A WEEKEND AWAY

The UK is well-known for picture-postcard-perfect villages — here are just some of our favourites

- KATY HOLLAND

Thatched cottages and medieval churches, duck ponds and old characterful inns, quaint tea rooms and vistas straight from a postcard: nothing beats a mosey around a historic village or port in the UK. From tiny unknown havens to world-famous landmarks, each one of these beautiful gems is perfect for whiling away an afternoon or two.

CASTLE COMBE, WILTSHIRE

With its winding streets and ancient honey-hued cottages, it’s easy to see why this untouched 15th-century Wiltshire village has been the backdrop for a plethora of period films and TV series, including Downton Abbey. Amble the tranquil streets of this perfectly preserved slice of medieval history and treat yourself to a cream tea at the delectable Old Rectory Tea Room, which dates back to 1490. At the epicentre of the village is an imposing 14th-century market cross, established in the period when sheep and wool trade thrived. Keep an eye out for one of the country’s oldest medieval clocks still in use, at St Andrew’s Church.