Corsham's built from Bath stone, which is why it has that honey-coloured look you associate with the nicer Cotswold towns. Walk down the high street and you're passing 17th-century buildings housing independent shops, traditional pubs, and cafés. After a few weeks living here, you start recognising the same faces. The high street works as a high street should – there are regular markets, local festivals happen throughout the year, and enough activity that it feels like a functioning town rather than something preserved for weekend visitors.

The Pound Arts Centre matters more than you might expect. Most market towns don't have a proper venue bringing in exhibitions, live performances, and workshops, but Corsham does. People use it too, which tells you something. There's a cultural side to the town that you don't find everywhere, and that matters to families and professionals looking for more than just an easy commute.

The practical side works well. Bath's 8 miles away – 15 minutes in the car. Junction 17 on the M4 connects you to Bristol, Swindon, or London when you need them. Schools perform consistently well at both primary and secondary level, which tends to be what settles the decision for families choosing where to live.

Countryside access is immediate. You're on the southern edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so walks and cycle routes are genuinely on the doorstep rather than something requiring planning. That combination – countryside close by, Bath nearby – is what draws people who've left cities like Bath or Bristol but don't want to feel isolated.

Property varies from Bath stone period houses in the conservation area to modern family homes further out. The demographic's mixed as a result: young families, professionals doing remote work or commuting, people who've moved from Bath or Bristol wanting more space while keeping connectivity. Once settled, most people stay put.