Broadway (England) - village in the Cotswolds in Worcestershire, UK

Broadway is a well-known and much-visited Cotswolds village in the English county of Worcestershire. Often referred to as the "Jewel of the Cotswolds" and the "Show Village of England" because of its archetypal rural beauty, the 'Broad Way' leads from the foot of the western Cotswolds escarpment along a wide grass-fringed street lined with ancient honey-coloured limestone buildings, many dating back to the 16th century. Broadway makes an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding countryside, including the rest of the Cotswolds region, for which the village forms the northern gateway.

Despite Broadway's status as a major tourist destination, it is considered more upmarket than the nearby Bourton-on-the-Water, and rarely seems excessively crowded. If you take a car, though, you will need to be either patient or selective about your car park on busy days, particularly summer weekends and bank holidays.

Understand

Broadway became a busy staging post on the route from Worcester to London as coaches had to harness extra horses for the long pull up nearby Fish Hill. As many as 40 travellers' inns once existed within the village to service those passing through, a few of which are still in use today.

Broadway has been home to a large number of prominent English artists and composers, including Sir Edward Elgar, John Singer Sargent, J.M. Barrie, Vaughan Williams and Arts and Crafts artist and writer William Morris.

Like many Cotswold villages, Broadway became prosperous from the wool trade, and much of its charm comes from its large number of luxurious old limestone houses.

Get in

By coach

Private chartered coach trips are run by a lot of companies from most major cities, including London, Birmingham, and other nearby tourist hotspots such as Stratford-upon-Avon. You are likely to find yourself sharing the coach with either the elderly or Japanese tourists.

By car

There are several well-signposted car parks around the village. On busy days (notably bank holidays and summer weekends) the one where you are most likely to find a space, the largest car park, is on Leamington Road, near the village library. This has a somewhat unusual entrance; you drive under a bridge formed by two adjoining apartment buildings. The nearest postcode (for SatNav) is WR12 7DZ.

You can hitch-hike from the B4632 or A44 roads. Locals are very friendly, if a bit posh, and generally will give lifts to stranded people.

By train

The nearest mainline railway stations are Evesham and Honeybourne, both on the Cotswold line with direct services to Worcester, Oxford and London Paddington at least every two hours from approximately 6AM until 10PM.

Honeybourne station, Station Road, Honeybourne, Worcestershire, WR11 6RD, 52.101°, -1.835°. A minor unmanned stop and you should not expect to get a taxi from there, but it makes a good place to start cycling or hiking from, with relatively few steep hills on the way. Moreton-in-Marsh has a mainline railway station on the same Cotswold line, but has no direct bus service to Broadway and is at the other extreme of the very steep Cotswold Ridge range of hills - fine to cycle from, but requiring Herculean muscles to cycle to. 2022-05-04

Take the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway from Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway. This private steam railway does not connect to the mainline railway network, but you can use the Stagecoach Racecourse Park and Ride bus D to get between Cheltenham Racecourse and Cheltenham Spa railway station. The steam railway and Park and Ride services are at opposite ends of this very large racecourse, so allow 20 minutes to walk between the two.

Get around

Broadway is a relatively compact village, flat and easy to walk around. None of the car parks are more than a ten minute walk into the centre, and the buses stop right along High Street.

The main shops, hotels, pubs and cafes are mostly easily found off High Street, around the village green and war memorial. However when walking from there, along High Street, it is a common mistake to think that the shops end at The Horse & Hound pub. It is well worth walking five minutes further north along High Street to find a few more quaint little shops around the Leamington Road junction.

