Moving to Cirencester - A Quick Guide
Cirencester —a bustling place with a creative spirit. It's located on the outskirts of the Cotswolds, and it boasts fascinating antique emporiums, national chain stores, many manicured gardens, and boutiques.
The centuries-old homes are especially iconic, and it almost feels like flipping through a fairy tale when driving around the town. While modern Cirencester is a captivating townscape of Cotswold, in the Roman times, it had a much loftier status.
The Gloucestershire market town has been dubbed the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’. Despite being a bustling market town, however, the greenery and natural beauty will have you dumbfounded.
Its lovely greens combined with honey-coloured cottages and townhouses reveal a traditionally English town that is famed for its genteel manner of rural living. So, besides boutiques, shops, parks and markets, how would living in Cirencester be?
What to Expect When You Move to Cirencester
Cirencester's history in textile production is still visible in the weavers' cottages spread throughout the town. Nonetheless, its previous beginnings as a prominent Roman town have not been forgotten. There are earthworks and ruins on the outskirts of town that date back to Roman rule.
At the heart of the town is the main commercial area. It is also an ancient market area that is flanked by stores and other buildings carved from the town's signature golden stone. The market, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book, is operational on Fridays.
The town breaks into narrow winding alleyways that have a mix of independent stores and cafes as well as high-street favourites. If you're looking for big-city entertainment, however, you'll be glad to know that Oxford, Bath and Bristol are all less than 90 minutes away by car.
When it comes to education, the local schools get excellent ratings. At their most recent Ofsted inspections, Stratton Church of England Primary School and Powell's Church of England Primary School were both rated 'excellent.'
The rest of Cotswolds, meanwhile, comprises 800 square miles of antique houses, wildflower fields, and charming hamlets.
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Cirencester Transportation
• Rail
Cirencester does not have its own train station, despite its size. However, you can travel to Kemble station, which serves London Paddington, Swindon, and Cheltenham Spa. London trains run every hour and take 90 minutes.
• Road
Cirencester is conveniently located near multiple 'A' routes. You can take routes A435 and A429 to get to Cheltenham and Warwick respectively or take route A417 to get to Gloucester. A419 gets to Stroud while the A433 goes to Bristol and Bath.
• Air
The nearest airport is Bristol Airport, which is about an hour and 15 minutes away by car. Domestic and international flights are available from here to places such as Berlin, Innsbruck, Jersey and Aberdeen. You can also drive to Birmingham Airport, which is only 90 minutes away.
Attractions in Cirencester: Things To Do
1. Explore Its Rich History
The Corinium Museum has a large collection of Roman artefacts. The museum explores the town's history as the second largest Roman town outside of London to date. You'll also enjoy some archaic artefacts and Civil War coin hoards.
In nearby Chedworth, the remnants of a fourth-century Roman villa have been preserved, and you can now see its mosaics by walking along a modern boardwalk. You can also visit the earthwork remnants of an amphitheatre, one of the largest in Britain, on the outskirts of Cirencester. It was constructed in the early second century and had a seating capacity of 8,000 people.
St Mary's Abbey, an Augustinian institution that was dismantled during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, is commemorated at the Abbey Grounds. You can walk around the woodland grounds and observe the abbey's final existing structure, the Norman arch.
2. Enjoy its Rich Culture
Cirencester has a major art hub known as the New Brewery Arts. It has 12 on-site crafters, including a bookbinder and glassblower, as well as a theatre, craft shop, and art gallery. You can either see the artists at work or participate in a class or workshop.
Besides this, it also has other venues like the Sundial Theatre which seats 275 people. Here, you can enjoy a musical performance, film, or comedy show.
3. Experience the Lovely Outdoors
This one is a little heaven on earth. From parks to meadows, gardens and hidden hamlets and villages, the outdoors are to die for. You could ride a horse, bike, or simply walk and soak up nature's beauty.
Cirencester Park, which spans 3,000 acres is home to Thee Earl of Bathurst. It was designed by the first earl and his companion, the poet Alexander Pope. The beautiful park includes woodland pathways and Gothic-style follies. If you enjoy polo, make plans to attend one of the bouts performed on the park's famous polo fields.
4. Shopping
Cirencester is a renowned commercial area. You can shop in the main town, along Castle Street, Cricklade Street, or Dyer Street. Here, you will find popular national stores such as Boots and other boutiques. Bishops Walk is the town's only covered shopping mall, with independent stores such as Bramleys the Greengrocer and Cotswold Artisan Coffee.
The Corn Hall also holds craft fairs and food markets regularly. On Fridays, the weekly market sells everything from plants to wicker baskets and outdoor furniture.
5. Food and Drinks
Chef specialities like green coriander chicken and honey-roasted spicy lamb are available or go with a British classic like chicken tikka masala. You could also enjoy Indian cuisine at Indian Rasoi which delivers both traditional and innovative Indian cuisine.
Jesse's Bistro serves Devon crab, Broadway ham hock terrine, and Cotswold lamb. This also comes with an extensive wine list. If you prefer ale and traditional pub meals, however, The Crown of Crucis is the place to be. It always has a selection of local cask ales, ciders, and lagers on tap, as well as rustic favourites like pot-roasted pheasant on the menu.
