Planning a trip to Cirencester

Getting There -- Cirencester has no railway station, but trains depart several times a day from London's Paddington Station for the 80-minute trip to Kemble, which is 6.5km (4 miles) southwest of Cirencester. You may have to transfer trains at Swindon. For schedules and information, call tel. 0845/748-4950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk. From Kemble, a bus travels to Cirencester four to five times a day.

National Express buses leave London's Victoria Coach Station with direct service to Cirencester. For schedules and information, call tel. 0871/781-81-81 or visit www.nationalexpress.co.uk.

If driving from London, take the M40 northwest to Oxford, continuing along the A40 to the junction with the A429, which you'll take south to Cirencester.

Visitor Information -- The Cotswold Visitors Centre is located in the Corinium Museum at Park Street (tel. 01285/654180; www.cirencester.gov.uk). Year-round hours are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday 2 to 5pm.