebury is a huge Neolithic stone circle. Visitors can walk directly amongst the stones. There is also a historic National Trust manor house with a museum and child friendly exhibitions. There are gorgeous walks in this area.
332 locals recommend
Avebury
Avebury is a huge Neolithic stone circle. Visitors can walk directly amongst the stones. There is also a historic National Trust manor house with a museum and child friendly exhibitions. There are gorgeous walks in this area.
Glastonbury has a historic Abbey, you can also walk up the Tor for a wonderful view. Glastonbury town is also a memorable visit - have wander to look at the tacky souvenir shops selling crystals, books about crop circles and statues of elves.
427 locals recommend
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury has a historic Abbey, you can also walk up the Tor for a wonderful view. Glastonbury town is also a memorable visit - have wander to look at the tacky souvenir shops selling crystals, books about crop circles and statues of elves.
Enjoy Britain's only natural thermal waters. You can see the Bath skyline from the rooftop pool. Book ahead recommended.
392 locals recommend
Thermae Bath Spa
Hot Bath StreetEnjoy Britain's only natural thermal waters. You can see the Bath skyline from the rooftop pool. Book ahead recommended.
Stourhead
Famous landscape garden.
Fashion Museum Bath
Bennett StreetSee stunning Georgian clothes in the Assembly Rooms in Bath.
The Roman Baths
Abbey ChurchyardBeautiful Roman Baths with excellent museum.
One of the only surviving intact Anglo-Saxon churches dating from around 700AD. Look for it if you are enjoying a walk around historic Bradford-on-Avon.
6 locals recommend
The Saxon Church, Bradford on Avon
10 Church StOne of the only surviving intact Anglo-Saxon churches dating from around 700AD. Look for it if you are enjoying a walk around historic Bradford-on-Avon.
Bristol is about 45 minutes away by car. It’s easy to park in the multi-story at Cabot Circus shopping centre. There are lots of activities and restaurants on Bristol Harbourside.
314 locals recommend
Bristol
Bristol is about 45 minutes away by car. It’s easy to park in the multi-story at Cabot Circus shopping centre. There are lots of activities and restaurants on Bristol Harbourside.
Very popular wildlife park set in lovely Cotswolds scenery. It’s just over an hour away but good to combine with visiting a beautiful Cotswold village and a pub lunch.
442 locals recommend
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
Very popular wildlife park set in lovely Cotswolds scenery. It’s just over an hour away but good to combine with visiting a beautiful Cotswold village and a pub lunch.
Vast and gorgeous bookshop with rolling library ladders and free cups of tea. The largest independent bookshop in Britain, very close to Bath Abbey.
24 locals recommend
Topping & Company Booksellers
York StreetVast and gorgeous bookshop with rolling library ladders and free cups of tea. The largest independent bookshop in Britain, very close to Bath Abbey.
Walking around Bath and enjoying the architecture - a pleasure visitors have enjoyed for the last 250 years.
11 locals recommend
View of the Royal Crescent
Royal CrescentWalking around Bath and enjoying the architecture - a pleasure visitors have enjoyed for the last 250 years.
Eating out
This popular farm shop also has a cafe selling food from the farm and a fantastic fish and chip shop. Children's playground. About 20 mins away, on the way to Longleat.
56 locals recommend
White Row Farm
This popular farm shop also has a cafe selling food from the farm and a fantastic fish and chip shop. Children's playground. About 20 mins away, on the way to Longleat.
Great place for lunch, located at Hauser and Wirth Somerset. Booking ahead highly recommended.
104 locals recommend
Roth Bar & Grill
Dropping LaneGreat place for lunch, located at Hauser and Wirth Somerset. Booking ahead highly recommended.
The George Inn, Norton St Philip is one of the oldest pubs in the UK dating back to 1397.
74 locals recommend
The George Inn
High StreetThe George Inn, Norton St Philip is one of the oldest pubs in the UK dating back to 1397.
