St Mary’s Church, the old ford on the River Coln and walking routes give Fairford several distinctive points of interest for a stay. The church dates from around 1497 and has the only complete collection of late medieval stained glass windows in a parish church in the country. Walking options range from the approximately 2-mile Fairford Town Walk to routes along the river and individual walks to Cotswold Water Park. Seasonal church opening hours and travel via the A417 or onward from Kemble are also important when planning your visit.

St Mary’s Church and Historic Traces

St Mary’s Church is open to visitors daily from 10 am to 5 pm in summer and daily from 10 am to 4 pm in winter. Visiting hours begin at 10 am in both seasons; in summer, they end an hour later. Services, tours or work may affect access, so check the opening times before your visit. The church dates from around 1497 and has the only complete collection of late medieval stained glass windows in a parish church in the country.

Fairford’s original ford was an old crossing point on the River Coln, before the town bridge was built in the 13th century. This establishes a clear sequence between the older ford and the later construction of the bridge. Fairford Mill has existed since the Middle Ages and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Keble House was the birthplace of John Keble. The Bull on Fairford’s market square was a former coaching inn on a historic coach route.

Walking Along the River Coln

The Fairford Town Walk is approximately 2 miles long. Local footpaths also include walking routes along the River Coln; some waterside and lakeside walks from Fairford lead to Cotswold Water Park. This gives you a practical distinction when choosing a route: for the Town Walk, you know the approximate distance, while for other walks you can use the river, lake or Cotswold Water Park as your destination. You can first decide whether an approximate distance or a particular landscape destination is the main consideration for your walk.

Walking guides are available from the Information Point at Fairford Community Centre. Check in advance whether they are still available there, as arrangements at the Information Point may change. Conditions on individual footpaths may also change, so take this into account when planning your specific route.

Getting There and Event Dates

Fairford is accessible via the A417. The nearest railway station is in Kemble; bus or taxi services connect it with Fairford. If travelling by train, onward travel from Kemble is therefore part of your journey planning. Check current services, as they may change; you should also check road information if it affects your journey.

The Royal International Air Tattoo is a three-day event, taking place from 16 to 18 July 2027 at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Check the event dates again before planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Coaley, Somerford Keynes, Ebrington, Lower Slaughter, Longhope, Soudley, Cinderford, Stonehouse

For the regional travel overview: Gloucestershire.