Cirencester is the self-styled 'Capital of the Cotswolds' — a handsome market town in Gloucestershire that was, during the Roman period, the second largest city in Britain after London. Known to the Romans as Corinium Dobunnorum, it sat at the junction of five major Roman roads and was a city of temples, forums, amphitheatres and fine mosaic-floored townhouses. Today, with a population of around 19,076, it is a prosperous, attractive market town sitting at the heart of some of the finest Cotswold countryside in England.
The town's magnificent Church of St John the Baptist — known as the 'Cathedral of the Cotswolds' — dominates the Market Place with its 162-foot tower, one of the grandest parish churches in England. The Corinium Museum houses the finest collection of Romano-British artefacts outside London, including extraordinary mosaic floors lifted from their original sites and displayed in remarkable condition. The Market Place itself, one of the largest in England, has been the commercial heart of the town since the 12th century and still hosts a thriving twice-weekly market.
Cirencester is home to the Royal Agricultural University — the world's oldest agricultural college — and the Cirencester Park, a magnificent 3,000-acre private estate on the edge of the town, whose woodlands and polo grounds are a major feature of the local landscape. The town sits within easy reach of Cheltenham (16 miles), Swindon (18 miles) and the M4 and M5 motorways, with Kemble station offering direct trains to London Paddington in just 75 minutes.
House prices averaging £362,000 reflect Cirencester's status as a premium Cotswold address, though it remains more affordable than nearby Bourton-on-the-Water or Burford. Its combination of Roman heritage, excellent schools, beautiful countryside and outstanding connectivity makes it one of the most desirable small towns in southern England.
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Who is Cirencester Good For?
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VisitBritain- Church of St John the BaptistKnown as the Cathedral of the Cotswolds — a breathtaking 15th-century wool church with a magnificent three-storey porch and one of the grandest interiors of any parish church in England.
- Corinium MuseumOne of England's finest Roman museums, housing extraordinary mosaic floors, sculptures, silverware and everyday objects from Roman Corinium — the second largest city in Roman Britain.
- Cirencester ParkA magnificent 3,000-acre private estate on the edge of the town, its woodlands open to walkers. Home to the Cirencester Park Polo Club — one of England's premier polo venues.
- Cirencester MarketOne of the largest market places in England, with a twice-weekly market (Monday and Friday) that has operated continuously since the 12th century. Fresh produce, clothing, crafts and street food.
- The AmphitheatreThe remains of one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in Britain, set in a public park on the edge of the town. Free to visit — the grass-covered banks give a remarkable sense of its original scale.
- Thames & Severn CanalThe historic canal passes close to Cirencester and offers beautiful towpath walking through the Cotswold Water Park — over 150 lakes formed from former gravel workings, now a major nature reserve.
- Barn TheatreAn award-winning professional theatre in the heart of Cirencester, producing high-quality drama and musicals to a standard that belies the town's modest size.
- Cotswold Water ParkJust 3 miles south — England's largest water park, with 150 lakes offering sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, cycling and birdwatching across 40 square miles of Cotswold countryside.
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