Things to Do

A walk through Winchcombe is a walk through time, a classic Cotswold wool town, with a timeless character typical of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Winchcombe and the surrounding area of the Cotswolds offer many of the activities to be expected in a rural, outdoor-minded destination. There is a municipal golf course, 5 minutes by car on Cleeve Hill with great views across to the Malverns or served by the local bus company Castleways. Sudeley Castle (1/2 mile) a pleasant stroll from the town centre has award winning gardens and a popular spot for weddings. Liz Hurley chose the area for hers, with Elton John and various other guests being helicoptered in from assorted Cotswold manor house hotels.

Sightseeing

• Belas Knap and Long Barrow - Neolithic Long Barrow
  Belas Knap is one of the finest neolithic long barrows in Gloucestershire, situated on Cleeve Hill adjacent to the Cotswold Way National Trail. Alternatively, visitors can leave their cars at the top of Corndean Lane and walk up through Humblebee Woods and over open fields to the site.
  Built about 3000 B.C. the barrow is approximately 178 feet long and 60 feet wide, and nearly 14 feet in height. It is a chambered barrow with a false entrance at the larger northern end.
  
  
• Cleeve Common - Open grassland and splendid views
  Accessed by several footpaths from the town or by Castleways bus service 606 alighting at the golf course or Cleeve Hill. There are spectacular views across the Severn Vale to the Forest of Dean, Malvern Hills and to the Black Mountains in Wales. Site of an Iron Age hillfort with fine bracing walks and a pay & play golf course. The common is an extensive area of unimproved limestone grassland on the Cotswold escarpment, most of it a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The common covers 405 hectares (1000 acres) and the highest point of the Cotswold Hills (1083 ft).
  
  
• Cotswold Farm Park - Rare farm breeds
  The Farm Park has a variety of British farm rare breeds including sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, horses, poultry and waterfowl. Situated approximately 8 miles from Winchcombe, in the heart of the beautiful Cotswold countryside. There is the opportunity to get close to the animals and hold and feed a variety of smaller animals. Other attractions include farm safari rides, indoor tractor school, a soft play area and adventure playground, farm nature trail and seasonal demonstrations such as lambing in the spring. The pathways around the farm are grass, concrete or gravelled and suitable for visitors with disabilities and wheelchairs.
  
  
• Hailes Abbey - Ruined Cistercian Abbey
  Situated two miles from Winchcombe adjacent to the Cotswold Way National Trail or 1 mile from the bus stop. The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1246 and became a site of pilgrimage. From the proceeds, the monks of Hailes were able to rebuild the Abbey on an extensive and elaborate scale. The abbey was one of the last religious institutions to acquiesce following the Dissolution Act of 1536, on Christmas Eve 1539. Managed by English Heritage, National Trust members admitted free. Visit the adjacent parish church which has medieval wall-paintings.
  
  
• St Peter's Church - 15th century church
  The earliest reference to the church, dedicated to St Peter, is in 1175 with its close association to the abbey that once stood to the east of the church. The present building dates from 1468 and remains externally very much as it was when it was built. It is the only fifteenth-century church in Gloucestershire which possesses an arcade with eight bays, and the only one without a chancel arch. The exterior features 40 comic and grotesque gargoyles.
  
  
• Snowshill Manor - Cotswold manor (National Trust)
  The manor house is a typical Cotswold house displaying Wade’s collection dating from 1900 until 1951, when he gave the Manor to the National Trust, Wade amassed an enormous collection of objects reflecting his interest in craftsmanship including 26 suits of Japanese samurai armour dating from the 17th and 19th centuries; bicycles; toys; musical instruments and other interesting objects. The garden is laid out as a series of outside rooms seen as an extension to the house featuring terraces and ponds.
  
  
• Spoonley Roman Villa - Roman villa
  Just off the Wardens Way about 2 miles from Winchcombe. The site of a Roman villa discovered and excavated in 1882. Mosaics recovered from the villa were removed and taken to Sudeley Castle. A basilican-type building was interpreted as being a granary or barn. Finds included a silver-plated bowl, coins, pottery and a marble statue of Bacchus. The site is very much overgrown and only a small part of the walls are standing. A footpath passes right through the building but easy to miss with all the vegetation.
  
  
• Stanway House - The highest gravity fountain in the country
  The House is a beautiful Jacobean manor house, located at Stanway approximately 3 miles from Winchcombe and on the Cotswold Way National Trail. The Gatehouse was built about 1630, with a 14th-century Tithe Barn and an 18th-century water-garden. The Stanway Fountain rises to over 300 feet, making it the tallest fountain in Britain, the tallest gravity fountain in the world (seconded by the Fountain of Fame in Segovia, Spain at 154 feet), and the second tallest fountain in Europe, after the 400-foot-high turbine-driven fountain in Lake Geneva.
  
  
• Sudeley Castle - Historic building and gardens
  Located a short stroll of 1/2 mile from the town via Vineyard Street, it dates back to the 10th century. Much of the castle was built in the reign of Henry V and later added to by Sir Thomas Seymour who married Katherine Parr after the death of Henry VIII. During the English Civil War Sudeley finally capitulated to Cromwell’s forces and was left in ruins. Katherine Parr the sixth wife of King Henry VIII is buried in the chapel and contains her marble tomb. During the Victorian period much of the castle was restored by the Dent family. The castle has beautiful gardens, play area, and occasional exhibitions. Open from March until October.
  
  
• Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway - Heritage railway
  Situated at Toddington, approximately 2 miles from Winchcombe. Castleways bus service 606, alight at Toddington roundabout. The GWR is an all-volunteer steam and diesel heritage railway with over 10 miles of track between Toddington and Cheltenham. Winchcombe station is approximately 1 mile out of the town and reconstructed on its original site, the building being the former station at Monmouth (Troy). There is a timetable of services and special events including steam and diesel galas, visits by Postman Pat, Thomas the Tank Engine and Santa Specials.
  
  
• Prescott Hill Climb - One of the UK’s most prestigious motor racing venues
  Owned by the Bugatti Owners' Club and situated at Prescott approximately 3 miles from Winchcombe. The 1127 yard (1,031m) course rises over 200 feet via short straights, fast and slow corners and a hairpin, with the fastest modern racing cars completing the course in 36 seconds. There are regular events held throughout the summer including a range of classic car and bike events and hosts major motor racing championships.
  
  
• Stanway Watermill - A fully restored working watermill on the Stanway estate producing flour. Established in the 8th century, the original watermills had been used for fulling wool cloth, paper production, sawmilling, electricity generation and grinding flour. Opening times are restricted, for further information contact 01386 584446
  
  
• Winchcombe Heritage Museum - Local heritage and police uniforms
  Situated in the town centre above the tourist information office. A display about the heritage and history of Winchcombe and its people with information on local and family history. The museum also has a collection of British and International Police uniforms and equipment.
  
  
• Winchcombe Pottery - Pottery maker
  The pottery is situated 1 mile outside Winchcombe just off the Broadway Road. From Winchcombe head north and turn left after the railway bridge. Established in 1926 on the site of a pottery dating back to the early 1800's makes it one of the longest running craft potteries in the country. All of the fired products from the pottery kiln are for sale in the Pottery Shop.
  
  
• Winchcombe Railway Museum - Railway artefacts
  Display of tools and equipment which shows railway life in the days of steam. Signals and working models are visitor operated. Situated approximately 200 yards from town centre at 23 Gloucester Street. Open Easter to October mainly at weekends.