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Coleford wins national staycation crown

Budge over chocolate box Bourton-on-the-Water and ta-ta to Tetbury: Gloucestershire has a new number-one tourism attraction. Set the sat nav for the Forest of Dean and plan your next weekend break for... Coleford.

As one of the Forest's biggest towns (population: 8,500), Coleford has emerged at the top of a new list of national destinations for the perfect break.

HomeToGo, who carried out the research, says it shops around to select ideas for "spend-savvy travellers" and give them inspiration for scenic places to stay ahead of the impending bank holiday season. Three market towns in Cornwall and two in Devon bagged appearances in the final ranking - but the Forest of Dean market town won the crown.

With the UK median price for holiday accommodation now standing at £160.17 per night, the busy market town of Coleford was calculated to offer a stayover experience at just a quarter of the typical price, HomeToGo discovering a median price for holiday accommodation per person at £40.62.

Criteria for the rankings, which set Coleford ahead of Lechlade (which in sixth place was the only other Gloucestershire winner), was defined by affordability and proximity to a national park or area of outstanding natural beauty.

A HometoGo spokesman said Coleford was: "A great base from which to explore the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with 190.1 hours of sunshine a month and a maximum temperature of 17.32°C on average in Spring. Don't miss: the Puzzlewood, a magical area of forest which featured as a set location in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Colford Tourism's Claire Smith told Punchline: "It's fabulous news - it's lovely for our town to get this recognition. We get people who come to see us and they express surprise at all the great things to do, just a short distance from the town. We are so well placed for the Wye Valley, Symond's Yat, Speech House and railway rides."

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