All roads lead to Cirencester – the capital of the Cotswolds

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Cirencester’s Castle Street. The traditional town represents a good alternative, now that nearby Bourton-on-the-Water has taken away its coach park, says Alan Payling. DAVECROSBYUK via WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Now that the coach park in Bourton-on-the-Water has finally closed, Alan Payling suggests a visit to nearby Cirencester instead will keep tour passengers more than happy. Here he explores the traditional and historic country town where if you want to get ‘ahead,’ you can always get a cap…

Having been a bit thin on top for a few years now, in winter I have to keep my head warm and in summer I have to protect my scalp from the sun. Consequently, my choice of headgear has been a cap. It was while I was wearing a natty tweed number in Torquay that I was asked by a coach tour driver: ‘Where did you get your cap, Alan?’

“In Cirencester,” I replied.

“Oh, what were you doing in Cirencester?” the driver asked.

My reply was almost unavoidably facetious, but was the truth. “I was in Cirencester because I was buying a cap, actually.”

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