Nestled Outside Gloucester Is England's Ex-Mining Town With Historic Charm, Shops, And Outdoor Fun

England's history stretches back many centuries, so anyone with an interest in the past will certainly enjoy traveling around old Blighty. Venture beyond the dazzling attractions of London, and history fiends will find a bevy of charming countryside towns to explore. Rather overlooked is Coleford, a rural hamlet tucked amidst the gentle slopes of the Forest of Dean, close to the border of Wales. 

Around 200 years ago, during the Industrial Revolution, the little market town of Coleford emerged as a bustling hub for iron manufacturing and coal mining. In the early 1800s, the Darkhill Ironworks produced tungsten steel, while coal was exported to Wales until the middle of the century. However, evidence of mining in Coleford reaches as far back as the 14th century, alongside other industries like farming. Though the blast furnaces and mines are now quiet, visitors can wander around the remains of the Whitecliff Ironworks for a glimpse into Coleford's industrial heyday.

As the mining industry dwindled, the old tramways for transporting ore were replaced with train tracks. Railroad aficionados can spend the day among life-sized and scale-model locomotives at the Great Western Railway Museum, which offers train rides and displays of railroad memorabilia. Meanwhile, more casual sightseers can wander the quaint boutiques around the town center before stopping at a local pub for refreshments. Just south of town, outdoor enthusiasts can venture into the prehistoric depths of the Puzzlewood, an overgrown yet picturesque rainforest with winding pathways to explore. To reach Coleford, travelers from London are roughly three hours away from Gloucester by train, where you can drive to Coleford in under an hour (or hop on the local bus).

Anyone interested in Coleford's history should spend time in the town center. Dominating the market square is Coleford's clock tower, a stone turret topped with crenels and spires. In the early 1800s, the market square featured a peculiar, octagonal church for locals to attend prayer, but the clock tower is now all that remains after the church was demolished toward the end of the 19th century. What's more, if you visit during the festive season, you will get a glimpse of the clock tower festooned with illuminated Christmas decorations.

Branching out along the lanes surrounding the market square are Coleford's array of local shops. Anyone with a sweet tooth should make it a point to visit Forest Sweets and Treats, where the shelves are filled with colorful boxes of candy. "I felt like a child again," a previous customer writes on Google. "There is a huge selection of sweets in this amazing little shop." Have a look around to find everything from simple lollipops and chewy taffies to chocolate-covered berries and assorted animal-shaped gummies. The shop even offers more traditional sweets like Berwick cockles, a stripy, oval peppermint which has been around since the early 19th century.

Across from the sweet shop is Vendetta Vinyl & Vintage. Head inside to wander between the shelves and boxes stacked to the brim with vinyl albums across all musical genres, from artists like Pink Floyd and The Smiths to Iggy Pop and Miles Davis. Customers can even browse merchandise like apparel and tote bags. Once you've had your fill of shopping in Coleford, find more adventures in the nearby Tewkesbury, a charming town with tasty eateries, markets, and Cotswolds access.

Travelers who prefer spending time in the outdoors should head into the Puzzlewood, an enchanting forest that has been an inspiration for many films. Anchoring the southern edge of Coleford, Puzzlewood is an ethereal landscape of mossy rock formations set between towering groves of trees, which became the backdrop for productions like "Doctor Who" and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." What's more, it's believed that the Romans discovered iron ore deep in the forest, adding layers of human activity to the ancient landscape.

Keen explorers can wander dirt trails shaded by canopies of wizened trees, leading to rickety wooden bridges that traverse rocky crevices. Wildlife enthusiasts should look out for local residents like foxes, badgers, and deer, or snap photos with the farmyard critters like Highland cattle and Shetland ponies. Puzzlewood's opening hours change with the seasons, so make sure to check the official website.

While you're in the Forest of Dean, don't miss a visit to the Sculpture Trail just a 10-minute drive from the town center (or 20 minutes by bus). Follow the wide, looping trails fringed by leafy woodlands to admire the various colorful, larger-than-life art installations along the way. "We had so much fun as a family looking for and finding the sculptures amidst the beauty of the forest," says a previous visitor on Google. Weary travelers can head back to Coleford to spend the night at The Angel Hotel overlooking the market square. Dating back to the 1600s, the historic hotel offers a convenient location, featuring its own bar for refreshments and a full English breakfast. Continue your adventures with a visit to Winchcombe, an uncrowded Cotswolds town full of historic castles and peaceful gardens, an hour's drive east.