See

• Broadway Tower, 52.024167°, -1.835833°. Built on an ancient beacon site atop Fish Hill, this was a favourite retreat of the Victorian designer William Morris. On a clear day, the view from the Tower encompasses as many as 13 counties. Public footpaths run around, and up to, the tower. Entry to the tower is around £4, includes a small William Morris exhibition and access to all levels including the roof. Unsurprisingly, wheelchair access is not practical due to spiral stairs. There is a ticket desk and small souvenir shop on the ground floor. There is also a cafe and car-park nearby. Car access via the A44 Fish Hill.
• Snowshill Manor and Garden, Snowshill, near Broadway, WR12 7JU (3 miles south of Broadway), 52.0029°, -1.8605°, +44 1386 852410, snowshillmanor@nationaltrust.org.uk.
• Blossom Trail. The Vale of Evesham, to the north, is home to many orchards, which give their name to the 40 mile AA sign posted walking, cycling and driving route (also visiting Evesham and Pershore) that runs close to the town. Between March and May, cherry, pear and apple blossom can be often seen. 2022-04-20

Do

• Cotswold Way. The long distance footpath makes for a lovely short walk or challenging hike. Check the weather before setting off on longer sections.
• Gordon Russell Heritage Centre, Russell Square, WR12 7AP, 52.036858°, -1.862204°, +44 1386 854695. Tu-Su 11AM-5PM. Display of furniture tracing the entire history of the Company, supported by photographs, graphics, Company records and related artefacts. The exhibition also features personal recollections of the people - craftsmen, designers, salesmen - who, inspired by Sir Gordon, contributed to the success and enduring reputation of the company.
• Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Broadway railway station, 52.043°, -1.872°. 2018-12-03

Buy

• Nearby Broadway Tower was a country retreat of Victorian designer William Morris, and many shops sell both practical and souvenir items with Morris' distinctive floral designs.
• There are a number of fine art dealers in the village, notably paintings and furniture. If you need to ask the price, you can't afford it.

Eat

• Broadway is well-served for eating. The best dining is in the hotels, see Sleep for Lygon Arms, Russell's and Broadway Hotel.
• Swan Inn, 2 The Green, WR12 7AA. Refurbished pub with good bar meals. 2017-01-29
• Hayles Fruit Farm, GL54 5PB (Five miles south of Broadway, nr Winchcombe), +44 1242 602123. 9AM-5PM. An organic food shop and café with their own produce in season. Also offers a pick-your-own fruit service. 2017-01-29
• Locally-made ice-cream is sold from the back of a tricycle, near the village green, during the peak summer season and on most weekends.
• Broadway Deli, 29 High Street, WR12 7DP, +44 1386 853040. M-Sa 8AM-5PM (cafe closes 4:30PM), Su 9AM-3PM (café closes 2:30PM). Fine food specialists - delicatessen with great food to take away or eat in the café. 2016-10-26

Drink

• The Crown and Trumpet Inn, 14 Church St, WR12 7AE, 52.03505°, -1.863527°, +44 1386 853202. This local pub at the lower end of town provides typical English fare at affordable prices.

Sleep

• Lygon Arms, High St, Broadway WR12 7DU (Note this is not the Lygon Arms in nearby Chipping Campden), 52.0362°, -1.86101°, +44 1386 852255, info@thelygonarms.co.uk. Elizabethan coaching inn with modern makeover, very stylish and comfy, great British cuisine. Has pool and spa. B&B double £200 2020-07-04
• The Olive Branch, 78 High St, Broadway WR12 7AJ, +44 1386 853440. Lovely friendly B&B in a coaching inn built 1592. No dogs. B&B double £130 2020-08-17
• Russell's, 20 High St, Broadway WR12 7DT, +44 1386 853555. Restaurant with 7 rooms in village centre. Stylish, but tall guests better avoid Room 4. Fine dining, the fixed price menu is excellent value. B&B double £140 2020-07-04
• Broadway Hotel, The Green, Broadway WR12 7AA, +44 1386 852401. 15th century inn; the interior is stylish with an equestrian theme. Excellent restaurant and beer garden overlooking the village green. B&B double £240 2020-07-04

Go next

• Chipping Campden is another beautiful Cotswold village about six miles away, again with exclusive posh boutique shopping. By road it is easiest to drive up the A44 Fish Hill and then down the B4081 Conduit Hill. By bike, a flatter route is possible north through the B4632 Willersey and Weston-Sub-Edge and east along the B4035 Aston-Sub-Edge. A shorter pedestrian route is over the Cotswold Way long-distance footpath, but this can be very steep in sections and should not be attempted in cold or stormy weather.
• Winchcombe is about 8 miles (13 km) south on the B4632, another Cotswold village that also features a fortified manor house, Sudley Castle.