At nearly 800ft, Stow is the highest of the Cotswold towns, located on the Roman Fosse Way and at the point where several roads meet.
The Market S ... More
At nearly 800ft, Stow is the highest of the Cotswold towns, located on the Roman Fosse Way and at the point where several roads meet.
The Market Square is large and impressive and testifies to the town’s former importance. It is surrounded by town houses, independent shops, antique centres, cosy cafes and inns all built in the mellow local stone, and it has been the focus of town life over many centuries, with the medieval market stocks at one end, the ancient market cross at the other and the impressive St Edwards Hall standing in the centre.
It has a long history and had a special importance in the English Civil War - the Battle of Stow on the Wold, fought at nearby Donnington in 1646, saw the defeat of the last royalist field army. St Edward’s Church, was used as a prison for the defeated Royalist troops, as it was the only lockable building in the town. Some of the damage sustained at this time can still be seen today and in the churchyard is the tombstone of Captain Hastings Keyte, who died at the battle. St Edwards church is also famous for its‘Tolkienesque’ North Door flanked by two ancient yew trees, supposedly the inspiration for the 'Doors of Durin' in the Lord of the Rings.
Not far away from the town centre are the old wells in Well Lane where you can view the ramparts of an Iron Age fort.
Twice a year, in May and October travellers gather from all over the country to meet on the outskirts of town, with lots of horses, ponies and Romany caravans.
The Square, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire, GL54 1AF, England 
- Direction -
By Rail
Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds are at the heart of the British Rail network with main line trains to the Cotswolds from London, the Midlands and the North and the South West of England. There are main line railway stations at Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble (serving Cirencester), Moreton-in-Marsh, Stonehouse, Stroud and Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury).
- Between London Paddington and Moreton in Marsh (Duration : 1 hour and a half)
One of the best kept secrets in the Cotswolds, Northleach is right in the heart of the Cotswolds but tucked quietly away from the busy A40. At the tow ... More
One of the best kept secrets in the Cotswolds, Northleach is right in the heart of the Cotswolds but tucked quietly away from the busy A40. At the town's centre is the ancient Market Place with some wonderful half-timbered buildings and houses dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Here you'll find all the necessities of village life including a butcher and baker - though sadly no candle stick maker!
The small town has a friendly, unhurried atmosphere with two pubs, including The Wheatsheaf with 14 rooms, plus a wine bar and cafe.
The medieval wool trade brought great wealth to the Cotswolds and Northleach boasts one of the Cotswolds' most impressive 'wool' churches: the church of St Peter and St Paul is considered the 'Cathedral of the Cotswolds'.
A short walk from the town centre is the Old Prison, an 18C 'House of Correction' with both prison and court house. It now houses a cafe, the offices for the Cotswolds Conservation Board with a collection of old farm carts behind.
Northleach was also the setting for the hit mockumentary sitcom 'This Country' about the boredom of life for young people in small rural towns!
Northleach, Gloucestershire, GL54 3HL, England 
- Direction -
By Rail
Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds are at the heart of the British Rail network with main line trains to the Cotswolds from London, the Midlands and the North and the South West of England. There are main line railway stations at Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble (serving Cirencester), Moreton-in-Marsh, Stonehouse, Stroud and Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury).
- Between London Paddington and Moreton in Marsh (Duration : 1 hour and a half)
Moreton in Marsh is a thriving market town with excellent public transport links including a direct rail link to London.
The broad High Street is l ... More
Moreton in Marsh is a thriving market town with excellent public transport links including a direct rail link to London.
The broad High Street is lined with elegant 17th and 18th Century buildings, among them the White Hart Royal, a former manor house in which King Charles I sheltered during the Civil War and the rare Curfew Tower with its original clock and bell. In the centre is the Redesdale Hall, the town’s main public hall, which regularly holds antiques and craft fairs. Moreton’s High Street is lined with elegant Cotswolds stone buildings which house many specialist shops, antique emporiums, tea rooms and delis.
Nearby attractions include Batsford Arboretum, Cotswold Falconry, Bourton House Garden & Sezincote Gardens, which for those visitors that enjoy walking, can be reached by local footpaths including the Moreton Eight trail.
Moreton in Marsh has a variety of accommodation, whether you want a small self-catering cottage or a luxury hotel, or perhaps something in between. Every Tuesday Moreton-in-Marsh hosts the largest open-air street market in the Cotswolds and is popular at any time of the year. The High street offers many art & antique galleries as well as a wonderful selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants. The annual Moreton Show is a major one-day agricultural show held on the first Saturday in September which celebrates past and present farming life.
