Castle Combe in England

Castle Combe is a small village in Wiltshire, England, with a population of about 350. Ranked No. 2 in The 30 best villages, it is renowned for its attractiveness and tranquillity, and for its fine buildings including the medieval church.

The 14th century market cross, erected when the privilege to hold a weekly market in Castle Combe was granted, is situated where the three principal streets converge. Some small stone steps near the cross were for horse riders to mount and dismount and close by are the remains of the buttercross.

It was also used as a location for the film musical Doctor Dolittle, but its frequently rainy summer climate, and the residents' irritation at the producers' arbitrary modifications of the area for shooting that was severe enough to incite attempted sabotage, frustrated production. Raymond Austin, director/writer, set the action of his book, Find Me A Spy, Catch me a Traitor in the village and at the Manor. Other productions include "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot, and the films Stardust and The Wolfman, and the 1967 motion picture version of Doctor Dolittle. Throughout September 2010, the village was used as a key filming location for Steven Spielberg's production of War Horse.

Castle Combe has a convenient car park at the top of the hill, as well as toilet facilities over the bridge at the bottom of the village. There are two pubs as well as a recently opened artisan gift shop called Court Cottage Gifts in the middle of the village.