Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the Beautiful Village of Lacock, UK

If I could transport myself anywhere on any given day, it would be to somewhere in the Cotswolds. The charm is unmatched, and you’re sure to fall in love with it immediately. On my recent trip to London, I made it very clear that we absolutely had to visit the Cotswolds. Enter: Lacock. I picked Lacock because of its ties to Harry Potter, and because it seemed simple to get to from London. It was quite possibly the best decision I’ve ever made. Here’s everything you need to know if you plan on visiting the charming and beautiful village of Lacock, Chippenham.

How to visit Lacock village from London

By car: Lacock is about 2.5 hours away from London’s city centre by car. We opted not to rent a car and drive as we were only going for the day. The idea of driving in the UK (opposite side of the road to Canada) didn’t seem worth it for us! You can definitely rent a car in London however, and it will allow you more freedom to see other nearby Cotswolds towns while visiting Lacock Village.

By bus: National Express has service to the Cotswolds daily via different villages, and the closest bus station to Lacock is Chippenham station. There’s no bus service with National Express directly to the village of Lacock. You can take the local X34 bus with the local bus service, Faresaver, to get into the village. This takes about 20 minutes on the bus, and the stop in Chippenham is about a 10 minute walk from the station (see map). You’ll be dropped off right in front of The George Inn in Lacock, which is right in the middle of this cute little town.

By train: As mentioned, you can only get into Lacock via the local bus service if you’re coming from Chippenham station. We decided to take the train from London to get there. You can catch the train from London’s Paddington station to Chippenham with GWR , which runs several times a day. You can buy your tickets online and then scan the QR code (you’ll get this by email) at the train station.

It’s important to note that you’ll pick seats when you book your tickets, but many don’t stick to their seats. Show up early if you want to get your proper seats! Once you’re at Chippenham station, you can take the local X34 bus with the local bus service, Faresaver, to get into Lacock village. This takes about 20 minutes on the bus. The stop in Chippenham is about a 10 minute walk from the station (see map). You’ll be dropped off in front of The George Inn in Lacock, which is right in the middle of town.

What to pack

As we only did a day trip from London so we didn’t have much packed for the day. With that said, there are some things I recommend bringing regardless. Here are some things you’ll want to make sure you have with you when visiting Lacock village!

1. Umbrella: you don’t want to get stuck wandering around the small, cobble stone streets in the rain. That would not be the most pleasant train ride home, am I right?
2. On the same thread, I’d also recommend bringing a light raincoat or leather jacket. Something that is rain and wind resistant. I personally love my Columbia rain jacket and this leather shacket from Ardene. They’re great for rain protection and a little warmth on a chilly UK day.
3. Comfortable shoes: no heels! If you’ve travelled around the UK before, you’ll know that comfortable and sturdy shoes are a must. Lacock is no different. Walking comfortably on cobblestone streets is undeniably made easier with sturdy shoes. I strongly recommend bringing either sneakers or comfortable flat boots with you!
4. Power bank: When it comes to travel, it’s always a good idea to bring a power bank/portable charger with you. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be using your phone all day navigating and taking pictures, right? That phone battery will need a boost sooner or later! I LOVE my Anker Power Bank and bring it with me every time I travel. I’ve had it for several years, and really love how durable and reliable these chargers are.

Related: Check out “11 Carry-On Essentials You Won’t Want to Forget to Pack” for more packing recommendations!

Where to stay

Being a small village, Lacock has only a few places for accommodation. If you do have the time, here are the best options if you plan on visiting overnight!

The George Inn

This inn is where you’ll be dropped off by the local bus if you transit into the city. It’s perfectly located, not to mention absolutely adorable! Rooms will typically run you about $150 a night, and its classic English charm is well worth it. You can check out the property and availability HERE!

Red Lion B&B

The Red Lion is also very well located in the centre of town. It has THE most adorable back garden seating area for their in-house restaurant as well! The decor is classic, and rooms will cost you about $100 a night depending on the season and availability. Check out the property HERE!

Sign of the Angel

If you’re looking for dark academia with a touch of English charm (I know I am), this is your spot! Sign of the Angel is fittingly on Church street in Lacock, which is arguably one of the most charming streets in the village. According to their listing, their restaurant is currently closed until Sep 2022 according to their listing. They also have a beautiful garden and are a 5 minute walk away from the Lacock Abbey (more on this soon!). Rooms are about $130-180 depending on the room, and are all decorated beautifully. Check out the property HERE.

What to do

If you’re looking for more recommendations other than “walk around the small streets and cry over how charming they are” while visiting, here are the best not-to-be-missed spots in Lacock Village!

1. Lacock Abbey: Hands down the BEST thing to see in Lacock. The Abbey was founded in the 13th century and has such an intense history and the most beautiful grounds! Visiting the Abbey will take about 3 hours if you take your time, so make sure you budget your time accordingly. I’d strongly recommend taking your time walking through the grounds and visiting the Greenhouse and Rose Garden if they’re open! Tickets will cost you about 15 GBP ($25 CAD), and was absolutely worth every penny.
2. Henry Talbot Museum: Along with access to the Abbey and grounds, your Abbey ticket will also allow you access to the Henry Talbot Museum located on the property (hence the “worth every penny” claim). The museum is dedicated to the birth of photography itself, and definitely has the coolest collection of cameras through the ages, along with award winning and incredible canvas paintings.
3. Explore the small shops: The shops in Lacock is a home-owned businesses, and are such lovely places to visit on your trip! I’d recommend checking out the Lacock Bakery, the National Trust gift shop, Coco’s Chemistry for some delicious chocolate, Barty’s, and The Lacock Shop & Deli.
4. Visit some spots from Harry Potter: So we all know by now how much I love Harry Potter, and my decision to visit Lacock was initially 100% to see some of the Harry Potter filming locations. If you’re a fan as well, you’ll want to visit Lacock Abbey (used for filming Hogwarts corridor and courtyard scenes in the films), Horace Slughorn’s house (private residence located at 4-6 Chapel Hill) and The Potter’s house (private residence located at 21 Church St).

Where to eat

1. The town’s hotels: The George Inn, Red Lion B&B and Sign of the Angel all run restaurants in addition to their hotel properties. Make sure you check availability before-hand as many hotels had closed their restaurants during the pandemic and not all have re-opened yet!

1. Lacock Shop & Deli: The perfect spot for a quick local artisan shop and to grab some quick food on the go! They have sandwiches, salads, quiche (we got the caramelized onion and brie and it was to die for.), and local produce & necessities if you need to grab some groceries.
2. The Stables Cafe: Located at the end of High Street, The Stables Cafe offers teas and cakes, as well as some more hearty lunch options!
3. King John’s Hunting Lodge: If you’re in the mood for a classic English meal and something hearty, this restaurant is your spot! They have an outdoor garden and eating area as well, for those days where it’s not so chilly or rainy.

Whether you’re in Lacock for a few days or a few hours, you are absolutely going to fall in love with this village. It absolutely oozes English charm, and is the perfect place for a quiet and slow travel experience. We absolutely loved it and are so glad we went. I highly recommend you consider visiting for your next UK adventure! Have questions? Let me know in the comments, I’d be happy to help you plan your trip here 🙂

Shop my Lacock Travel Essentials and Outfits on Liketoknow.it below!