Just on the outskirts of Moreton in Marsh is the Four Shire Stone marking the old meeting point of four counties: Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire. It is believed this stone was an inspiration for Tolkien's Three-Farthing Stone, in Lord of the Rings, Tolkien regularly visited the town stopping for refreshments at The Bell Inn, which inspired The Prancing Pony, the pub at Bree in Lord of the Rings.
As well as the railway station, Moreton-in-Marsh is well connected to Cheltenham and other towns and villages in the Cotswolds via bus services.
Moreton in Marsh Railway Station, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0AA, England 
- Direction -
By Rail
Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds are at the heart of the British Rail network with main line trains to the Cotswolds from London, the Midlands and the North and the South West of England. There are main line railway stations at Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble (serving Cirencester), Moreton-in-Marsh, Stonehouse, Stroud and Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury).
- Between London Paddington and Moreton in Marsh (Duration : 1 hour and a half)
Bourton-on-the-Water is a popular destination with gently flowing River Windrush running through the centre of the village and crossed by attractive l ... More
Bourton-on-the-Water is a popular destination with gently flowing River Windrush running through the centre of the village and crossed by attractive little bridges. However Bourton can be really busy, especially at weekends and Bank Holidays during the summer, and to see the village at it's best we recommend visiting outside peak times - the village has plenty of charm at any time of the year - or, best of all, staying overnight when you can enjoy the village in the evening when all the day trippers have left for home.
There is much to see in Bourton on the Water and it is suitable for visitors of all ages especially families; visit Birdland Park and Gardens – home to a wide variety of exotic birds including penguins, flamingos, macaws, emus and birds of prey; marvel at the incredible detail of the buildings in The Model Village – a 1/9th scale replica of the centre of the village; the Cotswold Motoring Museum has seven unique galleries housing a collection of vintage cars, a fascinating toy collection, exhibitions and children’s TV favourite little car ‘Brum’ or visit the Dragonfly Maze designed by Kit Williams.
Bourton-on-the-Water also has an eclectic mix of shops including Cotswold Perfumery, a jewellers and pottery giving a wide choice of unique and exciting gifts all year round.
The area surrounding Bourton is a walker’s paradise with numerous footpaths crisscrossing the countryside. Nearby Salmonsbury Meadows is a wildlife nature reserve where you can enjoy natural meadows and wildflowers and explore some of the history of this farming area.
- Directions to Bourton-on-the-Water by Car:
From Stow-on-the-Wold head South on the A429 signposted Cirencester after 4 miles turn left at the traffic lights into Station Road and follow the signs to the car parks. From the South where the Cirencester A429 & Cheltenham A436 join, (ignore Satnav) and travel North up the hill on the A429 to the traffic lights and turn right into Station Road.
- To Bourton-on-the-Water from London::
Train from Paddington Station to Kingham – Journey time is approximately 1½ – 2 hours. From Kingham a pre-ordered taxi will be required to get you to Bourton-on-the-Water, the journey time is approximately 20 minutes.
Train from Paddington Station to Moreton-in-Marsh – Journey time is approximately 1½ – 2 hours. From Moreton-in-Marsh you can take Pulham’s Coaches 801 bus service to Bourton-on-the-Water, the journey time is approximately 20 minutes.
Train from Paddington Station to Cheltenham Spa – Journey time is approximately 2½ hours. From Cheltenham you can take the 801 bus service to Bourton-on-the-Water. Note: The train station in Cheltenham is approximately 20 minutes walk from the bus station. You can take the ‘D’ bus from the railway station to Royal Well Road which is a very short distance from Royal Well bus station where the 801 bus departs. Alternatively, you can take a taxi which takes between 10-15 minutes.
THE SCALLOP SHELL CLASSIC PRAWN COCKTAIL ---------------- €
10
A PLATE OF ENDERBY SMOKED SALMON ---------------- €
14
PORTHILLY ROCK OYSTER(each) ---------------- €
4
PRIME NORTH ATLANTIC COD LOIN with fresh-cut chips ---------------- €
19
OUR OWN CLASSIC SMOKED SALMON FISHCAKE with fresh-cut chips ---------------- €
16
The Scallop Shell is a fish and chip restaurant and seafood grill in the world heritage city of Bath. We serve up traditional favourites like lightly ... More
The Scallop Shell is a fish and chip restaurant and seafood grill in the world heritage city of Bath. We serve up traditional favourites like lightly battered, flaky cod and haddock and seasonal delights from the early morning coastal markets. Our chips are peeled and freshly cut from the best seasonal spuds and prepared daily for you in our special spud room.
