Chew Magna

Chew Magna sits quietly in the Chew Valley, a few miles south of Bristol and within easy reach of Bath, its raised medieval pavements and weathered stone cottages a legacy of the wool money that once flowed through the town. In the 16th century, Henry VIII's antiquary John Leland passed through and called it a 'praty clothing towne', and little of that character has been lost since. The village has 50 listed buildings, including one Grade I structure, and its streets still funnel down to the River Chew, crossed by the late-15th-century Tun Bridge.

Beyond the town, the valley opens out into farmland, hedgerows and the vast expanse of Chew Valley Lake, one of the largest reservoirs in the country, with the limestone rise of the Mendip Hills forming a backdrop to the south. It is a landscape built for slow days: gentle walking, lakeside birdwatching, cream teas and pub gardens, all within twenty minutes of a major city. Chew Magna was named Britain's best village by the Sunday Times in 2011, and it has since built a reputation for green living, with the parish working towards zero-waste status.

Top things to do in Chew Magna

Chew Magna rewards unhurried exploring, and its surroundings offer some of the best walking, wildlife-watching and history in this corner of Somerset.

• St Andrew's Church — a Grade I-listed 12th-century church at the heart of the village, with later medieval additions and a fine tower typical of the region's wool-funded churches.
• Chew Valley Lake — a 1,200-acre reservoir completed in the 1950s to supply Bristol, now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the most important sites in Britain for wintering wildfowl, with more than 270 recorded bird species.
• Tun Bridge and the raised pavements — a 15th-century packhorse bridge over the River Chew, reached along one of the village's distinctive elevated stone walkways.
• Chew Court — the surviving fragment of a former summer palace belonging to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, a reminder of the town's medieval importance.
• Pensford Viaduct — a striking 95-foot Grade II-listed former railway viaduct across the River Chew, a few minutes' drive from the village and a popular spot for photographs and walks.
• Stanton Drew Stone Circles — one of the largest complexes of Neolithic standing stones in Britain, just outside the village and cared for by English Heritage.
• Woodford Lodge — the fishing and permit hub on Chew Valley Lake, with a tackle shop, bird-watching hides and a lakeside restaurant.

Getting to Chew Magna

Chew Magna sits just off the B3130, around eight miles south of Bristol city centre and roughly twelve miles from Bath, making it an easy drive from either city along the A37 or A38. Bristol Airport is only a few miles to the west, and Bristol Temple Meads station has regular mainline connections to London and beyond, from where a car or taxi covers the last leg into the valley. Local bus services link Chew Magna with Bristol and surrounding villages, though a car is the most practical way to explore the wider Chew Valley and Mendip countryside at your own pace.

Best time to visit Chew Magna

Spring and summer bring the valley to life, with long evenings for walking beside Chew Valley Lake, pub gardens in full swing and the countryside around the village at its greenest. Autumn is prized by birdwatchers, when the lake's wintering wildfowl begin to arrive and the reservoir becomes one of the most active birding sites in the South West. Winter is quieter and often misty, better suited to fireside pub lunches and short walks than long days outdoors, while the village's stone buildings and church make an atmospheric backdrop whatever the season.

Where to stay in Chew Magna

Options in the village itself are limited but characterful, ranging from boutique pub rooms to bed and breakfasts in period cottages, while the surrounding villages and nearby Bristol and Bath offer a much wider choice of hotels for those who want to base themselves further afield and drive in. Self-catering cottages and farm stays are dotted throughout the Chew Valley, well suited to those wanting a quieter base within reach of the lake.

Food and drink in Chew Magna

The Pony Chew Valley, a former coaching inn on the edge of the village, has built a strong reputation for its garden-grown produce and has held a Michelin star, drawing diners out from Bristol and Bath. The Bear and Swan, in the centre of the village, combines a traditional pub atmosphere with boutique rooms, making it a popular stop for both a pint and an overnight stay. Woodford Lodge, on the shore of Chew Valley Lake, offers a more relaxed lakeside restaurant for those out walking, fishing or birdwatching.