Given its historic links to the River Thames, fairytale-like thatched cottages, and 16th-century inns, it is no surprise that this quiet Cotswolds village has been chosen to host a rural royal wedding.
On Saturday 6 June, Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son, will tie the knot with fiancé Harriet Sperling in a humble ceremony in Kemble, a civil parish in the heart of Gloucestershire.
The 48-year-old nephew of King Charles currently lives in nearby Gatcombe Park alongside his mother, his sister Zara Tindall, and her family, while NHS paediatric nurse Harriet, 45, grew up in South Cerney, a village three miles south of Cirencester.
The pair will say ‘I do’ at All Saints Church, an Anglican parish church that is said to date back to the 11th century.
An ancient yew tree sits outside, and local lore dictates that Civil War Roundheads used to tie their horses to it.
Away from the churchyard, Kemble has all the makings of a traditional Cotswold village.
The civil parish, historically a part of Wiltshire, sits four miles southwest of Cirencester, also known as the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’.
A population of around 940 call this area home, residing in everything from quaint limestone cottages to grand country estates and a handful of sleek modern builds.
Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son, will wed fiancé Harriet Sperling in Kemble, Gloucestershire, on 6 June
The pair will exchange vows in the historic All Saints Church, which is said to date back to the 11th century
Kemble – home to a population of under 1000 – is located four miles southwest of Cirencester
Nearly 70 of these homes are owned by a local charitable trust established in 1968, a move that aims to provide affordable rents and ensure locals are not priced out by the competitive Cotswolds housing market.
Its resident count might be small, but the village plays a surprisingly significant role as a regional transport hub and boasts a uniquely tight-knit community spirit.
Kemble Railway Station offers direct, fast rail links to London Paddington and Swindon in less than 90 minutes, while serving as a primary rail gateway for larger surrounding towns like Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Just a stone’s throw from the station is The Tavern Inn, a restored 16th-century, Grade II-listed pub offering hearty Sunday roasts and a generous draught selection.
Afterward, visitors can amble along the village’s narrow footpaths and explore its handful of shops and cafés, village hall, Post Office, doctor’s surgery and Rural Cinema, or plan winding walks around the surrounding countryside.
The village also happens to be the closest settlement to Thames Head – the traditional and official source of the River Thames.
Visitors can take a short walk to a nearby meadow, named Trewsbury Mead, where they’ll find a stone marker indicating where the famous river begins as a tiny trickle of water, as reported by Visit Thames.
Kemble has all the charm of a sleepy village; a handful of shops, traditional limestone cottages and 16th-century inns
Pictured: The site of the spring that marks the source of the River Thames in Gloucestershire
Kemble Railway Station offers serves as a primary rail gateway for surrounding towns like Cheltenham and Gloucester, and offers direct routes to London Paddington within 90 minutes
Cotswold Airport, formerly RAF Kemble, is located just over a mile outside Kemble
Just over a mile outside the village is Cotswold Airport, formerly known as RAF Kemble.
It famously served as the home base for the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic display team, and today operates as a space for private aviation, events, and commercial airliner recycling.
Long-running traditions are maintained across the village, such as Kemble Fête, which is held each year in the historic grounds of Kemble House.
The city of Gloucester, known most for Double Gloucester cheese and its annual cheese rolling event, is a 32-minute train ride away from Kemble, while the affluent town of Cheltenham, the home of jump racing, takes 35 minutes via rail.
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