Just beyond the tourist hotspots of Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold is a pretty market town, described as "one of the least explored" destinations in the Cotswolds. It's made headlines in the past few years as home to Jeremy Clarkson's farm, but there is so much more to see if you're searching for a family day out.
To get there from Bristol takes a good 90 minutes, so it's understandable that many visitors stop short in some of its aforementioned neighbours - particularly as you have to drive through them on the way. There are a few attractions that make Chipping Norton unique in comparison, however, making it worth the extra journey into Oxfordshire.
One of them is the Chippy Lido, which dates back to the 1970s but underwent a huge renovation a few years ago. The lido describes itself as an "oasis of calm in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds" with a 25m pool, cafe and large tree-lined lawn.
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A recent visitor wrote on TripAdvisor this week: "What a little gem! We took a chance on the weather & booked family swimming here during a mini break to the Cotswolds.
"There is a big main pool and small, warmer & shallow toddler pool. Both were just the right temperature. There were benches & some sun loungers dotted around for spectators. Food from the cafe was pricey but good. And all staff were friendly & helpful. Changing facilities & showers were decent & toilets clean. Hope we get to visit again!"
Prices listed on the online booking page are £7.50 for adults, £2.50 for children aged three-seven, £4.50 for children aged eight-17 and free for infants aged two or younger. Spectators not entering the pool can pay £5 to come along, and over-65s have a concessionary rate of £6.50.
Another family-friendly attraction just on the outskirts of the town is Fairytale Farm, an attraction where children can meet animals, explore adventure playgrounds and enjoy 'sensory experiences' all themed around fairies. It's open to all but has inclusivity at its heart, with a design and layout designed to meet the needs of disabled children.
The farm has also just opened a new attraction called Fairytale Dell, an incredible play area with 20ft high mushrooms, interactive games, bridges and tunnels. It's described as a "wonderland for children under 10" and you can view a photo gallery over on Birmingham Live.
Writing on TripAdvisor last week, one mum commented: "We went In The May/June half term, I was not excited about this one as I [know] my child gets bored easily… how wrong was I, it was a short wait to get in, the toilets were clean, all sort for her to do such as crafts, interacting with there push buttons on the statutes, even met the fairy queen!
"The play area was brilliant. We both left with a smile on our face saying what a fab day we had, we will be back with her dad next time!" Prices there start from £7.99 for adults and the same for children, with under-2s allowed in free.
Just outside the town there's also the Rollright Stones, a stone circle dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The entry charge is £1 for adults and 50p for children aged 7-16, according to the Rollright Trust which looks after the site.
The town itself is home to a museum, theatre and plenty of pubs, shops, cafes and restaurants, and thousands of people call it home. However, Cotswolds Tourism Board describes Chipping Norton as "probably one of the least explored and commercialised areas of the Cotswolds", better known in previous years for its high-profile celebrity residents referred to collectively as the 'Chipping Norton set'.
This year the town council launched a project to 'keep Chippy beautiful' to "empower people to take pride in our town". The town is also hosting its first Pride this summer (July 1), and businesses will start decorating their shop fronts this month as excitement builds for the event.
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