Located just on the edge of the Cotswolds, Corsham is a town that a lot of people actually skip. We opted to visit since it seemed there was a bit to do there, plus it was easy to get to via bus. We were not disappointed! Corsham is such a lovely little place and we had a nice short visit.

A Brief History of Corsham

The town dates back to the middle ages when it thrived on wool. Corsham then became a mining town, where what’s known as “Bath Stone,” or the limestone seen throughout the nearby city of Bath, is mined. You’ll notice that Corsham is a bit bigger than a lot of the other Cotswolds towns, and it’s probably because these industries gave more working opportunities to people.

It became one of the UK’s administrative and manufacturing centers during World War II, which brought a lot more people into the area for work. It later became the same type of hub during the Cold War. If you’re interested more in that era, there’s a brochure on it here. Unfortunately the work was done in underground tunnels and can’t be seen by the public today.

Visiting Corsham

The biggest place to visit is Corsham Court which is quite gorgeous. The home dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era but the current building dates back to Elizabethan times, 1582. The home is currently occupied so the number of rooms you can see is limited, and it’s only open a few hours each week. But not only do you see a bunch of art, but the interiors are lavish and lovely. I highly recommend a visit. Photos weren’t allowed inside so I have none to show, unfortunately.

The court also has gardens to explore, and they have different opening hours from the home.

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What I liked most about Corsham Court, and the town itself, is that they have peacocks that they let roam the grounds! They are such gorgeous animals and it’s such a unique place to have them running around free. If you’re driving, watch out for them – they might attack your car, thinking their reflection is a love rival.

Another place we got to visit was the Corsham Almshouses. These are also open limited hours and are by guided tour only. The Almshouses are in a beautiful 17th century building. The tour guide will tell you about the history of the school and homes, and will show you some of the architectural details inside and out. Apparently the Almshouses are still in use and people live there today, so only a small part of the complex can be seen.

The exterior is much prettier than the interior, so the tour is recommended if you’d like to get more information. If history isn’t your thing, it’s probably not a great way to spend your time.

High Street is the main area of Corsham, which is lined with buildings dating to the 17th century and later. It’s not very big but is is very cute and filled with a variety of local businesses. The town pays good homage to its architectural past, which you can see with the preservation of the buildings.

There are some cute buildings still down the other streets but High Street is where the businesses and main activity is concentrated.

Besides that, there’s not too much to do in Corsham. It’s a nice place to come and spend a few hours, see the Court, get a bite to eat, and watch the peacocks. We visited Lacock and Corsham in a day and the only constraints were the narrow opening hours. It definitely deserves a few hours’ visit but beyond that will probably be overkill.

Getting to Corsham via Bus

From Bath, simply catch the 231 bus to Chippenham and stop in Corsham. If you’re Cotswolds town hopping via public transit, it might be easy to transfer from Chippenham. There you can catch either the 231 bus or the X31 bus to Corsham. I always advise using mobile data to access public transport directions and up-to-date timetables.

If Corsham wasn’t already on your radar then it should be! It’s a cute and unique Cotswolds town that’s easy to get to via public bus, and a great stop for your southwest England itinerary.

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