If you are looking for a short break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, then pay a visit to medieval Tewkesbury.  Situated roughly halfway between Bristol and Birmingham, it has easy access from the M5 motorway.

Located on the confluence of the Rivers Severn and Avon, it is easy to understand how it developed as an important trading centre and market town for the local area.  The population of Tewkesbury is relatively small – just over 10,000 – but the town centre is full of high street shops, independent retailers, welcoming cafes and quaint antique shops.  Many of the high street shops still retain their original half-timbered Tudor frontages and wooden framed windows.  Explore the many tiny, narrow alleys with their strange medieval names or watch the world pass by from one of the many tea rooms.

Imposing Tewkesbury Abbey, just to the south of the main shopping area, is well worth visiting and is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the country.  Tewkesbury Museum has exhibits of local life and the John Moore Museum, housed in a row of half-timbered cottages, explores the local countryside and natural history.

Once you are tired of shopping and sight seeing, then a picnic by the river or a boat trip along the Severn is highly recommended for rest and relaxation.