Evesham

Evesham's hotels and guest houses tend to be small and traditional, reflecting the scale of the town itself: former coaching inns and family-run hotels sit around the historic centre, within easy walking distance of the Bell Tower, the Almonry and the River Avon. A number of bed and breakfasts occupy handsome Georgian and Victorian houses close to the town, offering a quieter base a short walk or drive from the shops and riverside. Because Evesham sits at the centre of the Vale of Evesham, it also works well as a hub for exploring further afield, with plenty of accommodation choices in the orchard villages and Cotswold market towns nearby, from Broadway to Chipping Campden, for those who want a rural setting with easy access back into town. Riverside hotels and inns along the Avon make the most of Evesham's setting, with views over the water and easy access for anyone arriving by boat as well as by road. Booking ahead is worthwhile during the blossom season in spring, when the Vale of Evesham Blossom Trail draws visitors from across the region, and during the summer months when the river and its towpaths are busiest. Whatever the season, Evesham's size means options are limited compared with larger Cotswold towns, so it pays to compare the town centre against nearby villages when choosing where to stay.

Evesham's attractions are mostly within walking distance of one another, making it an easy town to explore without a car.

• Evesham Bell Tower — the freestanding bell tower begun by Abbot Clement Lichfield in 1524 is the only substantial part of Evesham Abbey left standing after the Dissolution, and still dominates the town's skyline above the river.
• The Almonry Heritage Centre — a timber-framed building dating from around 1400, once home to the abbey's almoner, now housing a museum on the town's abbey, its market-gardening heritage and the Battle of Evesham, set in a walled garden.
• Battle of Evesham site — fought on 4 August 1265, this was the battle in which Prince Edward defeated and killed Simon de Montfort, effectively ending the Second Barons' War; the registered battlefield lies just outside the town and is marked with information panels.
• Vale of Evesham Blossom Trail — a signposted 55-mile route through orchards and villages around the town, at its best in April when pear and plum blossom is in full bloom.
• River Avon — Evesham's riverside is lined with parkland, and the town is a popular stop for narrowboats and cruisers travelling the Avon; rowing boats, punts and river trips can be hired from the town centre in summer.
• Evesham Country Park — a farm shop, garden centre and outdoor attraction on the edge of town celebrating the vale's market-gardening history, with seasonal fruit picking.
• The Round House and Workman Bridge — a distinctive circular former mill building beside the historic bridge over the Avon, one of the most photographed spots in the town.

Evesham's food scene reflects its market-gardening roots, with local asparagus, plums and other vale produce turning up on menus, especially in late spring and summer. The Fleece Inn at nearby Bretforton, a timber-framed National Trust pub dating back to the 15th century, is one of the most celebrated traditional pubs in the county and well worth the short trip out of town. In Evesham itself, the riverside sets the tone for several pubs and cafes along the Avon, while the town's Friday market and farm shops on its outskirts are good places to pick up the vale's produce direct from growers.

Evesham and the surrounding Vale of Evesham offer a gentler, greener alternative to the more crowded corners of the Cotswolds, with camping and touring sites scattered along the River Avon and among the vale's orchards and market gardens. As with anywhere else in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's permission, so pitching up on riverside meadows or farmland without asking first is against the law; fortunately the area has a good spread of licensed campsites, caravan parks and farm-based sites that welcome tents, touring caravans and motorhomes, many of them run by the same families who have farmed the vale for generations.

The gently rolling, fertile terrain of the Vale of Evesham makes for easy, level camping rather than the dramatic hillside pitches found further into the Cotswolds, with many sites set among orchards, paddocks or beside the Avon itself, offering fishing and river access alongside the usual camping facilities. This makes the area especially appealing for families and for anyone touring by canal boat or narrowboat, since several sites sit close to the river's moorings and towpaths. Spring is a particularly memorable time to camp here, when the blossom trail through the surrounding orchards is in full bloom, while summer brings warm evenings beside the Avon and the chance to combine camping with punting, rowing or simply watching the boats go by; early autumn adds the bonus of the vale's fruit harvest, with pick-your-own farms and roadside stalls selling plums, apples and the last of the asparagus.

For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options in and around Evesham range from shepherd's huts and safari tents to converted farm buildings, several of them on working smallholdings within the vale itself. These sites make a good match for the area's relaxed, agricultural character, putting guests within easy reach of the Bell Tower and the town centre, while keeping the orchards, the river and the open Worcestershire countryside close at hand.