The Swan Hotel is located in the Wiltshire market town of Bradford on Avon on the edge of the Cotswolds and just a short drive from the City of Bath.
One of the most compelling features about Bradford on Avon is its unique position on the edge of the Cotswolds facing the River Avon.
The ancient bridge in the centre of the town remains its natural focus and the bridge still retains two of its original 13th-century arches. The historical view from the main bridge incorporates the hill above the town which is dotted with the old weavers’ cottages and the riverbank flanked with the 19th-century former cloth mills.
There are weekly Farmers’ Markets every Thursday morning and the Lambs Yard Artisan market every Friday.
The elegant city of Bath is full of traditional heritage, contemporary culture, green spaces and a few surprises.
Bath has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times. The waters are still a big draw, both at the ancient Roman Baths and the thoroughly modern Thermae Bath Spa, which houses the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain you can bathe in.
Immerse yourself in Bath’s remarkable collection of independent shops, museums, and galleries, and enjoy year-round festivals, theatre, music and sports.
Bath’s stunning honey-coloured Georgian architecture is straight from a Jane Austen novel – highlights include the iconic Royal Crescent and the majestic Circus.
Longleat offers a great family day out! You can discover various species of animal from around the world including lions, tigers, wolves, koalas, red panda and sea lions.
Explore the Safari Drive-through and be entertained by the infamous Rhesus monkeys as they clamber over cars.
Ride on the Jungle Cruise boat trip where you can spot hippos and observe the mighty gorillas.
Marvel at Longleat House’s architecture, one of the finest examples of Elizabethan architecture in Britain, and wander around the grounds and formal gardens at your leisure.
Kids will love the Adventure Castle, Rockin’ Rhino ride, Maze and the miniature Longleat Railway which will take you around the Park’s scenic woodland.
Experience this intriguing abbey, country house and village, 800 years in the making, and a birthplace of photography.
Set in rural Wiltshire, Lacock village is famous for its picturesque streets, historic buildings and more recently as a film and television location. Now is your chance to follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter, Elizabeth Bennet and the residents of Cranford.
The Abbey, located at the heart of the village within its own woodland grounds, is a quirky country house of various architectural styles, built upon the foundations of a former nunnery. Experience the atmosphoric medieval rooms and cloister court, giving a sense of the abbey’s monastic past.
In the museum learn about the achievements of fascinating former Lacock resident, William Henry Fox Talbot, famous for his contributions to the invention of photography.
Stonehenge is perhaps the world’s most famous prehistoric monument. It was built in several stages: the first monument was an early henge monument, built about 5,000 years ago, and the unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC. In the early Bronze Age many burial mounds were built nearby.
Today, together with Avebury, Stonehenge forms the heart of a World Heritage Site, with a unique concentration of prehistoric monuments.
Wookey Hole Caves are a series of limestone caverns, show caves and tourist attraction in the village of Wookey Hole on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. The River Axe flows through the cave.
When you visit Wookey Hole Caves your guide will relate the 50,000 year history of the caves as home to both humans and animals.
For people in ancient times, the caves at Wookey Hole were a safe and even comfortable place to live. They were dry, easy to defend, warm in winter and cool in summer.
Explore Britain’s biggest gorge from the dramatic cliffs rising 450ft to the stunning stalactite caverns. This world-famous site is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, reveals many fascinating stories of our prehistoric ancestors, and is an international centre for caving and rock climbing.
Discover the breathtaking splendour of Britain’s most beautiful stalactite cavern where Cheddar Man, Britain’s oldest skeleton, was found. Audio guides bring the cave to life for kids and adults, telling the fascinating story of its Ice Age creation, Stone Age occupation and Victorian exploration.
Wells Cathedral welcomes visitors every day and is in the mediaeval city of Wells in Somerset. Built between 1175 and 1490, the Cathedral has been described as “the most poetic of the English Cathedrals”.
The Cathedral has some unique features that separate it from other English cathedrals. The most notable are the beautiful, inverted arches, more commonly called ‘scissor arches’, supporting the central tower. This structure was added in 1338 by Cathedral mason, William Joy, after the weight of a new spire on the top of the tower threatened to collapse the whole thing.