Restaurant with brilliant location right on the riverside in Bradford on Avon. Family friendly.
42 locals recommend
Timbrell's Yard
49 St Margaret's StRestaurant with brilliant location right on the riverside in Bradford on Avon. Family friendly.
There are many many lovely villages and pubs in Somerset and Wiltshire. The Talbot Inn, Mells, Somerset is a particularly nice one.
123 locals recommend
The Talbot Inn
Selwood StreetThere are many many lovely villages and pubs in Somerset and Wiltshire. The Talbot Inn, Mells, Somerset is a particularly nice one.
Gorgeously pretty dining room on the main shopping street in Bath. Book ahead for a grown up lunch.
124 locals recommend
The Ivy Bath Brasserie
39 Milsom StGorgeously pretty dining room on the main shopping street in Bath. Book ahead for a grown up lunch.
Its 5 minutes walk! Good reliable pub food, very popular locally for lunch and dinner. Booking ahead recommended.
10 locals recommend
The Tollgate Inn
Ham GreenIts 5 minutes walk! Good reliable pub food, very popular locally for lunch and dinner. Booking ahead recommended.
This vintage styled cafe on a farm campsite does really good lunches and is hugely popular locally with couples and families. Great for kids as they can run about as much as they like outside. It’s about 5 minute drive up the hill from Holt.
9 locals recommend
Merkins Farm Cafe
This vintage styled cafe on a farm campsite does really good lunches and is hugely popular locally with couples and families. Great for kids as they can run about as much as they like outside. It’s about 5 minute drive up the hill from Holt.
This small independent restaurant in Bath serves authentic fresh Vietnamese food.
36 locals recommend
Noya's Kitchen
7 St James's ParadeThis small independent restaurant in Bath serves authentic fresh Vietnamese food.
Beautiful atmospheric building next to the Assembly Rooms - very well regarded restaurant doing yummy informal small plates dining (and full on Sunday lunch) - with an attached wine shop. The Times says "pretty enough to draw tears from a stone goblin" and a "brutally sexy" wine shop. Fair enough!
42 locals recommend
The Beckford Bottle Shop
5-8 Saville RowBeautiful atmospheric building next to the Assembly Rooms - very well regarded restaurant doing yummy informal small plates dining (and full on Sunday lunch) - with an attached wine shop. The Times says "pretty enough to draw tears from a stone goblin" and a "brutally sexy" wine shop. Fair enough!
Informal but grown-up restaurant on ground floor of Georgian house in Bath city centre. Modern European style cooking.
63 locals recommend
Clayton's Kitchen
15A George StreetInformal but grown-up restaurant on ground floor of Georgian house in Bath city centre. Modern European style cooking.
This historic pub in Lacock village is a good spot for lunch and exploring the lovely village and countryside.
74 locals recommend
The George Inn
High StreetThis historic pub in Lacock village is a good spot for lunch and exploring the lovely village and countryside.
Nice gastro-pub in Bradford on Avon is good for lunch dinner or a drink
36 locals recommend
The Bunch Of Grapes
14 Silver StNice gastro-pub in Bradford on Avon is good for lunch dinner or a drink
The Field Kitchen is open for breakfast and lunch. It’s about 2 fields walk away from the Retreat. Food is delicious deli style lunches and cakes.
Wild Herb at The Field Kitchen
The Field Kitchen is open for breakfast and lunch. It’s about 2 fields walk away from the Retreat. Food is delicious deli style lunches and cakes.
This pub in central Bath is in a large Georgian building. Always busy but plenty of room for a nice mix of locals and visitors enjoying real ales and hearty basic food.
53 locals recommend
The Raven
7 Queen StThis pub in central Bath is in a large Georgian building. Always busy but plenty of room for a nice mix of locals and visitors enjoying real ales and hearty basic food.
City/town information
Bradford-on-Avon is our closest town. Park in the main car-park by the train station and then enjoy a walk along the canal and river. There are also many great pubs and restaurants.
