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Upper and Lower Slaughter are two neighbouring villages in the Cotswolds. You'll be happy to hear that very little slaughtering actually goes on here. The settlements' unnerving names actually come from an old English word meaning "muddy place". This too is misleading, as neither of them are particularly dirty. Instead, they're bright and clean, full of green grass and yellow stone.
The villages exude an antique charm. They feel like the England of a bygone age. This is unsurprising when you find out that not a single building project has been carried out here since 1906.
Upper Slaughter is the smaller of the two. It contains barely more than a few houses, making it one of the quietest places in a county that's famous for its quiet places. The prettiest building is arguably the Lord of the Manor Hotel, which was converted from a 17th century mansion. However, St. Peter's Church gives it a run for its money. Both properties offer views of the surrounding meadows and the nearby waterway.
The water in question is the River Eye, which might more accurately be called a stream. It runs just a few hundred metres to the south, connecting the village of Upper Slaughter to its Lower sibling.
Towards the end of the river is a restored 19th century flour mill. It hasn't been used commercially since 1958, but the huge waterwheel still turns. The building is owned by a former singer called Gerald Harris. It's therefore no surprise to hear his favourite old songs floating through the air. You can buy jazz CDs from the 30s and 40s at the gift shop, which also sells all manner of locally-produced arts and crafts. Elsewhere, the site includes a small museum and an ice cream parlour.
You can easily spot the Old Mill by looking for its red chimney. It's the only building in the entire village to use brick. All the others are made exclusively from stone, giving Lower Slaughter that traditionally quaint Cotswolds appearance.
Tourist attractions like the Mill mean that Lower Slaughter is the more popular of the two villages but, in truth, their real appeal isn't related to any specific place. It's the overall atmosphere that's special, and that's something which is shared by both settlements.