Places to visit in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
This week is English Tourism Week and we thought we would take a look at some of the beautiful places you can visit in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
England is often called a “green and Pleasant land”. This is certainly true when it comes to the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. It’s not all about the countryside though as there are lots of delightful villages and picturesque market towns that are also worth a stop of.
We can’t fit in all of the things you might see and do but we can offer a little guide here to some of the best in our opinion. Each of them is just a short drive from our Gloucester Park Homes.
Gloucester Cathedral – Truly a medieval marvel this sight worthy to behold. From its majestic stain glass windows to its famous cloisters (a double for Hogwarts) this is one place that has to be on the list of places to visit in the county.
Bourton on the Water and the Slaughters – Picturesque Bourton is the tourist mecca and with 2 museums, a small Zoo, maze and the famous model village it’s easy to see why. It’s fast flowing stream (the site of a football match on August bank Holiday Monday) runs right through the middle. Away from the hustle and bustle of the village if you want to see the honey colour stone villages in a quitter setting then head to the nearby Lower and Upper Slaughter.
Cotswold Wildlife Park – On the border between Wiltshire and Gloucestershire this fun little park has Lions, Wolves and some rather jolly Penguins and Otters on show and much, much more. There is a nice Train to take you around and a large play park for the kids to truly let off steam.
Barbury Castle – A wonderfully un-spoilt Iron Age hill fort in Wiltshire just outside Swindon giving commanding views of the Ridgeway and, on a clear day to its bigger cousin the Cotswold. A nearby Car park makes it easily accessible and there is often an Ice cream van for refreshments and also toilets.
Salisbury – The capital of the County and another impressive Cathedral. Salisbury is a city where you can still see its medieval roots. There is some very good shopping to be had there.
National Trust sites – You get in free as a member and there are 2 stars in Wiltshire namely Lacock Abbey, the home of Fox-Talbot the inventor of photography and Avebury Stone Circle and Manor for something much older. There are even more in Gloucestershire all worth a visit. From the grand old house of Dyrham Park to the quirkiness of Snowshill Manor nestled in the Cotswold Hills. A trip to the formal garden beauty that is Hidcote Manor, home of the famous lavender and the Romano-British splendour of Chedworth Roman Villa show also be considered.
Happy visiting!