Driven by a passion for seafood, Garry Rosser returned to the city where his career as a chef began to open The Scallop Shell in 2015. A family-run venture, The Scallop Shell flies the flag for a fresh, sustainable catch from UK waters and Garry can be found front of house most days. Now occupying two floors, with a beautiful indoor/outdoor Upper Deck, The Scallop Shell is currently open for dinner Monday to Saturday, and open for lunch Monday to Sunday.
Living and Telling the Good News of Jesus with the City of Bath and its Visitors
A moment of stillness in the beating heart of a vibrant city. A spac ... More
Living and Telling the Good News of Jesus with the City of Bath and its Visitors
A moment of stillness in the beating heart of a vibrant city. A space that’s alive with music and prayer, art and history. A place where awe-inspiring architecture lifts the eyes – and raises the spirit. Bath Abbey is many things to many people.
Whether you come there to join a service or a tour, light a candle or listen to choirs, what unites them all is a sense of wonder.
Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri : 10:00am-17:00pm
Sat : 10:00am-18:00pm
Sun : 13:15pm-14:15pm / 16:30pm-18:15pm
- Last entry to the Abbey is 15 minutes before the closing time on any given day.
(Closed on Thu)
These delightful gardens are Bath's most centrally situated pleasure grounds. Overlooking the River Avon, they give fine views of Pulteney Bridge and ... More
These delightful gardens are Bath's most centrally situated pleasure grounds. Overlooking the River Avon, they give fine views of Pulteney Bridge and the weir.
Parade Gardens is a grade II listed park. Originally known as St James's Park, it was laid out in 1709 to accompany assembly rooms for spa visitors.
The flower bed displays in Parade Gardens are among the finest in the country, and the annual 3-dimensional carpet bedding in the summer always features a unique concept.
In 2013, Bath was a Gold award winner in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition, with Parade Gardens also winning the RHS Britain in Bloom Edible Britain award. The entry included a 100ft border of vegetables for all to enjoy, and a 3D sculpture of the TV characters 'The Herbs'.
New royal bath (Monday - Friday) ---------------- €
41
New royal bath (Saturday - Sunday) ---------------- €
46
Thermae Bath Spa is the only place in Britain where you can bathe in the natural thermal, mineral-rich waters just as the Celts and Romans did over 2, ... More
Thermae Bath Spa is the only place in Britain where you can bathe in the natural thermal, mineral-rich waters just as the Celts and Romans did over 2,000 years ago. It is located in the centre of Bath in Bath Street and Hot Bath Street, close to the Roman Baths.
The prime attraction is the naturally warm, mineral-rich water, which feeds the four thermal baths. In addition, there is a Wellness Suite, a shop, and a café. Thermae also offers a wide choice of spa treatments and packages.
Thermae Bath Spa, is a combination of old and new, where historic spa buildings blend with contemporary design.
In addition to the main spa there is the historic stand alone Cross Bath which can be hired for exclusive use.
The Hetling Pump Room, Hot Bath St, Bath BA1 1SJ England 
- Business hour -
Everyday 09:00am-21:00pm
- Direction -
Thermae Bath Spa is in the centre of the city of Bath, just 100m from the Roman Baths.
It is about 800m from Bath Spa railway station and the central Bus station.
The Royal Crescent is a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent in the city of Bath, England. Designed by the architect John Wood, t ... More
The Royal Crescent is a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent in the city of Bath, England. Designed by the architect John Wood, the Younger, and built between 1767 and 1774, it is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom and is a Grade I listed building. Although some changes have been made to the various interiors over the years, the Georgian stone facade remains much as it was when first built.
Many notable people have either lived or stayed in the Royal Crescent since it was built over 240 years ago, and some are commemorated on special plaques attached to the relevant buildings. Of the crescent's 30 townhouses, 10 are still full-size townhouses.
Bath Sightseeing (operating as Tootbus and City Sightseeing) offers two hop on hop off guided bus tours of the city centre and Bath Skyline.
With com ... More
Bath Sightseeing (operating as Tootbus and City Sightseeing) offers two hop on hop off guided bus tours of the city centre and Bath Skyline.
With commentary provided in ten languages, the City Tour has 17 stops covering many of the tourist attractions in Bath, including the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and The Circus.
The Skyline Tour travels along Great Pulteney Street, and up into the hills towards the American Museum and Prior Park Landscape Gardens giving stunning panoramic views across Bath.
Buses depart frequently from points all around the city. Tickets cover both tours and are valid for 24 hours (covering two days if required).