Historic Houses

Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, nr Northleach
(tel 01242 890256)
(open Tue-Sun, BH Mons Mar - Oct, Tue-Sun, Nov, NT)
This is the best-preserved Roman villa in the country. Highlights include a water shrine, two bath houses and 4th century mosaics.

Hailes Abbey, nr Winchcombe
(tel 01242 602398)
(open daily Apr - Oct, weekends Nov - Mar, EH)
One of the main centres of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages to pray before the Abbey's phial of Christ's blood which was later proved to be fake. The building is now in ruins but worth a visit for the tranquil setting, interesting museum and wall-paintings dating back to 1300 in the nearby church.

Kelmscott Manor, nr Lechlade
(tel 01367 252486)
(open Weds, 3rd Sats afternoon Apr - Sep, 1st & 3rd Sats afternoon, Jul - Aug)
Charming country home of William Morris, filled with furniture, fabrics, wallpapers and tapestries created by Morris and his pre-Raphaelite friends.

Owlpen Manor, Uley, nr Dursley
(tel 01453 860261)
(open Tue - Sun, BH Mons Apr - Oct)
Possibly the most picturesque spot in the Cotswolds, featuring a romantic Tudor manor house, mellow stone cottages and church within a beautiful English countryside setting. Within the Manor House can be found Cotswolds Arts & Crafts furniture and unique 17th century wall-hangings while the formal terraced yew gardens remain virturally unchanged since the days of Queen Anne.

Snowshill Manor, Snowshill, nr Broadway
(tel 01386 852410)
(open daily except Tue, end-Mar - Oct, NT)
Tudor Manor House with crafts collection and cottage garden.

Stanway House, nr Winchcombe
(tel 01386 584469)
(open 2-5pm, Tue, Thu Aug - Sep)
Described as the perfect Cotswold manor, Stanway House dating from the Jacobean era is noted for its triple-gabled gatehouse and towering multi-paned windows within the Grand Hall. The lovely Water Garden features a restored canal and cascade.

Sudeley Castle, nr Winchcombe
(tel 01242 602308)
(Castle open daily Apr - late-Oct, gardens daily early-Mar - late-Oct)
Once the home of Katharine Parr, Sudeley Castle was left in ruins following a seige by Cromwell's army in the 17th century. In 1830, new owners, the Dent-Brocklehurst family, began a magnificent restoration. Attractions include the Historic Castle Apartments, paintings by Turner and Constable, and beautiful gardens.

Owlpen Manor

Snowshill

Great Gardens

Barnsley House Gardens, Barnsley, nr Cirencester
(tel 01285 740561)
(open daily except Tue, Sun, Feb - Dec)
Home to Rosemary Verey, garden advisor to the Prince of Wales, Elton John etc. Four acres of exquisite gardens to inspire you, featuring a temple by a pond, arboretum, herb garden and mixed borders set around a beautiful honey-coloured house.

Hidcote Manor Garden, Chipping Campden (tel 01386 438333)
(open daily except Tue,Fri, end-Mar - Oct) NT
Internationally renowned garden featuring a series of smaller gardens each with its own character.

Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick
(tel 01452 813204)
(open daily all year)
Dating back to the brief Rococo period of garden design (1720-1760), Painswick was restored to its original glory after the discovery of a 1748 painting of the garden in 1984. It is the only surviving garden from the Rococo period and features delightful walkways and follies.

Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt
(tel 01666 880220)
(open all year, visitor centre closed Xmas-New Year)
This magnificent collection features over 18,000 trees and shrubs, home to lots of wildlife. The gardens are at their best in spring and autumn.

Hidcote Manor Garden

Cheltenham

Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, Clarence Street
(tel 01242 837431)
(open Mon - Sat)
Internationally renowned collection of furniture and silver, inspired by Arts and Crafts Movement. Also oriental porcelain, English ceramics and fine paintings. Special exhibitions throughout the year.

Pittville Pump Room Museum, Pittville Park
(tel 01242 523852)
(open Tue - Sat)
Overlooking beautiful lake and gardens, display of costumes illustrating history of Cheltenham from Regency heyday through to Swinging Sixties.

Gloucester

Gloucester Cathedral
(tel 01452 528095)
(open daily except during services/special events)
Gloucester's magnificent cathedral, originally a Norman abbey church, is one of the earliest examples of Perpendicular building in the country. Following the murder of Edward 11, the King's Shrine at the Cathedral became a place of pilgrimage which helped finance its rebuilding in the Perpendicular style although it Norman origins can still be seen, for example, in the pillared nave. Highlights include the finest fan-vaulted cloisters in Europe and the largest medieval windorw in Britain, at almost 80 feet tall.

Historic Gloucester Docks
(open daily)
The Docks were developed here following the opening of the Sharpness canal in 1827. The Victorian waterside warehouses have recently seen a programme a restoration in an attempt to bring life back into the area. Once used for storing the grain imported through the port of Gloucester, they are now home to specialist shops, a large antiques centre and some interesting museums,including the Museum of Advertising and Packaging, National Waterways Museum (see below) and award-winning Soldiers of Gloucester Museum. There are also cafes, restaurants and boat trips.

National Waterways Museum
(tel 01452 318054)
(open all year)
An interesting exhibition housed in Gloucester's largest waterside warehouse, illustrating the history of Britain's canal network. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits for children, including build your own canal, and another section dedicated to boat decorations where you can create your own design. Boat trips run in the summer along the canal.

Other Attractions in and around the Cotswolds

Cotswold Farm Park, Kineton
(tel 01451 850307)
(open daily mid-Mar - end Oct)
Family attraction that's actually a working farm featuring many rare British breeds including Guernsey goats, Crested ducks and Cotswold sheep. Touch Barn, adventure playground, pets and tots corner, woodland walk and Cotswold Kitchen. Lovely to visit before the end of April when the lambs are being born, and there's plenty to do under cover on rainy days.

Cotswold Water Park & Keynes Country Park, nr Cirencester
(01285 861459)
(open all year round)
Britain's largest Water Park with 132 lakes. Numerous facilities for all the family including nature walks, birdwatching, fishing, beach, summer swimming, play area, bike hire and water sports.

WWT - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge
(tel 01453 890333)
(open daily all year excl. Xmas Day)
World's largest collection of exotic wildfowl, including six species of flamingo, on 800 acre reserve. In winter, up to 8,000 birds fly in. Also, there's a tropical house, plenty of activities for children including pond-dipping, and a play area.

While we endeavour to be as accurate as possible, please check the opening times with the relevant attraction prior to your visit. For further information on attractions in and around the Cotswolds, go to the VisitCotswolds website.