Malmesbury is a small, but popular town with many shops and elegant buildings. It has a playful rivalry with Tetbury, as they are of similar size, and are separated by the Gloucestershire-Wiltshire border. It is home to Dyson, the vacuum cleaner manufacturer, and was the birthplace of the philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

Cirencester is a larger shopping centre, with four supermarkets and a number of town centre shops. It is also home to Roman ruins and the Sundial Theatre. The villages around Cirencester are popular homes for celebrities escaping London, including Kate Winslet and Liz Hurley.

Stroud is a slightly larger town, with rail links to Bristol and London. It has a new cinema and bowling alley, although its town centre shops are perhaps not as good as Cirencester's.

Didmarton is a few miles from Tetbury, Avening has two very good public houses, while Nailsworth is a popular attraction and home to Conference football team Forest Green Rovers. Bath, Cheltenham and Bristol are under 40mins drive away.