Fast-forward 500 years and the wide street in the heart of the village shifted from hosting flocks of sheep bound for market to accommodating swarms of stagecoaches as it became an important stop between Worcester, Oxford and London in the 17th and 18th centuries. The railway brought quiet to the village, but then the artists arrived including William Morris and John Singer Sargent. 

The horse chestnut trees and honey-coloured houses lining the High Street set an idyllic English scene, and its array of independent shops will undoubtedly lure you in. Picturesque walks showing off some of the best views that the region has to offer are plentiful including the circular walk that runs through the high street and on to the intriguing Broadway Tower, an 18th-century Gothic folly with the most spectacular views over 16 counties.