Home > Guide Book > Chipping Sodbury

Chipping Sodbury

Chipping Sodbury is a picturesque market town in South Gloucestershire, just south of the Cotswolds. With its wide bustling market street, mix of architectural styles and original medieval town plan, it has a unique character.

The town has existed since the 12th Century, and still retains its original street plan and layout; a grid system with long narrow plots of land. Almost 150 buildings in the core of the town have been listed as having special historical or architectural value, with some buildings dating back to the 15th Century.

The town is also famous for being the birthplace of JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, and was once home to Edward Jenner - the first doctor to successfully vaccinate against smallpox. You can learn more about Jenner at the Edward Jenner Museum in Berkeley.

The medieval High Street has a charming array of small shops and cafes, the Frome Valley Walkway and Avon Cycleway both pass through the town making it an ideal place for walkers and cyclists to relax and enjoy the picturesque views of the Cotswolds.