Shilton

Shilton is a small, quieter village in the Cotswolds, located just a few miles northeast of Burford in Oxfordshire. Nestled in a small valley with gentle hills surrounding it, it is a quintessential Cotswold village built around a shallow ford which can be crossed via a charming stone clapper bridge from the 18th Century. It is full of classic honey-colored cottages, some with thatched roofs, and many homes have beautifully tended cottage gardens, especially in spring and summer.

With fewer tourists than more established Cotswolds destinations, Shilton represents the more tranquil, undiscovered side of the Cotswolds, offering visitors a glimpse into genuine village life away from the tourist hotspots. Its modest size and relative obscurity have helped preserve its traditional character and peaceful ambience. Shilton is among several Oxfordshire villages used as filming locations for the well-known television series Downton Abbey, where it was immortalised as the backdrop for a fictional Yorkshire village called Kirkbymoorside in the 2nd season of the hugely popular period drama.