"Chipping Campden - The best in the Cotswolds?" Top 5 Page for this destination Chipping Campden by iandsmith

Chipping Campden Travel Guide: 53 reviews and 133 photos

Put yourself in the picture, I'd like to!

More than just a Hick town

Inasmuch as it's possible to fall in love with an inanimate object, I fell in love with this house. In all of Great Britain this was my favourite and yet, in Chipping Campden, there are more of its ilk.
Chipping Campden has an air of riches about it, borne of its past and carried onwards to the future. For some reason it doesn't seem to have hit the tourist trail like other towns and that has its pluses and minuses. One thing that is more striking than any other that I visited in the Cotswolds is the architecture and that's saying something.
The name Campden or Camperdene is believed to be a Saxon name meaning valley with fields, a written reference to Campden in the Domesday Book (1085) records that before the Norman conquest the manor of Camperdene had been held by King Harold.
By the early 13th century, the market area was being called 'Cepynge Caumpedene' (or 'Market Campden'). The word Chipping means market.
The only flaw I could find with the place was that it didn't have a stream flowing down beside the main street, something I found attractive at certain other Cotswold villages.
As you read my pages you will also become aware of just how important one man and his family were to the area. That man was Baptist Hicks.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Stunning thatched cottages, lovely main street, history
In a nutshell:Lived up to expectations, I'd go back again

Last visit to Chipping Campden: Oct 2005
Intro Updated Dec 24, 2005
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Reviews (12)

More architecture Favorites (2)

Strolling along the main street is a recommended activity here. It has a slight curve so you're never quite sure of what... more travel advice

Chipping Campden (not Camden), the genuine article - Chipping Campden

The High Street Favorites (2)

Chipping Campden is often labelled the 'flower of the villages of all England'. Though the actual quote is not a modern... more travel advice

Such a pretty contrast - Chipping Campden

In the back streets Things to Do (10)

I picked up the habit in Italy mainly. Walking around the back streets. So fruitful there and it proved so here as well.... more travel advice

One of the delights of rural England - Chipping Campden

A hunting we will go Things to Do (10)

I was off on a walk. Specifically a walk to get some shots of those thatched cottages that had caught my eye on the way... more travel advice

Comments (11)

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leffe3 Jul 29, 2010 at 11:46 PM

It's been 20 years since I was here - but plan to be there in September.
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christine.j Dec 21, 2008 at 7:52 AM

The Cotswolds are one of England's most beautiful regions. I really enjoyed reading your page.
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Trekki Dec 11, 2007 at 9:30 PM

Haha, Ian, how well do I know this "can't go past anything" mode :-)) I think, my friends will have headaches if they dirve me through the Cotswolds one day... I would scream for a stop every few seconds :-)
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starship Jun 26, 2007 at 6:29 PM

It is beautiful villages such as these which make me love the English countryside so much! I love thatched-roof cottages--I can never see enough of them. Lovely pages and photos.
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Spincat Nov 15, 2006 at 10:15 PM

English horse-riders basically rude grumpy bastards (and i speak as a horse lover!)
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pigletsmom Sep 9, 2006 at 1:37 PM

I had never heard of Chipping Campden until I saw you page. Wow, so beautiful. I have to go there. Thanks for sharing your wonderful images.
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vichatherly Jul 21, 2006 at 5:15 AM

Excellent photos and great tips. I'll have to build my page soon.
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sim1 May 21, 2006 at 11:18 AM

What a wonderful place! I just love those thatched houses! If I ever visit this area, I have to stop by in this wonderful village!
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Bwana_Brown Apr 24, 2006 at 5:14 PM

Fabulous photos Ian!! You were in great form here with those honey-coloured stone buildings as backdrops. Your thatched roof shots are amazing! This was one of my favourite little villages too.
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deecat Mar 22, 2006 at 12:53 AM

Well, Ian, I can see that missing these pages was not wise...the thatch-roofed house, the lovely flowers, the quaint church, your stunning photos and usual wit combine to make a delightful read and view.