189 locals recommend
Bradford-on-Avon
Bradford-on-Avon is our closest town. Park in the main car-park by the train station and then enjoy a walk along the canal and river. There are also many great pubs and restaurants.
Holt is our village and it’s a real community! You’ll find a playground, the very handy local shop and 2 pubs within a short walk.
Holt
Holt is our village and it’s a real community! You’ll find a playground, the very handy local shop and 2 pubs within a short walk.
Salisbury is a small City with a spectacular Cathedral. It’s an hours drive through some fantastic countryside or an easy train ride from Bradford on Avon.
246 locals recommend
Salisbury
Salisbury is a small City with a spectacular Cathedral. It’s an hours drive through some fantastic countryside or an easy train ride from Bradford on Avon.
Great outdoors
Farleigh Hungerford is a small village with a castle but its main attraction to locals and visitors is its river swimming. As you drive through the village look for a sharp left hand turning into a field. This swimming club has been run for decades and is popular with families and keen river swimmers alike.
7 locals recommend
Farleigh Hungerford
Farleigh Hungerford is a small village with a castle but its main attraction to locals and visitors is its river swimming. As you drive through the village look for a sharp left hand turning into a field. This swimming club has been run for decades and is popular with families and keen river swimmers alike.
Bowood is a historic house and garden but the main reason for going is an amazing adventure playground that will keep kids occupied for hours on end. Deathslides! Zip-lines! Take a picnic!
129 locals recommend
Bowood House and Gardens
Old RoadBowood is a historic house and garden but the main reason for going is an amazing adventure playground that will keep kids occupied for hours on end. Deathslides! Zip-lines! Take a picnic!
16th century pub overlooking the river! Recommend parking in Bradford on Avon, good walk along the river, and enjoy a pint or basic pub lunch with scenic views. Very family friendly.
21 locals recommend
Cross Guns Avoncliff
16th century pub overlooking the river! Recommend parking in Bradford on Avon, good walk along the river, and enjoy a pint or basic pub lunch with scenic views. Very family friendly.
The Ridgeway is a 5,000 year old track extending from Wiltshire to the River Thames. You can easily walk sections of this, e.g from near Avebury with views of Silbury Hill.
8 locals recommend
The Ridgeway National Trail
A4The Ridgeway is a 5,000 year old track extending from Wiltshire to the River Thames. You can easily walk sections of this, e.g from near Avebury with views of Silbury Hill.
Huge historic National Trust house in very beautiful parkland near Bath. Even reluctant kids enjoy running around the steep valley paths. Cafe onsite.
133 locals recommend
Dyrham Park
Huge historic National Trust house in very beautiful parkland near Bath. Even reluctant kids enjoy running around the steep valley paths. Cafe onsite.
This is one of the "white horses" carved into the chalk hills around Wiltshire. You can find details of a good walking trail around the white horse on the National Trust website - great views, skylarks and wildflowers.
15 locals recommend
Cherhill White Horse
This is one of the "white horses" carved into the chalk hills around Wiltshire. You can find details of a good walking trail around the white horse on the National Trust website - great views, skylarks and wildflowers.
Gorgeous country park on the edge of Bradford on Avon, with huge tithe barn, children's playground and walks along the river and canalside.
10 locals recommend
Barton Farm Country Park
Pound LaneGorgeous country park on the edge of Bradford on Avon, with huge tithe barn, children's playground and walks along the river and canalside.
Food scene
Hartley Farm Shop & Kitchen
Local farm shop.
Spa
Luxurious spa and restaurant at 5 star hotel. Book ahead for lunches and spa treatments.
26 locals recommend
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
Luxurious spa and restaurant at 5 star hotel. Book ahead for lunches and spa treatments.
Book ahead for spa and beauty treatments at hotel in the iconic Bath Royal Crescent.
172 locals recommend
Royal Crescent
Royal CrescentBook ahead for spa and beauty treatments at hotel in the iconic Bath Royal Crescent.