You really shouldn't go to picture-pretty Tewkesbury without a little stroll around the 12th century abbey. Tewkesbury Abbey has lots of things to boast about (it has the highest Norman tower in the country, its Romanesque beauty much praised by Pevsner, and some of the finest examples of medieval stained glass windows in the world) but even if you know nothing about ecclesiastical architecture, it's a serene pleasure to visit. Wander into the nave and the scale of the west window is truly breathtaking while up above, the ribs of the ceiling's vaulting are festooned with carved stone bosses, illustrating the life of Christ in extraordinarily intricate fashion. Try and time your visit with a choral service, which happen regularly. Weekday choral services are sung by the boys and men of Schola Cantorum, while on Sunday services are sung by the Abbey Choir. Enjoy a rare moment's peace while listening to quintessentially English church music.
