Cirencester is the Roman capital of the Cotswolds — Corinium — and the largest town in the AONB, sitting in a wide vale where the upper Churn and Thames gather. The Cotswold Way passes nearby, and the surrounding limestone wold countryside offers excellent, gentle walking.

A handsome, well-served town with an excellent local museum and good restaurants, Cirencester makes a central Cotswolds walking base with easy access to the quieter eastern and southern sections of the AONB.